City Administration: West Village still a problem

After a month off, the City Administration Committee got back to work Wednesday night receiving a disappointing update on a new policing tactic and advancing a new holiday one step closer to existence.

The committee heard an update on the Officer Next Door Program, which was established early last year to encourage community policing in the West Village Apartments, an affordable housing complex that has struggled with crime. Two rent-free apartments were offered to members of the Ithaca Police Department as part of the program. According to much of the discussion at the meeting, though, the experiment appears to have not produced a positive effect, at least to this point.

Alderperson Cynthia Brock read a comment from a resident in West Village who seemed thoroughly disappointed by the Officer Next Door program, and the complex's overall operation.

"The bottom line is West Village management and Omni failed in their obligation to provide us with a safe place to live," the comment said.

By Matt Butler

Anthony Hayton takes "Operation West Hill" to Common Council race: His one focus? To clean up West Village Apartments, his home of seven years.

“I don’t like to give people a misleading perception of what I’m trying to do,” he said. “I’m trying to show people the things they don’t see, that they don’t know, that needs to be fixed and hasn’t. What’s the point of being in a position to change something if you’re not going to do it. I’m running to make changes that impact other people’s lives, outside of wherever you may live. I want people to understand that [...] every time you hear about West Village you immediately think bad thoughts. But there is actually someone living here who’s dealing with that every day.”

“Hopefully, I can get people to understand why I’m running,” he said. “Even if it doesn’t work and I don’t get elected, the issues are still there. Even if I’m not elected, I’ll still be working on this neighborhood. It needs to be worked on.”



Respect.