“Tompkins County” is a concept created by Cornell to legitimize unilateral policy making for their sole benefit.
Cornell’s planners cite “agriculture” as a banner cry for their mistreatment and lack of representation for the vast majority of those living in rural Lansing. They pretend that by claiming one segment of the population is important; they can legitimize ignoring the needs of everyone else.
Even though the area was settled more than 200 years ago; rural residents are now demonized as squandering natural resources and restricting the activities of invasive corporate farms: who rule this newly created Agricultural Zone ‘without let or hindrance.’ These land gobbling farms are the “Irish Landlords” of Cornell’s Urban Colonialism.
And just as the Landlords exported ship after ship of food to England at the height of the Irish famine – so do Cornell’s CAFO and Agribusiness cronies promote policies that remove services and land uses from the rural poor; while increasing taxes and assessments on a community already dying from crime, drugs, and neglect.
Cornell’s constructive eviction policies are eroding the county’s rural communities like a flood of toxic waste.
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Cornell is a rich tax exempt corporation that decides the where public taxes should be spent – on themselves, of course. And Ithaca’s preening advocates and institutions think no more of the county’s rural population; than fair goers do of the day-workers behind its existence.
The county’s rural areas are the perfect dumping grounds – and its residents are the perfect victims. And as climate change, immigration, and economic woes increasingly impact New York State — this policy will only become more widespread.