Rochester City Council September Newsletter
From President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr.
I am proud of the work City Council has done this summer. We have reached out extensively to Rochesterians regarding Good Cause Eviction legislation, helped connect city residents to jobs through the successful annual ROC the Block community employment fairs, and we have launched a new effort to combat childhood poverty in Rochester.
This month, City Council passed legislation to create more affordable housing in our community by allocating funds carried over from the previous year to build new single family homes. Creating more housing options and bringing more units online is critically important. Council also continued its commitment to combatting gun violence by signing a memorializing resolution which calls on the Monroe County Public Health Director to declare gun violence a public health crisis in Rochester.
As we continue to tackle challenges, I am also working to bring new opportunities to Peace Village. While there are challenges to overcome, it is crucial that the City of Rochester supports our unhoused and street homeless community members through transitions and the Peace Village site is important to that end. I am excited to push the Pallet Shelters installation on industrial street in the coming months, with enhanced services and amenities being developed on site at Peace Village.
As we head into the fall, I hope to keep this momentum moving forward. With the recently released childhood poverty survey, headed by Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris, we are asking for direct feedback from residents to better learn what Rochesterians need to feel financially safe and secure.
If you want to join us in the fight against childhood poverty, you can take the survey at https://forms.office.com/r/jeN1QJ8SDg. A Spanish version is also available at https://forms.office.com/r/CkbrSNx9Gd.
This month also marks Hispanic Heritage Month in Rochester and across the Country. To celebrate, we invited the Borinquen Dance Theatre to our regular City Council meeting for a performance steeped in community, expression and Caribbean and Latin Culture. It’s moments like these that show what a rich, vibrant and diverse community Rochester truly is.
Moving forward, I am restating my promise to fight for a Rochester of Safer Neighborhoods, Quality Housing and Equitable Access to Opportunity for all. This Council is committed to the work that will continue to help the Flower City grow and blossom, and as we move away from the heat of summer and into crisp fall air, our efforts will only grow stronger.
Help Us Fight Childhood Poverty
Rochester City Council, via the People, Parks and Public Works Committee, will hold a series of hearings with local childhood advocacy leaders as City Council Vice President LaShay D. Harris launches a new coalition-building initiative to fortify the ongoing effort to combat childhood poverty in Rochester.
“Too many children in Rochester have suffered from poverty for too long,” said Vice President Harris, who chairs the People, Parks and Public Works Committee.
“It is clear that the City of Rochester needs to do more to combat childhood poverty and find new and innovative solutions that help families afford basic needs like food, housing, tutoring, and extracurricular activities. With the People, Parks and Public Works Committee’s new approach, we can build and strengthen relationships that will be crucial to fighting childhood poverty in our city.”
Dates of the hearings will be announced at a later time. Vice President Harris will call on local experts to take stock of the ongoing effort to reduce childhood poverty within the city and in the broader Rochester area.
Alongside the hearings, Vice President Harris will host a youth session on Nov. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Park. There, Rochester youth will have an opportunity to participate in dialogue with elected officials and advocates, and offer their own ideas and experiences related to childhood poverty in the city.
Additionally, City Council has launched a new survey in collaboration with The Children’s Agenda to better understand the impact of childhood poverty. The survey, accessible at https://forms.office.com/r/jeN1QJ8SDg, will take input from city residents on the causes and solutions to childhood poverty to help inform an upcoming report by the People, Parks and Public Works Committee. Residents may also complete the survey in Spanish at https://forms.office.com/r/CkbrSNx9Gd.
“We are thrilled to partner with Rochester City Council and Vice President Harris to work toward a better future for children and families in Rochester,” said The Children’s Agenda CEO, Larry Marx. “This effort marks an opportunity for our community to renew focus on the solutions for alleviating the concentration of childhood poverty in the city of Rochester.”
As a supplement to the survey, the People, Parks and Public Works Committee has launched an open response page, giving residents and advocacy organizations an opportunity to offer long-form ideas on the causes and potential solutions to childhood poverty. To complete the open response supplement, those interested can visit https://forms.office.com/r/QQV59K7Lk1.
Organizations interested in submitting larger documents can do so by contacting Council@CityofRochester.gov.
Looking internally, the People, Parks and Public Works Committee will issue a survey to all departments within the City of Rochester. The internal survey will allow City Council to work with the Evans Administration to take stock of ongoing efforts, successes and challenges in the work to combat childhood poverty in Rochester.
“It is crucial that we work with the Evans administration to ensure our City government is doing everything it can to help struggling families in Rochester,” said City Council President Miguel A. Meléndez, Jr. “We will also lean on our partners outside local government to gain new perspective on potential policy solutions that will advance equity and support positive outcomes for our residents.”
Using this three-pronged, holistic approach, the People, Parks and Public Works Committee aims to build new relationships, and strengthen existing ones, to bolster the fight against childhood poverty in Rochester. The Committee’s final report is expected later this year, and will identify potential policies for which City Council can advocate in order to reduce childhood poverty at the City, County, State and Federal level.
“It is my hope that this effort will lead to tangible, actionable policy solutions that will uplift struggling Rochester families and pave the way to a better life for our city’s most underserved children and families,” said Vice President Harris.
Rochester City Council Goes Global
This month, City Council Legislative Assistant Adrienne Davis presented a certificate of recognition to the Buzstopboys of Ghana, West Africa, who provide education through the care and maintenance of streets, parks and shared spaces in their community.
The recognition, signed by City Council President Meléndez and Council Vice President Harris, signifies shared values of volunteerism and service all around the world.
Save the Date: Youth in Crisis Conference
Join us at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center for a day dedicated to addressing the challenges facing young people today, specifically revolving around gun violence.
This event will feature insightful speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. Don't miss this chance to come together and learn how we can support our youth in the fight to eradicate gun violence in our city.
