Ithaca Common Council Approves $50,000 for Reparations Study

The Ithaca Common Council approved a budget amendment on Thursday allocating up to $50,000 for a reparations study focused on the city’s history of systemic racism and its impact on present-day inequities experienced by Black residents.   First Ward Alderpersons Phoebe Brown and Kayla Matos introduced the amendment, which was passed by a vote of 8-3 after a brief debate.  Phoebe Brown, a long-time advocate for reparations in Ithaca, introduced the budget proposal alongside Matos as part of the Solidarity Slate’s broader mission to address racial disparities in the city. The study will serve as the foundation for future policy discussions on reparations.  #placement_574519_0_i{ width:100%; margin:0 auto; } “Reparations are needed to repair the damage, and they’re way overdue for Black people,” Brown said during the meeting. “It’s time we stop asking whether Black people deserve reparations and start moving toward action.”  With the proposal’s passage, the council will now move to establish the framework for conducting the study. This process will involve appointing a research committee, hiring an appropriate consultant or research firm, and defining the study’s scope and objectives.   Mayor Robert Cantelmo, who voted in favor of the amendment, emphasized that the research phase is crucial for understanding the...