September 6, 2018

City Should Not Sell East End Garage to Masachi

According to the Democrat and Chronicle, the City of Rochester is considering selling the East End Garage to Thomas Masachi and partners. Legislation has been submitted to City Council for approval. The city should not sell this important asset to Masachi, because the FBI has scrutinized his company, DHD Ventures, as part of the mortgage fraud scheme involving Morgan Management, …

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August 21, 2018

Rochester for All Comments at COMIDA Meeting

COMIDA approved tax incentives for 4000 River Road LLC on Tuesday. Here are comments made by Rochester for All Director Rachel Barnhart at the meeting: I represent Rochester for All, a nonprofit citizen watchdog organization dedicated to good government and fiscal responsibility. First, I want to address issues of transparency related to COMIDA’s public hearing process. COMIDA should post the …

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August 20, 2018

Update to 4000 River Road LLC – Is Morgan Out?

The public got to see 4000 River Road LLC’s application for tax abatements for the first time at a public hearing this morning in Henrietta. The property was purchased by a subsidiary of Morgan Management last year from Rochester Institute of Technology. Robert Morgan signed the mortgage and deed. No other records pertaining to the property have been filed since …

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August 17, 2018

COMIDA Should Turn Down Tax Breaks to Morgan for Henrietta Project

Rochester for All calls on the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency to reject tax abatements for a project owned by Morgan Management. COMIDA is holding a public hearing on Monday for 4000 River Road LLC, a student apartment building in Henrietta. COMIDA is meeting the following day, presumably to vote on the deal. Morgan proposes renovating the existing complex …

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August 15, 2018

City Must Provide Public Accounting on Morgan and DHD

Rochester for All calls on City Council to demand an accounting on all outstanding loans and grants connected to Morgan Management and DHD Ventures. The Wall Street Journal reports both companies are under investigation for mortgage fraud, calling it one of the biggest investigations of its kind. Several arrests have already been made. DHD has defaulted on nearly $60 million …

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August 6, 2018

City Financial Disclosure Forms in Limbo

City Council strengthened form in January. People complained about the extensive reporting requirements. Corporation Counsel directed the Board of Ethics/Office of Public Integrity to issue extensions on forms. Moves appear to violate City Charter. One of the first pieces of legislation passed by City Council in 2018 beefed up the annual financial disclosure form that elected officials, senior management and …

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July 15, 2018

OPI Needs an Overhaul

–        Elected Comptroller or Public Integrity Director needed –        Petitioning to get city charter revision on ballot an option –        OPI has ignored Rochester for All’s information about wrongdoing –        Peer reviews recommend OPI change structure or contract out investigations involving mayor   Following a Democrat and Chronicle article questioning the Office of Public Integrity’s commitment to its mission, Rochester …

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April 4, 2018

Deputy Mayor’s Secretary Terminated

Six days after Rochester for All exposed the fact Deputy Mayor Cedric Alexander directed his executive assistant to do work on his outside business activities, she was terminated. Diane Jackson had been a longtime executive assistant for deputy mayors. She is known for her warm and friendly personality. Sources say City Hall staffers were shocked at her firing. As a …

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March 30, 2018

Few Take Advantage of City Home Buying Grant

(Click the map to see the key.) Looking to buy a house? You might be eligible for grants up to $6,000 if you’re willing to live in the city. But few people who qualify for the program take advantage of the incentive. The City of Rochester’s Employee Assisted Housing Initiative offers $6,000 to city employees and $3,000 matching grants to …

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March 20, 2018

Deputy Mayor Cedric Alexander’s Secretary Books His Personal Travel

Records also reveal:  – Alexander was paid to speak at a Florida conference, but put down time as regular work hours.  – Alexander did work for a government contractor that previously engaged in torture. Deputy Mayor Cedric Alexander’s executive assistant has been booking his personal travel as part of her regular job duties. In late February, Rochester for All filed …

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