City Council candidate Mary Lupien
(Ballot lines: Working Families)
1) What is your No. 1 priority, if elected?
If elected, my number one priority will be to make sure my constituents are at the table for the decisions
that affect them. It's not enough to televise committee meetings, but we must find a way to make sure
information is getting out to the community and effective ways to receive feedback are implemented.
We must work with the Democratic Party to be our connection to the community through their 1200
elected committee members who are elected to represent their small section of the city.
2) What is the greatest strength and, conversely, the greatest weakness of the City Council?
The greatest strength of city council is that it is a diverse body representing both women and men and
people of color.
The greatest weakness is that council has been strongly influenced by the mayor's office for decades.
What we need is a strong independent body that has separate council and ethics staff not appointed by
the mayor.
3) What have you learned about this community during the campaign, and how will that affect your
service?
I have learned that by and large, the community wants to be a part of the conversation but many are
totally disengaged from the process and have no idea how to be a voice at the table. The city and the
Democratic party has to do a much better job at engaging the residents of our city if we are to move
forward as a city, a county, a state and a nation. The individuals and families that make up our great city.
I am continuously amazed at the great work people can do but also reminded how much information
and resources need to be provided to assist citizens navigate our city and government. I pride myself on
being consistent and available to help all be successful and live full lives in the city of Rochester, and am
committed to continuing to do so.
On Page 2 are the responses to a questionnaire from August (prior to the Democratic primary). Please
refer to ballot lines above for those applicable in the general election.

City Council candidate Mary Lupien
(Ballot lines: Democratic, Working Families)

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

No! have been an outspoken advocate against this proposal. We have been mobilizing people to come
out to City Council meetings since March to speak in favor of a Visionary Square?like proposal. The
Performing Arts Center (misnomer) will not be accessible to most of the people that live in Rochester
and it will be empty for over 1/3 of the year. We need a place where people can gather and celebrate
our culture, arts and each other in the center of downtown. That will be the spark for a vibrant city? not
a giant building. This is not anti?RBTL and no one is questioning their work in the community. But Parcel
Sis not the location for this building.

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

Aligned - This administration and are most aligned on the need for a comprehensive climate action
plan, though it's reduction goals are not ambitious enough.

Disagree - The lack of transparency in the selection process for Parcel 5. There was virtually no public
input, and only some ofthe proposal submitters were allowed to altertheir designs and resubmit but
not all. The RBTL theater will not be accessible to many of our residents because of the high price of
tickets. Currently we try to bribe and attract residents and businesses here in the hopes that they will
meet Rochester better place. We should be focusing development to increase the quality of life for the
people that live in our city. When we increase our quality of life and focus on making Rochester a better
place for our residents, new residents and businesses will be attracted and want to live/work in
Rochester.

I'm also in disagreement with the policy of corporate tax breaks for developers. Their buildings are
under-assessed, they are sold city owned assets for cheap, they receive tax breaks and credits and public
money to build "affordable housing? which is not actually affordable. We should be taking the opposite
approach. We can ask developers who want to build here, what they can do for Rochester with
Community Benefit Agreements.

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

I oppose the redevelopment of Cobbs Hill Village. A majority of residents in the senior apartments do
not want the proposed development and the surrounding neighborhood doesn't want it either. They
are the ones who should be deciding which developments occur in their neighborhood. Beyond that,
Cobbs Hill is a park and we should not sell our assets to the highest bidder. Make no mistake - this
project is about making money, anything other reason stated is for the purpose of playing on the
emotions of our citizens.