The Ithaca Common Council voted to pass a temporary moratorium on event permits for Cornell and affiliated student organizations, 9-1, during a packed, marathon session on Wednesday evening where an online political commentator accused the council of putting his public comment card in the garbage.
The moratorium, which will be in effect until Nov. 5, stops the city from issuing new event permits to Cornell, Greek Life organizations and organizations affiliated with Cornell under four city codes that govern events.
Alderperson Pat Sewell (D-3rd Ward) cast the sole dissenting vote.
The move is intended to pressure the University to adopt major changes in how it deals with sexual misconduct, including requiring the Cornell University Police Department to hand over sexual assault investigations to the Ithaca Police Department.
“Cornell, as an institution, thinks it’s above the law,” said Alderperson Jorge DeFendini ’22 (D-1st Ward). “But they are not above the law. We will hold them and anyone who engages in this [thinking] accountable.”
Mayor Robert Cantelmo M.A. ’20 called for the moratorium in a Sept. 28 statement, expressing concerns regarding the University’s response to an alleged 2024 Chi Phi gang rape.
Cornell’s handling of the case has been slammed by elected officials and is now being independently reviewed by Attorney General Letitia James (D-N.Y.). Cornell’s Board of Trustees has also appointed Sally Yates, a former U.S. deputy attorney general, to lead its own independent review.
The key provision that could prevent parties from occurring is the hold on noise permits. The city code requires a noise permit for all events with DJs that use amplified sound and those that exceed a certain noise level. Most student noise permits issued by the city go to Greek Life organizations, according to City Manager Dominic Reckkio.
First amendment related activities, including protests and assemblies, will still be permitted, according to the resolution.
But before the Council could vote on the resolution, online political commentator Michael Tracey, who has attempted to reveal the identity of Jane Doe, shouted at the Council after he was not named among public commenters.
“Excuse me. Motion to reconsider,” Tracey interjected.
“You’re definitely not eligible to make motions,” Cantelmo shot back.
Tracey accused city staff of throwing away his public comment card — which the council requires attendees to submit in order to speak during the meeting.
He was then confronted and taken out of the council chambers by Alderperson David Shapiro (D-3rd Ward), where Shapiro and Tracey could be heard yelling in the hallway.
Local conservative activist Zachary Winn, who was accompanying Tracey, interrupted the mayor after Tracey returned to the room.
“He has the right to speak. This is un-American,” Winn shouted.
“It ended up in the garbage holder,” Tracey added. “This is what democracy looks like. Mayor, you ought to resign.”
In his public outburst, Tracey told Cantelmo he “should be ashamed” for calling this a rape case before the “adjudicative process.” Then, he left the chambers for the night.
Tracey previously posted on X asking to “see if anyone has the ‘balls’ to name this Jane Doe so we can all evaluate her veracity.”
Several graduate students at the meeting spoke in opposition to the moratorium.
Cecily Cox M.B.A. ’27 claimed the city’s action would have “significant practical and financial consequences” on activities like conferences and service programs.
Undergraduates like Sam Poole ’28 expressed their support of the moratorium.
Cornell “didn’t make the most basic changes that could’ve been made to keep our students safe,” Poole said. “We need the city to put pressure on Cornell.”
An Ithaca resident added to Poole’s call for the moratorium, comparing it to former Ithaca Mayor Ben Nichol’s 1995 move to withhold construction permits from the University in an effort to get Cornell to increase the payments it makes to the city in lieu of taxes.
The council is expected to vote during its Nov. 5 session on renewing the moratorium, which Cantelmo said was dependent on the city and University’s progress in negotiating demands.
Valencia Massaro is a member of the Class of 2029 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She is a senior writer for the news department and can be reached at vmassaro@cornellsun.com.
Atticus Johnson is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. He is a news editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at ajohnson@cornellsun.com.
