The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation is not a social services agency. The RDDC is a real estate interest group dominated by big developers. In July of this year, the RDDC and several of the biggest property owners downtown approached COMIDA, to help them fund a $600 THOUSAND DOLLAR Ambassador program for downtown. You heard me $600,000. …
Good Evening Council, Last year before you cast your votes to allow the BID process to begin, several of you gave clear directives to BID backers: Any plan moving forward required robust community engagement and the establishment of trust. President Melendez, you said this body would not approve the BID legislation if that did not …
Democracy is dangerous… to the wealthy and powerful. Because there is strength in numbers. And when we show up, we win. City Council and the Mayor are empowered by OUR vote. They work for us, their power comes from our consent. Or at least it’s supposed to… Because in order to give consent, we’d actually have to know what …
First, I want to commend the folks here in this room tonight, or watching the live feed at home. (Oh wait, there’s no live feed) Thank you for looking out for your neighbors, you are a credit to this community. Council, the RDDC has not made their case for this BID legislation. Period. If you …
Council, I was hoping to connect you with business owners from other communities who have been impacted by BIDs and even rustled up an expert. They were willing to share their time and experience to help us avoid the gentrification and displacement they have seen and documented. The timing and format of this meeting wouldn’t …
