City of Rochester
News Release
(Monday, April 24, 2017) – Rochester is reigniting the flame of progress by building partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors and a host of governmental agencies who have worked together to create or retain more than 30,000 jobs, the lowest serious crime rate in 30 years and a 1,200 percent increase in Pre-K enrollment, Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced in her 2017 State of the City Address Monday night.
“We are working together, and together we have reignited our City. We have lit the flame of hope,” Mayor Warren said. “The flame of promise. The flame that allows all of our citizens to realize the American dream. I’m proud of the progress that we’ve made -- and the progress that we will continue to make.”
Mayor Warren credited the partnerships and relationships built among government and community partners to achieve this progress, citing such partners as the State and Federal governments, the city’s neighborhood associations, local developers and local businesses.
For the past three and a half years, Mayor Warren has had three clear goals: To create more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities.
Almost 50,000 people work downtown, making it the biggest jobs center in the nine-county region. In the neighborhoods’ commercial corridors, the occupancy rate has increased from 54 percent to 70 percent.
Mayor Warren created the Office of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives to develop new strategies to improve access to jobs, including a van-pool program which eliminates the transportation barrier, Kiva, which provides zero-interest microloans to budding entrepreneurs, and Market Driven Community Cooperatives, which establish worker-owned businesses in the neighborhoods.
Rochester’s serious crime rate has decreased to the lowest rate in 30 years thanks to an increased focus on community policing and innovative new programs like the new five-section policing model and Clergy on Patrol.
And children across the city have access to additional educational opportunities through the City’s R-Centers and libraries. The Rochester Public Library has given away two million books in three years. Mayor Warren also successfully lobbied for additional Pre-K funding from the State, leading to a 1,200 percent increase in 3-year-olds enrolled in free Pre-K.
Mayor Warren highlighted progress occurring all over Rochester:
Downtown: CGI’s expansion, the recently-announced Performing Arts Center for Parcel 5, Tower 280, Windstream, the Sibley Building, the Metropolitan, 88 Elm Street, the Democrat and Chronicle, the Alliance Building, the Inner Loop Developments and the Hilton Garden Inn.
Northeast: Public Market Expansion; Affordable housing development on Hudson Ave.; expansion of PUC Charter School; Expansion of the Genesee Brewery which will create 128 jobs; Relocation of the House of Mercy; and a new Rochester Fire Fighter’s Union Hall on Hudson Ave.
Southeast: A $1.5 million investment to upgrade housing in the EMMA and Beechwood neighborhoods in partnership with PathStone; and Connected Communities, which will bring more affordable housing to the neighborhood and bear the name of the Warfield family.
Northwest: Completion of the Ridgeway Avenue construction project; the upcoming realignment of Dewey and Driving Park; 105 new homes in JOSANA with plans for 46 more; and upcoming upgrades to the Campbell Street R-Center. Also, Mayor Warren is bringing neighborhood partners together to reimagine Charlotte, and the City is working with partners at Eastman Business Park to bring in next-generation employers.
Southwest: The City is leveraging the value of the Genesee River waterfront, and much of Corn Hill has been taken out of the flood plain saving homeowners money. We’re cleaning up the Vacuum Oil site and working with DHD Ventures to build a new housing development, and revitalizing Bulls Head. The City has made much-needed upgrades to Genesee Valley Park and brought LED lighting to the South Wedge.
Mayor Warren also noted exciting City-wide projects such as mixed-stream recycling, Operation Transformation Rochester, and the upcoming bike sharing and ride sharing services.
“I have no doubt our efforts to create a sustainable Rochester are a leading reason why our city is becoming so attractive to the millennial generation. We finally stopped the Brain Drain,” Mayor Warren said, noting growth in Rochester’s millennial population outpaces other Upstate cities.
Mayor Warren also made it clear that the City remains stalwart in protecting the progressive values that define Rochester’s legacy. In the past three and a half years, the City has extended City health benefits to transgender employees and fought for GENDA; joined the “Fight for 15”, for a living wage; and made great strides to ensure the City’s workforce reflects the population it serves.
Mayor Warren has also reaffirmed the City’s Sanctuary City resolution. “At this critical time in our country’s history, we have emerged as a force for positive change,” Mayor Warren said.
The speech was held at CGI Communications – founded by Bob Bartosiewicz, one of Rochester’s fastest growing companies.
Read the State of the City Address.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.