Contact:​ ​Annmarie​ ​Vanson,​ ​585-319-7773
ACT​ ​Rochester​ ​Report​ ​Requires​ ​Action
ACT​ ​Rochester’s​ ​report​ ​highlighted​ ​long-known​ ​and​ ​heartbreaking​ ​truths​ ​about​ ​the​ ​Rochester​ ​area.​ ​Inequality,
segregation​ ​and​ ​poverty​ ​are​ ​deeply​ ​entrenched​ ​–​ ​and​ ​linked​ ​to​ ​structural​ ​racism.​ ​ ​We’ll​ ​need​ ​structural
solutions.​ ​I’m​ ​proposing​ ​the​ ​following​ ​to​ ​address​ ​structural​ ​racism​ ​and​ ​inequality.
Better​ ​Connections:
1.​ ​ ​ ​Bridge​ ​the​ ​Digital​ ​Divide:​​ ​A​ ​citywide​ ​fiber​ ​internet​ ​network​ ​would​ ​level​ ​the​ ​playing​ ​field​ ​for​ ​our​ ​students,
half​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​internet​ ​at​ ​home.​ ​The​ ​network​ ​would​ ​also​ ​attract​ ​jobs.
2.​ ​ ​ ​Improve​ ​Transit:​ ​Many​ ​residents​ ​rely​ ​on​ ​public​ ​transportation.​ ​We​ ​must​ ​be​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​the
transit​ ​authority​ ​and​ ​advocate​ ​for​ ​better​ ​funding​ ​and​ ​services.
3.​ ​ ​ ​Improve​ ​Traffic​ ​Safety:​​ ​Implement​ ​Vision​ ​Zero​ ​Rochester,​ ​a​ ​comprehensive​ ​traffic​ ​safety​ ​program.
Through​ ​enforcement,​ ​education​ ​and​ ​road​ ​design,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​mitigate​ ​the​ ​everyday​ ​mistakes​ ​made​ ​by​ ​drivers,
pedestrians​ ​and​ ​cyclists.​ ​Making​ ​a​ ​mistake​ ​shouldn’t​ ​be​ ​deadly.
4.​ ​ ​ ​Connect​ ​Jobs​ ​and​ ​Residents:​​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​all​ ​local​ ​agencies​ ​and​ ​schools​ ​are​ ​working​ ​together​ ​to​ ​ensure
residents​ ​seeking​ ​employment​ ​and​ ​training​ ​have​ ​access​ ​to​ ​programs.
Fight​ ​for​ ​City:
1.​ ​ ​ ​End​ ​Job​ ​Sprawl:​ ​Work​ ​with​ ​economic​ ​development​ ​agencies​ ​to​ ​de-incentivize​ ​suburban​ ​job​ ​relocations
and​ ​incentivize​ ​employers​ ​to​ ​locate​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city.​ ​Jobs​ ​should​ ​be​ ​located​ ​on​ ​transit​ ​lines.​ ​Single-occupancy
commutes​ ​should​ ​be​ ​discouraged.
2.​ ​ ​ ​Desegregate​ ​City​ ​Schools:​​ ​People​ ​with​ ​means​ ​have​ ​largely​ ​abandoned​ ​the​ ​City​ ​School​ ​District.​ ​Our​ ​best
city​ ​schools​ ​are​ ​socioeconomically​ ​and​ ​racially​ ​diverse.​ ​We​ ​must​ ​encourage​ ​all​ ​families​ ​to​ ​invest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​public
school​ ​system.​ ​We​ ​must​ ​provide​ ​opportunities​ ​at​ ​all​ ​schools.​ ​A​ ​countywide​ ​school​ ​system​ ​is​ ​the​ ​right​ ​thing​ ​to
do,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​an​ ​easier​ ​lift​ ​to​ ​start​ ​within​ ​our​ ​borders.
3.​ ​ ​ ​More​ ​Childcare:​​ ​ ​The​ ​city​ ​can​ ​play​ ​a​ ​role​ ​in​ ​funding​ ​childcare​ ​subsidies.​ ​The​ ​city​ ​can​ ​work​ ​with​ ​employers
seeking​ ​economic​ ​development​ ​aid​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​childcare​ ​assistance.

FRIENDS​ ​OF​ ​RACHEL​ ​BARNHART
1838​ ​CRITTENDEN​ ​RD.​ ​APT.​ ​1
ROCHESTER,​ ​N.Y.​ ​14623
585-210-3246
RACHELFORMAYOR.COM

 Criminal​ ​Justice​ ​Reforms
1.​ ​ ​ ​Legalize​ ​Marijuana:​​ ​The​ ​costs​ ​associated​ ​with​ ​Prohibition​ ​–​ ​mass​ ​incarceration​ ​and​ ​violence​ ​–​ ​are​ ​too​ ​high.
The​ ​drug​ ​is​ ​also​ ​widely​ ​used​ ​and​ ​available.​ ​It​ ​should​ ​be​ ​legalized​ ​and​ ​taxed.​ ​The​ ​mayor​ ​can​ ​advocate​ ​for​ ​this,
and​ ​at​ ​the​ ​very​ ​least​ ​decriminalize.
2.​ ​ ​ ​Not​ ​Crime​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Poor:​ ​Reform​ ​bail​ ​system​ ​and​ ​other​ ​financial​ ​penalties​ ​that​ ​may​ ​hinder​ ​individuals
charged​ ​with​ ​low-level​ ​crimes​ ​from​ ​working​ ​or​ ​getting​ ​on​ ​their​ ​feet.​ ​The​ ​mayor​ ​can​ ​advocate​ ​for​ ​such​ ​policies.
3.​ ​ ​ ​Police​ ​Accountability:​​ ​Rebuild​ ​trust​ ​between​ ​citizens​ ​and​ ​police​ ​by​ ​reforming​ ​the​ ​way​ ​misconduct
complaints​ ​handled​ ​and​ ​investigated.
Hold​ ​Rochester​ ​Monroe​ ​Anti-Poverty​ ​Initiative​ ​Accountable
1.​ ​ ​ ​Open​ ​Records:​ ​Put​ ​under​ ​control​ ​of​ ​government​ ​agency,​ ​so​ ​it’s​ ​subject​ ​to​ ​open​ ​records​ ​laws.
2.​ ​ ​ ​Policies,​ ​not​ ​Programs:​​ ​Focus​ ​on​ ​policy-level​ ​solutions,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​expanding​ ​EITC​ ​and​ ​managing​ ​the​ ​“benefits
cliff.”

FRIENDS​ ​OF​ ​RACHEL​ ​BARNHART
1838​ ​CRITTENDEN​ ​RD.​ ​APT.​ ​1
ROCHESTER,​ ​N.Y.​ ​14623
585-210-3246
RACHELFORMAYOR.COM