NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING SUCCESSES - COALITION FORMING AGAINST RG&E RATE HIKES - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - APPROACHING THE HEALTHCARE CLIFF

Here are Metro Justice news and events for the week of 10/10/25

NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZING SUCCESSES

Here is a shout out to Ames Grigg, agitant and president of ZPAC, the Zoning and Permitting Accountability Coalition!! Ames is a fledgling social justice advocate in Rochester’s Northeast quadrant, who recently logged TWO wins for their neighborhood. First, back in August after five months of research, three hearings and help from supporters including Metro Justice, they pulled together a raft of documentation and community opposition which led the City Planning Commission to finally deny Verizon’s illegal application to build a 60-foot cell tower and industrial compound smack in the middle of one of Rochester's poorest residential areas. On the heels of that win they went on to appeal an illegally issued application for a smoke shop; a use which is prohibited in residential areas and which is a known hazard in disinvested neighborhoods. Thanks to the appeal, the proposal was subsequently withdrawn. 

Grigg has recognized that the zoning department is issuing permits by an arbitrary and capricious process which does not exist under the current zoning code. Again and again in marginalized neighborhoods these deleterious uses are being permitted. ZPAC works to block this process as new prohibited use cases emerge monthly in Rochester's most vulnerable neighborhoods. Grigg will present the smoke shop appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals despite the permit being withdrawn. Without the appeal in the public record there is no accountability or transparency. 

ZPAC is learning how to help marginalized communities by resisting exploitative actions and insisting on equity, one property at a time. Join the resistance Thursday October 23, details in Upcoming Events below. 

Have you had a local win you would like to let people know about? Click here to have it added to a future newsletter! 

COALITION FORMING AGAINST RG&E RATE HIKES

We heard last week about RG&E’s (which is to say, the multinational company Iberdrola’s) proposed new rate hike of another 34% to our utility bills this year, and the well-attended rally at City Hall on 9/30. Now, a new analysis assessing the profits of New York’s five major for-profit, investor-owned utilities: found that Avangrid's (Iberdrola’s US subsidiary) utilities RG&E and NYSEG increased their profits 183% since 2015. It will take much more than a single rally to bring down this giant - it will take a coordinated movement of many organizations across Monroe County. Many of these organizations have joined with Metro Justice in our previous attempt to convince the County Legislature to join Rochester in funding a feasibility study of the takeover of RG&E - the legal sling that can fell this Goliath. We are asking them to join us again in a new effort, this time more deliberately paced in order to bring in more allies and build a solid groundswell across the area. The kickoff will be an initial Movement Assembly, to be held on Saturday, November 8th, 1-4 pm in a location yet to be determined. SIGN UP HERE if you are interested, and we will be in touch with more details.

In the meantime, there are ongoing opportunities to say your piece about how RG&E has gouged you!

• Register here by next Friday, 10/17 if you want to have your say against the new rate hikes in an on-line public forum that will take place on Monday, 10/21, with one hearing at 1 pm and a second hearing on the same day at 6. There is a guide here for crafting your comments for maximum effect - note that it was designed for a 3-minute comment, but at these hearings you will have a full 5 minutes, so a little more time to tell your story.
• We have until Thursday, October 24th to tell the Public Service Commission (the state body that regulates utilities) to reject RG&E’s outrageous rate hike and fund the public power study Rochester deserves. If you already know just what piece of your mind you’d like to give them, the direct links are here - there is one for gas bills here, and one for electricity bills here. If you want a little more background or advice, click here for a full overview.  

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Personnel Committee of Metro Justice is seeking additional members! The Committee was reformed last year and has spearheaded hiring and staff evaluation for Metro Justice. The mission of the Personnel Committee is to foster a supportive, inclusive, and equitable work environment that empowers our staff to achieve their highest potential while meeting Metro Justice’s organizational goals. We are committed to implementing fair and transparent hiring practices, providing professional development opportunities, ensuring compliance with organizational policies, and promoting a culture of collaboration and respect. By prioritizing the well-being of our team, we strive to enhance the overall effectiveness and sustainability of Metro Justice in its mission and impact. The PC currently meets twice a month via zoom. We're looking for members who are interested in this work and curious to get more involved in the internal operations of Metro Justice. Expertise or interest in non-profit personnel related matters are most welcome but no experience is necessary. Anyone who is interested, please email the Personnel Committee Chair ([email protected]). 

Other important committees are also looking for new volunteers. They include:

• The Finance Committee works with the Office Manager to track income and expenses, prepare taxes, give financial advice on budgets and proposed alterations of budgets, and keep Metro Justice on an even financial keel. Contact the chair at [email protected].
• The Nominations Committee is currently hard at work developing the slate of Council Candidates for the next Annual Meeting in January. If you have questions about their work, want to help, or would like to nominate someone, including yourself, to serve on the Metro Justice Council, contact the chair at [email protected].
• The Fundraising Committee needs volunteers for planning and carrying out events, doing grant research and applications, and catching up with members who are up for renewal. Contact the Fundraising and Membership Coordinator at [email protected].
• This newsletter is part of the work of the nascent Communications Committee, which will be charged - when enough people are found - with external communications like the newsletter and web site, and internal communications issues such as best practices for keeping people in touch and, in these times, security. If you can help out, contact [email protected].

APPROACHING THE HEALTHCARE CLIFF

Have you seen any of these posts recently?

