ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) – Tough budget decisions lay ahead in Tompkins County.

As funding for the 3-year pilot program comes to a close, county personnel are weighing the effectiveness of Reimagining Public Safety (RPS) with the cost. Beginning in 2021, Reimagining Public Safety was born out of then-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203, which required every local government in New York to adopt a policing reform plan.

As the county looks to 2025, Legislator Rich John says there have been some successful parts of the program he’d like to see continue and some that will require a hard look.

 

 

One element of RPS that could be in jeopardy is the Community Justice Center (CJC), a collaboration between Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca led by Executive Director Monalita Smiley.

In addition to leading the implementation of Reimagining Public Safety plans passed in March of 2021, the CJC has hosted community healing conversations with the public and law enforcement, started an officer wellness program, and set up community resource hubs in rural and underserved parts of the county.

For Legislator Travis Brooks, continuing the work without the CJC doesn’t make sense, and defeats a core purpose of RPS.

 

Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes will present her recommended budget draft to the full Legislature on September 3, 2024. The final budget vote is expected in November.