Tompkins County Human Rights Commission

05/08/2026

At the Friendship Donation Network on State St., Ithaca. FDN works to decrease food waste and get extra food to those who need it.

04/21/2026

5/7 "Health Care Financing & the New York Health Act"
Health Care Financing & the New York Health Act Presentation
Thursday, May 7, 6:00pm
@ Tompkins County Public Library, Borg Warner Room, 101 E Green St, Ithaca NY

With Dr. Rosemary Batt, the Alice Hanson Cook Professor at the Cornell University school of Industrial and Labor Relations; Marguerite Uphoff, retired pediatrician; Susan Beckley, small business owner and a proponent of the New York Health Act;
Richard Gottfried, retired NYS Assembly member and author of the New York Health Act. The talk is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Tompkins County.
Why do we pay 2 to 4 times as much for medications in the US than in Canada?
Is the American Health Care system broken? Why is it hard to find a primary care physician?
Why do you have to wait weeks to get an appointment? Why do you get sent to an urgent care clinic or the ER when you are sick instead of seeing your primary care physician?
Why are infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates significantly higher in the US than in Canada or other wealthy countries? (Canada 3.74, New York State 4.1, Cortland County 8.5, Cayuga County 8.6, Tompkins County 6.0 --2024 or 2025)
The United States spends nearly twice what Canada and Europe and other wealthy countries spend per capita on health care--$14,800 in the US vs $7000-$9000 in Canada and Europe. Andi n those countries all citizens have comprehensive health care, including long term care. And in spite of the high cost of healthcare in the United States, we have shorter life expectancy.
Why do all citizens in every other wealthy country have access to health care but in the United States, 27 million Americans do not have health insurance? The increasingly high cost of health insurance with high deductibles, high copays and out-of-network costs leave millions of Americans in debt and hesitant to use health care. Medical debt is a leading cause of bankruptcy in the US-- 62% of consumer bankruptcy.
Dozens of hospitals in rural Upstate New York are at risk of closing. Medicaid and Medicare payments to doctors and hospitals are at rates that are not sufficient to keep rural hospitals open and draw doctors to practice. Rural hospitals with more uninsured patients provide care for which they are not reimbursed. Many rural New York hospitals have closed or are closing some services. Cayuga Medical Center no longer admits children. Children who require hospitalization are sent to Syracuse or Rochester.

Content copied from post on the TC Human Services List Serve on 4/21/26 by League of Women Voters Tompkins County

04/15/2026

This is to help find work/volunteer opportunities to satisfy the new SNAP requirements or to find out if you are exempt.

Connect with volunteer and training opportunities in Tompkins County

02/13/2026

If you are in Tompkins County and haven't yet taken our survey, please do so! We are wrapping it up soon.

Hello residents of Tompkins County!

On behalf of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission and its research partners, we invite you to participate in our first comprehensive “TAKING THE PULSE” survey on residents’ experiences and perceptions of how well their fundamental human rights are protected in Tompkins County.
Link: https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bruCKHUV21ZLlvU?Q_CHL=qr

Take just 10 minutes to complete this survey and directly help shape the future of our county.
This survey is entirely voluntary, anonymous and non-partisan.

Results of this survey will be used to develop policy and community solutions and to empower agencies and community members to address and improve the culture of respect for human rights.

Take the survey! Feel free to send the link to those you know and repost it as well

01/12/2026

The Executive Committee joined the Made of Clay radio show recently! Made of Clay is a local radio program hosted by Ithaca's community radio station WRFI. Listen to our discussion here:

Our Human Rights Commissioners’ Work in Tompkins County: The Executive Committee, Peyi Soyinka-Airewele, Theresa Fulton, Mullen Quaye, and Peaches Gillette December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 by admin January 4, 2026 Listen to show.

12/13/2025

On this date in 1948 in Paris, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by a committee made up of representatives from all regions of the world - and chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt - the Declaration established for the first time fundamental human rights to be universally protected by all countries.

At a time when human rights are under attack even in our own country, it is more important than ever that we recognize and celebrate this magnificent and unprecedented achievement. Indivisible Cortland County regrets having to cancel the commemoration ceremony scheduled for tonight due to weather concerns, but we provide the document below for your careful review and appreciation. Please share.

11/19/2025

10/25/2025

Our UnMute Yourself series continues! Please join us Tuesday October 28 @ 5:00PM for "Supporting our International Community & Protecting Academic Sanctuary". Join Zoom Meeting
https://ithaca.zoom.us/j/93507200715?pwd=zauntbXOw3GMNzTskerByEX5RNcwt2.1

08/22/2025

Hello residents of Tompkins County!

On behalf of the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission and its research partners, we invite you to participate in our first comprehensive “TAKING THE PULSE” survey on residents’ experiences and perceptions of how well their fundamental human rights are protected in Tompkins County.
Link: https://ithaca.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bruCKHUV21ZLlvU?Q_CHL=qr

Take just 10 minutes to complete this survey and directly help shape the future of our county.
This survey is entirely voluntary, anonymous and non-partisan.

Results of this survey will be used to develop policy and community solutions and to empower agencies and community members to address and improve the culture of respect for human rights.

Take the survey! Feel free to send the link to those you know and repost it as well