The Debrief Podcast

Earlier this week we sat down with Dr. Jonathan Gibralter, president of Wells College in Aurora, New York. Last week, he made headlines with a letter plainly stating that if the College cannot welcome back students in the fall that they will be forced to close. The economic fallout and realities brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic have put every organization on alert. Today, part of our conversation with Dr. Gibralter about Wells College, and what's next. 

Students at the New York Chiropractic College were informed last week that they would not be able to take a crucial portion of their licensing exam at the campus in Seneca Falls. It's unclear what options are in front of them, and while the cancellation appears to be COVID-19 related, an already strained relationship between students and administration has complicated things. Today on the Daily Debrief, student perspective, and an president's response.

Today, Gabe Galanda, the managing lawyer at Galanda Broadman stationed out of Seattle, Washington weighs in on the fallout from Seneca County's decision to deny the Cayuga Nation building permits to clear debris - due to owing more than $6 million delinquent taxes, interests, and penalties on total properties. Even though the delinquent tax amount is less than that on the individual properties in question along State Route 89 over the winter - concerns over permitting have bubbled for months. In a FingerLakes1.com exclusive, Lee Alcott, the lead attorney for Bureau of Indian Affairs representative Clint Halftown and the Cayuga Nation responded, "The Cayuga Nation offered to remove debris and clean the property just as it did across the street. The County can work this out amicably or in a court of law where the Nation will prevail as it has for the last 15 years."

Communication is key, especially when combatting a pandemic. How are immigrant farmworkers remaining educated on the facts about COVID-19 here in New York state? Libby Eiholzer, a bilingual dairy specialist at the Cornell Cooperative Extension explains how her staff created resource sheets to keep laborers healthy and safe while working on the farms.

Right around the time the Coronavirus Pandemic was gaining steam here in the U.S. two local co-working organizations joined forces. Metro CoWorking, located in Rochester, and Port 100, located in Geneva. Just a few months after the announcement that Port 100 had secured funding through Ontario County to continue operation in downtown Geneva - the partnership would test the skillset of all parties involved. But Maureen Ballatori, who we caught up with for today's episode of The Daily Debrief says coworking and businesses all face the same challenges during a pandemic like this one.

On this edition of The Weekend Debrief - the panel discusses a series of interesting headlines, as the state and region navigates its way toward reopening. Ted Baker and Josh Durso break down the biggest headlines of the week.

Childcare is costly, certainly not a commodity, and yet the City of Geneva is coming together to offer coverage to essential workers through the ConnectGeneva COVID-19 Task Force. Hear from some of the voices who are educating and nurturing the city's children, free of charge and their concerns about the viability of the childcare industry in the aftermath of the pandemic.

What will public hearings and local meetings look like in the post-pandemic world? Today we talk with Peter Mantius, a local reporter who was at the region's last heavily-attended meeting. It happened in Butler, Wayne County, and points out exactly why state and local leaders will likely have to find alternative solutions. But that likely can't just mean jumping onto a Zoom or WebEx call virtually, because the legality of those sessions is still highly-questionable. 

If you were carried away with bruised ribs, a bloodied face and broken nose, you too would be wanting to get answers.  Charles Bowman, a Fayette born and raised resident filed a report on March 1st, after being detained by the Cayuga Nation Police for an hour.  Bowman, who is pressing charges against and seeking an investigation still hasn't heard any updates from Seneca County District Attorney Mark Sinkiewicz after the case was handed-off to him.  Nine weeks after his apprehension and temporary detainment by a suspect tribal nation police, Bowman is still seeking answers about his case.

Cows still need to be milked, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dairy farms across New York state are financially suffering with the unprecedented dropping of milk prices, which has prompted co-ops dump milk - and even considered an early indicator of a looming global recession.  On this edition, Manager Kim Skellie speaks about the financial consequences of the pandemic on El-Vi Farms in Newark, both in the short and long term.