Council Sets Public Hearing on Cornell Suicide Bridge Plan

The Ithaca City Common Council wants to hear your opinion on whether to approve a Cornell University proposal to add suicide-prevention nets to three area bridges. The public hearing before a joint meeting of the Council and the Board of Public Works is set for Tuesday, June 28. The question before the public: “Should the City of Ithaca allow installation of nets by Cornell University as a suicide means restriction under its three identified bridges?” This bridges are Stewart Avenue at Fall Creek, Stewart Avenue at Cascadilla Creek, and Thurston Avenue at Fall Creek. Of the seven bridges included in the suicide-prevention plan, three are city-owned while the remaining four are owned by the university. Speakers will each get three minutes to make comments. A discussion period follows the public comment session, possibly providing some insight into how City representatives think of the increasingly volatile issue. The meeting starts at 7pm in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall.