Matt Dougherty

New York

Managing Editor and Reporter at Ithaca Times

Writer at The Bull-Moose Note.

Journalist @ithacatimes & @bullmoosenote | Opinions are my own

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Articles

Downtown Comes Alive as Ithaca Festival Takes the Stage

1 week ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

As summer approaches at what seems like the speed of light, the City of Ithaca is gearing up for one of its most cherished traditions, the 2025 Ithaca Festival. This annual event, set to take place from May 29 to June 2, promises to be a vibrant celebration of art, music, comedy, and community spirit. With the theme “Enchanted Ithaca!” and artwork by the talented Bethany Parisi, the festival invites everyone to come together and bask in the joy of creativity and togetherness.
Federal Medicaid Cuts To Throw 30,000 Off Health Insurance In NY-19, Cost State Billions

1 week ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County and New York State officials are warning about unprecedented federal budget cuts that would gut Medicaid and threaten healthcare access for thousands of local residents. The proposed House Budget Reconciliation bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” and supported entirely by Congressional Republicans, includes $698 billion in nationwide Medicaid cuts over the next ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Cayuga Park Waterfront Development Approaches Finish Line

1 week ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

The Cayuga Park development, formerly known as the Carpenter Business Park, is nearing completion, soon ending one of the largest waterfront development projects in the city’s history. Situated on Route 13 stretching from the Cayuga Medical building to the Marketview Apartments, the project has been estimated to cost up to $60 million and construction is expected to be completed within the next year.
Ithaca Council Approves $1M HUD Action Plan for Housing and Community Development

2 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — The Ithaca Common Council unanimously approved the city’s 2025 HUD Action Plan on Wednesday, directing more than $1 million in federal funds to affordable housing, job training, and homelessness assistance. The plan allocates $1,040,052 in total, including $636,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), $232,000 from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and $170,052 from prior-year loan repayments and other local sources.
TCAT Rolls Out Summer Service as New Buses and Staffing Boost Aim to Improve Reliability

2 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) is set to roll out its summer service on May 25 as the organization’s leaders say they are in a good position to recover from pandemic induced decline in ridership, staffing shortages and equipment failures.
Council Debates Historic Preservation Impact on Housing Crisis

3 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — A proposal to place a moratorium on the creation or expansion of historic districts sparked an intense debate at the May 14 meeting of Common Council, with council members speaking on the impacts of historic preservation on Ithaca’s housing crisis.
Ithaca’s Participatory Budgeting Pilot Launches with City Hall Plaza Project

3 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — The City of Ithaca is introducing its new participatory budgeting process through a small-scale redesign of City Hall Plaza. The pilot project aims to educate the public about how participatory budgeting works to help build momentum for its full-scale rollout in 2026.
Hundreds Rally in Ithaca on May Day for Workers’ Rights and a Living Wage

4 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — More than 200 people marched through downtown Ithaca on Thursday evening to mark International Workers’ Day, commonly known as May Day, calling for stronger worker protections, a $25 living wage, and an end to exploitative at-will employment policies. The rally came just one week after hundreds of residents gathered on the Ithaca Commons for an Earth Day rally focused on climate justice and sustainability.
Ithaca Approves ADU Ordinance Without Owner-Occupancy Requirement

4 weeks ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — After six years of planning and debate, the Ithaca Common Council voted 8–3 on May 7 to adopt legislation that legalizes the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right in most residential zones across the city. The landmark vote followed a lengthy public hearing and council debate over the policy’s potential to alleviate the city’s housing crisis and its impact on neighborhoods, specifically in the third ward.
Ithaca Tenants Ramp Up Pressure for Rent Control As City Vacancy Study Stalls

1 month ago | ithaca.com | Matt Dougherty

ITHACA, N.Y. — With approximately 75% of Ithaca residents living in rental housing and the majority of those renters classified as cost burdened, the Ithaca Tenants Union (ITU) is pushing the city opt-in to the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETA) to stabilize rents as housing costs continue to skyrocket. From 2022 to 2025, the fair market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Ithaca rose from $1,127 to $1,489 — a 32% increase.