ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - The Ithaca Common Council voted to adjust the budget for the city’s Green New Deal. The proposed budget for the Green New Deal staff was about $100,000.
The city budget now includes $34,678 set aside for possible additional expenses related to the Green New Deal. If more staff is recommended later in 2020, the Council may vote to release the funds.
For several weeks the Council has heard from dozens of people urging them to allocate more money in the 2020 budget for the city’s Green New Deal.
At this week's meeting, councilmembers and Mayor Svante Myrick, expressed frustration that people from other parts of the county came to criticize them for not spending more address climate change when their own municipalities are doing very little or nothing to address the issue.
"I would hope that the same folks that have come to us, urging us to invest more money are also speaking to the Town of Ithaca, are also speaking to the county, and are also speaking to the state and the federal government," said Councilmember Seph Murtagh. "Because the only way we’re going to change this is if we do it together as a society."
The Green New Deal funding is part of the total budget of over $80 million passed by the Council.