December 28, 2018

RPD Bans Chasing Moving Cars. Why Does It Allow Shooting at Them?

Author: Rachel Barnhart Updated with video of shooting. It’s not okay to chase a stolen car, but it is okay to shoot at one. The Rochester Police Department’s policies played out in last night’s shooting of a 15-year-old boy who was behind the wheel of a stolen car. First let’s look at the general orders regarding chases and shooting at …

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December 21, 2018

Downtown Developers Get Big Money in Latest Hunger Games

Several developers will get large grants from the state for downtown projects. The Regional Economic Development Councils held its annual award ceremony earlier this week. Often referred to as “the Hunger Games,” regions around the state compete for prizes. The Finger Lakes Region was awarded $86.5 million for various projects. Here are the downtown Rochester projects receiving state cash: – …

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December 20, 2018

Federally-Funded Housing Program Helped Well-Off Buyers

 Author: Rachel Barnhart Want to buy a home with no money down, no closing costs and a low interest rate? Sound too good to be true? That’s what the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America promises to low-to-moderate income homebuyers, even those with bad credit. Despite NACA’s marketing materials offering help to those who may not otherwise qualify for a …

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December 18, 2018

Monroe County’s 2018 Election: What Results Say About 2019

Author: Rachel Barnhart Update at end of article. The 2018 midterm election results show some familiar divides in Monroe county – city-suburbs and eastside-westside. The results also show suburban voters continued their tradition of ticket-splitting, or not voting a straight party line. Check out our interactive maps. Click on each election district for results. GOVERNOR Eastside-Westside This divide was most …

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December 14, 2018

Funk ‘N Waffles Closed. What Happens to $27k City Grant?

Author: Rachel Barnhart When Funk ‘N Waffles closed its Rochester location, city taxpayers may have lost $27,617.23 in grant money given to the restaurant. The grant was awarded in October 2017, about five months after it opened at the former Water Street Music Hall site. The restaurant closed last month, blaming poor location and cost of operating the large space. …

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December 10, 2018

Yes, Campaign Finance Laws Matter

Author: Rachel Barnhart Rochesterians learned last week that the Monroe County District Attorney is investigating Mayor Lovely Warren’s campaign finance activities. James Sheppard and I, her opponents in the 2017 mayoral race, filed complaints that her political action committee (PAC) functioned as a second campaign account. We allege she used the PAC as a vehicle to raise and spend more …

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November 21, 2018

Rochester Settled High-Profile Cases Involving Alleged Police Misconduct

Author: Rachel Barnhart Rochester for All discovered several settlements paid by the city while examining the city checkbook registry. We previously reported on the settlements to Rickey Bryant and Dudley Scott. Here are other settlements that have not been made public until now. Hayden Blackman – $300,000 Hayden Blackman was shot and killed by police in 2011. Family members had …

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November 19, 2018

City Gave $750,000 Settlement to Man Claiming Police Blinded Him in One Eye

Author: Rachel Barnhart The city quietly paid $750,000 to a man who claimed an assault by police officers blinded him in one eye. The secret payment to Dudley Scott is revealed in the city’s checkbook registry obtained by Rochester for All through an open records request. The February check settling a lawsuit filed by Scott was made out to the …

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November 16, 2018

City Paid Rickey Bryant $360,000

Author: Rachel Barnhart Rickey Bryant, the teenager who claimed police broke his eye socket in a case of mistaken identity, received a $360,000 settlement from the City of Rochester. That’s according to the city checkbook registry, which shows a payment to the city insurance company on January 5. Rochester for All obtained the registry through the Freedom of Information Law. …

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November 16, 2018

City Loaning Riverside Hotel Money for Elevators

Author: Rachel Barnhart The owners of Riverside Hotel are spending $750,000 to upgrade and fix elevators at the facility. That’s according to minutes from a May 23 meeting of the Rochester Economic Development Corporation (REDCO). The REDCO board approved loaning the owners, 120 EMS Management, LLC $250,000. The work is almost complete, according to one of the owners, David Christa. …

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