Rochester City Council May Newsletter

May 24, 2024

From President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr.

It’s one of the busiest months of the year in City Hall, and as this Council reviews the Mayor’s proposed budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, we’re dedicated to ensuring every dollar spent is in service of our goal to build a Rochester with Safer Streets, Quality Housing and Equitable Access to Opportunity.

Even before our budget hearings with the Administration scheduled for next week, we’ve made good on a Quality Housing promise outlined in the City Council majority’s recent Pact With the People. I’m proud to say that we have lowered the tax rate for the coming fiscal year by nearly 40% -- a crucial step in ensuring that our residents can live worry-free in their homes while building equity for their families.

Furthering our commitment to Safer Streets, this month City Council approved an Ambassador Program on Monroe Avenue, ensuring our streets stay clean, residents and visitors feel welcome, and our most underserved residents are connected with necessary resources.

This Council is also working to create Equitable Access to Opportunity for all Rochesterians by championing a bill in the State Legislature that would create a Public Bank in our city. Currently, our public funds are deposited in big banks, which systematically harm our communities through redlining, fee gouging and discriminatory lending. Moreover, the big banks fund industries detrimental to New Yorkers, such as fossil fuels and speculative real estate, further destabilizing neighborhoods.

With a Rochester Public Bank, we can divest from banks that engage in harmful activities, and redirect those financial resources to an institution that will build wealth in our communities – not extract it.

As we look forward to the new fiscal year, we hope you will remain engaged in the City Budget process and attend the hearings we have scheduled in City Council Chambers next week. This is one of the most important times of the year in City government, and we are committed to making sure every tax dollar spent goes to creating a better Rochester for you and your family.

Breaking Down the Mayor’s Proposed Budget:

City Council Budget Hearings

Suki Regoni Memorial Scholarship

Rochester City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris this week announced that City Council will fund the Suki Regoni Memorial Paramedic Scholarship, to be granted to Monroe Community College students pursuing a Paramedic AAS Degree or Certification.

"Suki’s legacy inspired me to become the Paramedic and educator I am today,” Vice President Harris said. “This scholarship aims to support candidates pursuing a career as a paramedic. The goal is to reduce the financial burden for these students. The challenging curriculum can be intense, especially for those balancing work and studies. This scholarship would provide much-needed assistance.”

The annual $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a student each of the next four years under the announced funding. Preference will be given to applicants who live in zip codes 14604, 14605, 14606, 14607, 14608, 14609, 14611, 14613, 14614, 14615, 14619, 14620, and 14621.

Applicants must submit an essay describing what EMS means to them, and how they will use their credentials to serve the City of Rochester. Applicants must also hold a 2.0 or higher GPA and demonstrate financial need.

Applications open on September 1, 2024 and close Oct. 31. For more information, visit monroecc.edu/go/scholarships.

The Wait for Section 8 Is Over

Recognizing Rochester’s Black Nurses

This month, Rochester recognized nurses from the Rochester Black Nurses Association for their tireless work keeping the residents of our City healthy and bridging professional, educational and healthcare gaps in Rochester.