Latest news with #MetroJustice
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Advocates rally for ‘Housing, not Handcuffs' in Rochester on anniversary of SCOTUS decision
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Housing advocates held a rally on Friday to reflect on the anniversary of a Supreme Court decision impacting individuals without homes. VOCAL-NY and Rochester Grants Pass Resistance organized the event to speak against the Grants Pass v. Johnson decision, a case that ruled cities can enforce camping laws on unhoused individuals. Organizers are calling for Rochester to not join the list of 150 cities where laws prohibit camping on public property or parking overnight in city parks. During the rally, they shared information with the community about a petition that's been started with the initiative of 'Housing, not Handcuffs'. Metro Justice and allies rally against RG&E at City Hall The groups list of demands include a call for the stopping of unhoused individuals being 'relocated' and ineffective sweeps, a commitment from the city to realistic interventions and resources to meet those in need, the creation and sharing of inclusive policies, procedures, and practices that protect the dignity of individuals who live outdoors, the creation of more sustainable and inclusive housing, and a commitment to engage and collaborate with individuals in the houseless community in order to develop a realistic needs assesment. The rally was held at Washington Square Park on Friday at 6 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Justice and allies rally at City Hall against RG&E Thursday
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — On Thursday, members of Metro Justice and the Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) Campaign gathered at Rochester City Hall to rally against Rochester Gas & Electric. Organizers said the rally was held to call out the RG&E audit and the company's connection to the Chamber of Commerce. Metro Justice members said the audit shows dramatic security and compliance concerns, in addition to a lack of planning and leadership. Demonstrators said they want the City Council and Mayor Malik Evans' administration to use reserved funds to commission a Phase 1 study to replace RG&E with a public utility. Monroe County and the Mayor's Office have previously refused to commit to doing a study due to the cost. It was revealed on Thursday morning that RG&E has failed again to meet the requirements of customer service standards by the New York State Public Service Commission. They will now be required to pay a $9.8 million fine. News 8 spoke to both RG&E and Metro Justice at the rally on Thursday. 'This notion of government-controlled power would be terrible for the people of Rochester, it would result in exorbitant costs for things like property taxes. It would increase, I mean, the cost associated with buying out the infrastructure would be really difficult for people here in the city. It would take away vital services the city has,' Michael Baggerman, communications manager for RG&E said of Metro Justice's ask. 'The audit was honestly extremely shocking; it is even worse than we thought. There's all the things we knew about all of the like billing errors, the customer service, tjeu're cooking their books, but also a huge amount of negligence putting customers in danger with gas leaks, and cybersecurity, lack of cyber security, but also really that they don't actually even plan at the utility level,' said campaign and policy coordinator of Metro Justice, Dr. Michi Wenderlich. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monroe County introduces new voting machines at polls
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Voting in Monroe County will look different this election season. Registered voters will be among the first in New York State to go from casting their ballots by pen – to touch screen. 'When you first walk into a polling site, you will sign in the way you normally do. You will now receive a summary ballot,' said Jackie Ortiz, Monroe County's Democratic BOE Commissioner. Monroe County voters will no longer need to fill in the bubbles on a ballot by hand. Instead, they will make their selections through a screen. The BOE is introducing more than 1,000 Express Vote XL machines to its polling sites across the county. 'It is a big step for us. The previous machines we were utilizing, the Dominion scanner machines, were more than a decade old. It is one of those things where after so much time, there are options for us to choose from,' said Ortiz. Registered voters will receive a blank paper ballot. They will then go into a private booth, insert the ballot into the machine, make selections, and cast their ballot. The ballot is then stored in the back of the machine for later processing. Metro Justice calls for action from Rochester City Council to replace RG&E 'In addition to having a better and faster voting experience, potentially because there's more machines, it's more streamlined. You'll come in, sign in, get your ballot, go inside the curtain and make your selections. There's a whole step that was there the last 15 years – that will not be there now,' said Peter Elder, Monroe County's Republican Board of Elections Commissioner. BOE officials say the change has been in the making for a few years. Monroe County is the first in New York State to roll out the technology. 'That difference is going to be huge because if somebody is in one of the machines in your polling site, and they are taking a bit longer, you have another machine to go to and that's a huge advantage in getting people through and streamlining this process. If you take a bit longer in there, that's okay. Take the time you need,' said Elder. Elections commissioners add they had success with the machines following a trial run during village elections in March. The machines will be used for school budget votes next week, followed by the June primary and the general election in November as well as further election cycles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Metro Justice calls for action from Rochester City Council to replace RG&E
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Metro Justice is back — calling on Rochester City Council to consider the possibility of replacing RG&E with a government owned utility. A full house signed up to speak to councilmembers about a range of issues, including concerns about high utility bills and a lack of customer service. At one time, city leaders agreed to spend $500,000 to conduct a feasibility study on replacing RG&E, but it was contingent on the county's support and county leaders did not agree to fund it. Still, members of the social and economic justice organization 'Metro Justice' want the city to move forward with the study. RG&E maintains its a waste of time and money. 'We've seen Rochesterians continue to struggle with out of control bills and shut offs,' Metro Justice Campaign and Policy Coordinator. 'The shut offs tripled to over 13,000 last year. Rochester has the third highest energy burden in the country. There's a common sense solution: Do a study to investigate replacing RG&E.' 'This notion that we're not doing anything is a complete outright lie,' RG&E Communications Manager Michael Baggerman said. 'We're constantly investing in our infrastructure, whether its the physical grid or its the customer service infrastructure. This idea that we're just raising rates all willy nilly… it's not based in reality.' Baggerman goes onto say a public owned utility would cost taxpayers more money and reduce service. Metro Justice maintains its stance that a study is harmless, and Phase 1 is essentially already paid for by the city. Thursday, they delivered a letter urging city leaders to commission the study. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
