Housing Justice

Rochester Indymedia and Open Mic are going to be cross posting and collaborating in the coming months on various stories. This is one of the first pieces to be cross posted. We're excited to be working with Open Mic! Check out the original article here: http://www.openmicroc.com/exploring-mayor-lovely-warrens-time-in-office/

Mayor Lovely Warren discusses her time in office. Credit: Michele Ashlee.

Sharing the background of many of Rochester’s black residents, Mayor Lovely Warren’s grandparents migrated north seeking better economic opportunities. And like many of our grandparents, hers didn’t find it either, settling instead for labor.

Graduating from the Rochester City School District, she went on to college, law school, then became a lawyer before working in the community and later leading City Council as the youngest to ever do so.

And then that granddaughter of migrators, sharecroppers, laborers, became Rochester’s first black female mayor.

Mayor Lovely Warren took office in January 2014. However, it hasn’t been an easy three years. In fact, the first year of her term saw a number of scathing reports and criticism from the community. She created security positions in her office, claiming she was being threatened, and then gave them to family members. She was constantly criticized for her handling of the press and many were worried that she wasn’t as good of a pick for Rochester as they’d first hoped.

Going into 2017, Warren hasn’t announced yet if she’ll campaign for re-election. Already James Sheppard, County Legislator for the 23rd District, has announced his campaign for her seat and Rachel Barnhart who recently lost a bid for the State Assembly against Rep. Harry Bronson is toying with a mayoral run as well. Both have charged that Warren has made no change, prompting OM to look at Warren’s time in office.

We looked at four pillars as we examined her “legacy:” development, social justice, violence and crime, and putting Rochester on the map.

In an interview with Michael Israel, Kenyatta DaCosta discusses how the Fed is harming the economy by manipulating the money supply, and how bitcoins could provide protection against such manipulation. The photograph, which was taken by Michael Israel, is of a Bitcoin Miner, a special computer that generates bitcoins, from 2012.

So Witness Palestine Rochester is going to have a kick off event--Connecting the dots: Ferguson to Palestine--with Rev. Graylan Hagler to start their film series season at the Little Theatre. Rev. Hagler was scheduled to speak at Colgate Rochester Crozer DIvinity School, but was dis-invited and has been receiving death threats. Witness Palestine Rochester is scrambling for a new venue and Rev. Hagler says he is committed to speaking in Rochester.

We no longer need George Orwell to remind us of the nightmare life forced on the general population by global government. The class war creeps upon us and provides for the torture, imprisonment and murder of individuals in our popular culture in increasing numbers. The wealthy, elite, high culture tycoons are mostly shielded from death squads, but all people are programmed to accept atrocities. Three links in support:

We need some people power in court this week! Please come out and support these awesome individuals. Court is at 99 Exchange St.

MONDAY (7/13):
Beaten and arrested by officer Mario Masic:
Quintin Keene: Mon. 7/13, 9:30 am, Judge Morse's court

Please join these home defenders, Ms. Woods, and Ms. Mcgriff in solidarity at their upcoming court dates! Upcoming Take Back the Land Rochester court dates for this week:

TODAY! Shannon Coleman, Jacob Spezio, and Christian Nelson: All three were charged with trespass and resisting arrest. They were arraigned last week. Their next court date before Judge Maija C. Dixon is Monday, June 29, 2015, 2:00pm at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

TOMORROW! Audrey Woods: Audrey was held by police until her father left their home. She was eventually released to him. She was charged with obstruction of governmental administration. Her arraignment before Judge Stephen T. Miller took place on June 25, 2015. Her next hearing is Tuesday, June 30, 10:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd.

WEDNESDAY! Other pending eviction actions: Liz Mcgriff is facing foreclosure as well. Her next court appearance is before Judge John J. Ark, on Wednesday, July 1, 9:30am at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd. She has not been evicted yet, but is combating the bank's arguments for her removal. Please come out and support her. Let's stop it before it begins!

It seems that Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and City of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren HAVE NO LONG-TERM PLAN to house the homeless. Posts for new fencing have been placed under the Frederick Douglass / Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge where Sanctuary Village pitched camp last fall and early winter. Apparently, a long-term plan does NOT mean finding sustainable, quality housing for folks, but rather fences to keep them from creating another tent city once they are kicked out from the Canal St. building.

Ricardo Adams has been active in building a more just and peaceful community in Rochester, NY.  This video was created by Rochester Indymedia to honor our comrade and friend on his 60th birthday.

Judge Morse decision.PDF

This is a .pdf file of Judge Thomas Rainbow Morse's written decision denying the motion to dismiss the criminal trespassing charges against Sister Grace Miller, Tom Malthaner, and Ryan Acuff in the furtherance of justice.

Affidavits from Sister Grace Miller, Tom Malthaner, and  Ryan Acuff

Acuff Affidavit 1 6 15.pdf

Malthaner affidavit 1 6 15.pdf