Police-community relations in Rochester have been under stress for decades. And that stress probably increased a notch this past weekend, when a Rochester police officer was shot while he was responding to an unrelated 911 call. The shooting is a tragedy, and it underscores the depth of the violence plaguing some neighborhoods in this city. […]
Rochester City Council
Posted inNews & Opinion
Support’s growing for reform of police oversight
Concerns over police conduct aren’t new, in Rochester or many other cities. Nor is the public push for reform. But in Rochester this year, support for reform has been gaining strength. On the heels of 18-year-old Ricky Bryant’s lawsuit charging police with using excessive force and a citizens-group report calling for an independent review board, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
City Council president wants more independent police review process
City Council may push for stronger civilian involvement in the review of actions by Rochester police. City Council President Loretta Scott said this afternoon that she favors some form of an independent civilian review process, something community activists have urged for years. Under current city law, a civilian group – the Center for Dispute Settlement […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Rochester acts to protect immigrants
Rochester officials and area activists are responding with concern to the Trump administration’s immigration plan. The deportations are likely to have a serious impact in Upstate New York, not only in rural areas, where immigrants are working on farms and vineyards, but also in cities, whose residents include refugees from countries the administration is targeting. […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Week ahead: Events for the week of February 20
Rochester City Council will vote on Sanctuary City legislation when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The legislation, which was introduced by Mayor Lovely Warren, will reaffirm Rochester’s status as a sanctuary city, which it’s been since 1986. In short, that means the city’s police will only cooperate with federal immigration agents in ways that […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Week Ahead: Events for the week of Monday, August 22
Members of the Rochester City Council, Rochester school board, and County Legislature will hold a special meeting today, Monday, August 22, to discuss recent changes to the schools modernization project. The Rochester Joint Schools and Construction Board voted against a proposed project labor agreement for Phase II of the $1.3 billion project to modernize city […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
County, city having parallel talks about integrity offices
As the Monroe County Legislature considers a proposal to establish a county Office of Public Integrity, the City of Rochester’s Office of Public Integrity may see some changes. Here’s the deal: the Association of Inspectors General maintains a book of standards for inspector general and public integrity offices, and it accredits offices, through a peer […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
City festivals to get fairness check
Rochester is known for its festivals, and the annual Jazz Festival is the undisputed jewel in the crown. But some people, including a member of City Council, say that the festival is treated like a favorite child and that it’s time to insist on more transparency. The City of Rochester will put together a committee […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Our 2015 City Council endorsements
This year’s City Council election mostly features well-known Democratic incumbents and practically unknown third-party challengers.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Incumbents, endorsed candidates win Dem primaries
Last night was a good night for incumbents and, for the most part, the Democratic and Republican parties’ endorsed candidates.
Posted inNews & Opinion
Primary warfare
Monroe County Democrats are a soft target for the media and local political junkies, mainly because they just make it so easy. The discord — essentially a power struggle between warring factions of the party — appears to be manifesting in some of this year’s primary election contests, particularly in the Monroe County Legislature races. […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Candidates come forward
Monroe County voters are getting a better idea of who will be on the ballot in the September primary and the November general election. The deadline to fill petitions to run for office passed last week. The four district seats are up on City Council this year, as are four city school board seats. In […]
