Rochester City Council July Newsletter
From President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr.
This month, we celebrated Pride, made new strides in the continuous effort to curb gun violence in our city, and we developed opportunities for you to tell us how you feel about important upcoming legislation.
As we make our way through the second half of the calendar year, I’m proud of all the work this Council has done to create a Rochester of Safer Neighborhoods, Quality Housing and Equitable Access to Opportunity.
This month, all nine members of City Council fought for Safer Neighborhoods by signing a memorializing resolution calling on the President, Congress and the Senate to repeal the Tiahrt amendment — which makes it virtually impossible to get information from the federal firearms trace database outside a criminal investigation. City Council Memorializing Resolutions are non-binding items signed by members of Council which amplify the voice of Council beyond its direct jurisdiction. These Resolutions aim to inform powers outside the City of Rochester, such as the New York State and Federal governments, of the will of City Council and urge them to act with Rochester in mind.
Starting next week, City Council will continue its fight for Quality Housing with the first in a series of four public forums on Good Cause Eviction legislation. Each of the Rochester City Council District representatives – Vice President LaShay D. Harris (South), Michael A. Patterson (Northeast), Mary Lupien (East) and Bridget A. Monroe (Northwest) – will host a public forum in the coming weeks regarding the Good Cause Eviction legislation currently before City Council. These sessions are open to tenants, landlords and all members of the community. For more information, you can read the relevant article in this newsletter or contact us at (585) 428-7538 or Council@CityofRochester.Gov. No registration is required to attend any of these forums.
Finally, this month we continue our commitment to Equitable Access to Opportunity by celebrating and uplifting our LGBTQ+ community during Rochester’s Pride Month. Earlier this month, we celebrated Rochester’s annual Pride Parade and Festival, and continue to support the members of our vibrant LGBTQ+ every day.
As we move forward through the summer and beyond, I’m certain that this Council will make good on its duties and promises — and continue to build a better Rochester for all of us.
Council Wants to Hear from You on Good Cause Eviction
Each of the Rochester City Council District representatives – Vice President LaShay D. Harris (South), Michael A. Patterson (Northeast), Mary Lupien (East) and Bridget A. Monroe (Northwest) – will host a public hearing in the coming weeks regarding the Good Cause Eviction legislation currently before City Council.
These hearings will be held in each respective Councilmember’s district, and will be open to the public. No registration is required to attend any of these hearings. The stated goal of the upcoming hearings is to gather information and opinions from tenants, landlords and all community members on the concept of Good Cause Eviction – and the specific relevant legislation currently being considered by Council.
The legislation, which was introduced by City Council in June, would adopt New York State’s Good Cause Eviction law, restricting evictions without good reason and similarly curtailing the denial of lease renewals.
Dates and times for the public hearings are as follows:
· South District – Monday, July 29, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church (175 Genesee Street);
· Northeast District – Tuesday, August 13, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Public Market (280 North Union Street);
· East District – Wednesday, August 14, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ryan R-Center (530 Webster Avenue);
· Northwest District – Tuesday, August 27, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edgerton R-Center(41 Backus Street);
For more information on these hearings, City residents can call the City Council office at (585) 428-7538, or email Council@CityofRochester.Gov.
City Council Confirms New PAB Director
Rochester City Council this month appointed Lesli Myers-Small as the new Executive Director of the Police Accountability Board.
In a hearing earlier this month, Councilmembers asked Dr. Myers-Small questions on her background, vision for the PAB and her time as RCSD Superintendent.
Continuing the Fight to End Gun Violence in Rochester
The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition, Headed by Councilmember Willie J. Lightfoot, Sr., is relaunching its successful Think About It anti-violence campaign, aimed at curbing gun violence at the source in Rochester during a time when the city traditionally sees heightened rates of shootings.
“I have dedicated my time on City Council to tackling Rochester’s gun violence epidemic head on,” Councilmember Lightfoot said. “By relaunching this campaign, we can lay the groundwork in our most challenged neighborhoods to Educate on the dangers of gun violence, Advocate for peace and Eradicate shootings in our city before they happen.”
The campaign was developed in collaboration with the Evans administration, and has deployed billboards, radio ads and other highly visible collateral throughout Rochester – all bearing the slogan, “A Shot From A Gun Can’t Be Undone.” The campaign will run throughout the summer, a time of year in Rochester when shootings have historically increased.
The campaign follows an initial run in 2018 under the Warren administration, which called attention to gun violence in a way that was accessible, intentional and focused on affecting real change in Rochester.
“The ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition continues to fight for a better Rochester through awareness and advocacy,” City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr. said. “As chair of the RAGVC advocacy committee, I have heard from the community how important it is to lay out a counter message in our neighborhoods. We are presently working through our solutions action plan to help reduce gun violence through legislative action as well, but this campaign helps reignite conversations on street corners, in barbershops and living rooms.”
With the relaunch of the campaign, that same ethos will again be employed to convey a simple yet powerful anti-violence message.
“When shootings in our city occur, both the lives of the victim and the shooter are changed forever,” Councilmember Lightfoot said. “If we can reach people before they make that life-altering decision, we can stop gun violence at the source.”
Celebrating Rochester Pride
Pride Month as we know it began after Stonewall in 1969. In fact, many consider the Stonewall Uprising to be the start of the American gay liberation movement – and PRIDE.
Rochester has a long history of activism related to LGBTQ+ rights and soon after Stonewall the first LGBTQ+ Picnic took place in Rochester on July 16, 1972. Keeping this more than 50-year tradition alive, festivities in Rochester still occur in July — which means our city gets double the PRIDE.
This month, we celebrated at the Pride Parade and festival, recognized more than 150 leaders of Rochester’s LGBTQ+ community and asked members of the community what Pride means to them.
Tennis Tournaments are Coming Back to the City
Tennis is coming back to the City of Rochester!
Join us August 15-18 for a doubles tennis tournament at Genesee Valley Park — the first tournament held by the City on Rochester courts in 20 years.
“Come on out and have fun,” said City Councilmember Mitch Gruber. “Even if you are not a player, come on out and watch.”
With the resurgence of tennis tournaments on our courts, the City is offering Rochesterians Equitable Access to Opportunities in sport and leisure.
“This tournament will bring the sport of tennis to a whole new generation of Rochesterians,” City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris said. “And I can’t think of a better place to ensure the sport reaches all members of our community than Genesee Valley Park in my home South District.”
Rochester May Have the Job For You
