City Council candidate Thomas M. Hasman
(Ballot lines: Democratic)

1) Do you support the RBTL/Morgan proposal for Parcel 5 Yes/No and why?

If elected to City Council, I would vote down the current proposal from RMTL/Morgan as it lacks many details;
most notable is the funding question. While Thomas Golisano has pledged $25 million toward this project,
there is no other dedicated source of funding. The city has asked the state for $20 million but the statercalls
the funding request ?irresponsible? and we?ve also heard other vague statements such as ?the lobby may have
a potential benefactor.? A project ofthis magnitude must have a concrete financial plan. In addition, the
process surrounding this proposal was flawed. RBLT/Morgan did not submit a bid,- yet they were chosen as the
winner. It?s hard not to think that some kind of ?back room? deal was made to push this proposal forward.
The current proposal should be scrapped. The process should be restarted and the public should be given a
chance to weigh in. I would also like to see proposals that allow all the citizens of Rochester to enjoy the
space, not just people who can afford to pay $100 to see one show.

2) On what topic/issue do you most disagree with the current city administration, and why? On
which are you most aligned, and why?

I?m opposed to the administration?s lack of transparency and open government. As noted in my answer to the
previous question, the decision behind Parcel 5 was made behind closed doors and lacked transparency. The
same can be said of the proposed Charlotte development from last year. Even though the residents of
Charlotte (and almost all the residents in the City of Rochester for that matter) overwhelmingly opposed the
project, their input was ignored and the city pushed forward with the project. The only reason that project
was scrapped was because the developer failed to meet a finan?ial deadline. The residents of this city deserve
to have a seat at the table. These back-door deals that only benefit the developers and our elected officials
[through campaign contributions] must stop!

I support the mayor?s decision to reorganize the police department into five neighborhood sections. When I
was President of the ABC Street Neighborhood Association, I went through the Citizen?s Police Academy in
2011 where they covered the East?West-Downtown divisions. I remember thinking at the time that this model
could make it difficult for officers to integrate themselves into the city?s neighborhoods. I believe that the five-
section model will be better for neighborhood/community policing. 

3) Do you support or oppose the proposed redevelopment of Cobbs Hill Village, and why?

I oppose this project as the current proposal overwhelmingly benefits the developer (Rochester Management)
at the expense of the current residents and neighbors of Cobbs Hill who enjoy the park adjacent to Cobb's Hill
Village. This project is not a good fit for the neighborhood and would alter the park and surrounding
neighborhood. The property that was donated by private citizens for park use only will revert back to the city
in 2041 as the deed requires. This land and its current use was never intended to be permanent. A new
development would put pressure on the city to extend the deed to Rochester Management past 2041.
Instead, the city should plan on reacquiring the land in 2041 and in the meantime, Rochester management
should work with the city to find an alternate place to construct new housing.