Updates on the City and Bridge Barriers

On July 14th, the Common Council voted to extend the placement of temporary barriers until the end of August. Read about it on the Ithaca Journal site.

A new style of temporary barrier is being proposed to replace the chain link fences, and an example of this style can be seen on the Thurston Avenue bridge.

The Council's Committee on Public Works met on July 21 and voted 5-0 to support the extension into the school year. The Council will consider the issue on Wednesday, August 4th.

Special Meeting called by Mayor for Wednesday, July 14 at 7 pm.

The Mayor is calling a special meeting on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 7 pm in Common Council Chambers for a presentation by members of the Bridge Fences Group, including analysis of suicide contagion, interim fencing, identification of specific bridges for barriers, and local history of suicides by jumping. There will be information boards on display for attendees to review. After the presentation, questions will be taken from city council and board members, and then opened to the public.

Guest Editorial in the Ithaca Journal on Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Richard Driscoll and Jennifer Streid-Mullen's guest editorial ran in the Ithaca Journal on Tuesday. You can read it and post comments there or here.

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107060310

Ithaca Common Council 6/2/10

On Tuesday June 2, 2010, Ithaca City Common Council is considering a proposal to extend the existing temporary fencing for 8-10 weeks while the City and Cornell work together to create interim fencing. Learn more on the page at right.

Talking Works

At Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, we teach everyone we can reach, from our volunteer counselors to teens and adults, that talking is the best form of suicide prevention. But that can only happen when someone is willing to listen. For people in extreme distress, crisis, or undergoing a mental health issue, finding a good listener is of utmost importance.

This blog has been set up for the sole purpose of opening up a community discussion about the idea of putting barriers on four bridges in our beautiful city of Ithaca for the purpose of reducing or even preventing suicides in our gorges.

It's a difficult topic. So, this is a place to talk about the bridge barriers. We promise to listen.

Ithaca Festival

Join us at our booth at the Ithaca Festival Friday June 4 and Saturday June 5. We will have information, pictures, as well as a quilt to raffle to benefit SPCS.

Safe Bridges Ithaca

We at SPCS support well-designed bridge barriers on key local bridges as one crucial safety measure in order to reduce deaths by suicide in Ithaca.