Tompkins County lawmakers swapped the planned location for Ithaca’s winter Code Blue shelter just hours before a vote — despite pushback from the mayor, according to WBNG.
The county will now use 227 Cherry Street instead of the more expensive Commercial Avenue site. Officials said the new location is city-owned, already under renovation, and avoids rising costs tied to floodplain restrictions.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo argued the site’s remote access — through marshland and private tracks — raises safety issues. He also criticized the temporary setup as poor planning, saying it delays the need for a permanent shelter.
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