December 31, 2017

Was City FOIL Archive Rigged?

Barnhart’s FOIL requests account for 60.8% of the archive, but about 2 percent of all FOIL requests the city received in 2017. Statement from Rochester for All Director Eric Stevens On December 28, the City of Rochester publicly launched its online FOIL Archive. Described by Alex Yudelson, Mayor Lovely Warren’s Chief of Staff, as a place “where citizens can view all public documents …

Continue reading
December 25, 2017

Deputy Mayor’s Numerous Absences & Business Interests Raise Issues

Alexander’s schedule shows he was away from City Hall 28 days in 25 weeks. Seven days were on official business. Alexander spoke at a conference hosted by Axon, which sells Tasers to the city. He later met with an Axon rep in Rochester. Alexander has several outside business interests, which could conflict with his city job. Alexander appears to do …

Continue reading
December 21, 2017

Proposal: Rochester Ombudsman Committee

Trust in mass media has fallen to an all-time low, according to a 2016 Gallup Poll. Only one-third of Americans trust the media a great deal or a fair amount to report the news “fully, fairly and accurately.” Trust in local news could also use some work, Pew Research found last year. Only 22 percent of respondents have a lot …

Continue reading
December 20, 2017

Alexander Book Purchase: Rochester for All Filing Ethics Complaint

Rochester for All is filing an ethics complaint about a book signing event held in July 2016 featuring Cedric Alexander, who became deputy mayor the following year. The city purchased 100 copies of Alexander’s self-published book, The New Guardians: Policing in America’s Communities for the 21st Century. According to records obtained through the Freedom of Information Law, the $1,566 purchase was …

Continue reading
December 14, 2017

Time for Municipal Broadband is Now

There’s never been a better time to create a municipal broadband network. The repeal of net neutrality threatens to raise costs for consumers and content creators. A middle school student in Rochester could one day invent the next Facebook. That child cannot achieve this dream for herself and our community without access to a low-cost internet that will treat her …

Continue reading
December 4, 2017

Why Did City Buy 100 Copies of Deputy Mayor’s Book?

Rochester for All supports pending City Council legislation to strengthen financial disclosure forms required of city officials. The deputy mayor shared information on his current form that raises ethical issues. The proposal from Council members Carolee Conklin, Molly Clifford and Adam McFadden would require officials to disclose all sources of income and amounts of the income, something not currently required. …

Continue reading
November 29, 2017

Corning’s Glass is Very Full

Governor Andrew Cuomo is in the holiday spirit. He visited Corning Incorporated to announce $7.75 million in state funds to help Corning set up a $95.5 million new manufacturing line. In return, Corning has promised to create 185 jobs by 2020. Let’s remove the rose-colored glasses. This is the last company that needs taxpayer subsidies. Corning earned $466 million last …

Continue reading