The Campaign for New York Health is working hard and swaying NY legislators, as the ongoing hope for a better, more equitable healthcare payment system is now joined by the fear that The Big Bad Bill will strip coverage from hundreds of thousands in NY and lead to hospital closures, increased stress on the entire medical system, and greatly increased costs for all of us. While we wait to see what our next open enrollment letters tell us, and who blinks as Congress uses the current shut down to force the Trump administration to abandon its disastrous healthcare cuts, the Campaign is urging New York to fight back. And Metro Justice is doing its part - but we need more active volunteers to get the word out about what's at stake. We're holding a potluck dinner on Sunday, 10/19 at 6:30 pm at the Metro Justice office, where people can come and share fears, hopes, questions, and commitment to make a positive difference in this dark time. Please, join us for dinner! You'll be glad you did. Bring a dish to pass if you can, but if not, don't worry - there is always plenty. And check for new posts every Tuesday and Thursday, both at the Campaign and Metro Justice pages, and share them widely!

And on the subject of potluck events, don't forget you still have a great chance to make a killer sign for next Saturday's No Kings rally, this Thursday afternoon, 4-7 pm, also at Metro Justice. We've got paints and poster board, and we all can share ideas. Join the fun!

One last question regarding our new potlucks: the Metro Justice office can only be reached by climbing stairs at this time. If you would like to attend a potluck but the stairs would be an issue for you, click here to let us know we should prioritize seeking a more accessible location.

Upcoming Events:

• Every Friday through October 7:30 at the George Eastman Museum the Rochester Labor Film Series. 
• Monday, October 13th, Lake Riley Lodge, Cobbs Hill, 11-5 Indigenous Peoples Day 2025 with music, dancing, storytelling, craftmaking, guest speakers, Native vendors, and educational activities for all ages. We have a table and need volunteers! If you can make it, click here for more details.
• Wednesday, October 15th, 6-8 pm RED planning meeting to prepare for the upcoming 11/8 Movement Assembly to build our coalition
• Thursday, October 16th, 4-7 pm at Metro Justice, 389 Gregory Street, Potluck Sign Making Party for Saturday’s No Kings Rally. Let’s get our heads together on some really great ones!
• Saturday, October 18th, 12-3 pm Rochester Gateway Park, 151 Mount Hope Ave., the next Rochester No Kings Rally. If you can help at our table at the rally, click here 
• Saturday, October 18, 2 pm A Celebration of Life Service for Jamie Whitbeck, long active in Metro-Act and LGBTQ rights, will take place at First Unitarian Church , 220 Winton Road South, Rochester, with a reception following. To watch the service livestreamed on YouTube, go to https://youtube.com/live/XBNcm8logm0?feature=share. For the obituary, please visit www.anthonychapels.com.
• Saturday, October 18th, 3-5 pm Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N Fitzhugh, Generational Engagement Matters presents Addressing Gun Violence. Meal provided, tickets $40.
• Sunday, October 19th, 6:30 pm at Metro Justice, 389 Gregory Street, Approaching the Healthcare Cliff; Member Potluck Discussion of Trump's healthcare cuts and how we can respond in New York. 
• Wednesday, October 22 2:00-4:00 pm In response to the injustices endured by Rochester vulnerable seniors and disabled adults, Elder Justice Committee will have an informational event ADVOCATING for RESIDENTS' RIGHTS from ADMISSION to DISCHARGE at First Unitarian Church. To ask for more information: [email protected].
• Thursday, October 23rd 5:30 pm at 30 N. Union Street, Ste 100, hear labor leader Bill Fletcher Jr. speak on American Fascism and its Opposition
• Thursday, October 23 (time) 30 Church Street, Room 302-A Zoning board HEARING
  ZPAC, Zoning and Permitting Accountability Coalition is submitting an appeal of an illegally issued document that the Director of Zoning submitted for a smoke shop in a low density residential neighborhood. This use is not allowed this close to homes and is a known nuisance. This permit process is one of the many ways marginalized residential neighborhoods are disinvested from and oppressed without public knowledge. Join us at City Hall. You can watch and learn or come speak up in support of our appeal. Speaking prompts can be provided if desired. Click here to learn more.
• Monday, October 27th, 1:30-2:30 pm Demonstration and call to action against the ongoing abuse at the Waterview Heights residential facility at 135 Meridian Street in Charlotte. People living here are dying in misery, and the Department of Health has yet to act. It’s time to bring this situation to light and demand a response. For more information, contact [email protected].  
• Saturday, November 8th - save the date for the Movement Assembly to widen the fight against RG&E
• Ongoing: If you are between jobs, good on the phone, and would like to learn about organizing, contact [email protected] about helping with a service workers organizing project. Speaking a language other than English is a plus!

Desktop Actions: 

• Deadline Monday 10/6! Hochul wants to roll back the 2019 climate plan, and there are 3 one-click comment tools we still have time to use:
  • From NY Renews - build out the simple renewable solutions we know work instead of dangerous, costly, and speculative energy schemes like expanding nuclear and the repowering of toxic, aging gas power plants
  • Support the Tonawanda Seneca and Tuscarora Nations in demanding key protections for their lands, lifeways, and sovereignty
  • Demand that Hochul and State Energy Planner Dorren Harris plan public renewable, NOT pipelines
• Tell Stream Data Centers and Apollo Global Management: NO STAMP DATA CENTER! Protect our waters, our woods, and our way of life. This is quick to do, will show our solidarity with indigenous neighbors - and help us all avoid environmental degradation and increased climate change
• Check out the info about the USMCA trade deal review and click here to make your comment at TradeJusticeEdFund.org 
• Repost/tweet the New York Health posts at the Campaign for New York Health Facebook page every Tuesday and Thursday noon
• Uphold Tonawanda Seneca Nation sovereignty and the CLCPA! No new NYS funds or permits to WNY STAMP, tell NYSDEC to protect the Oak Orchard Watershed. This is a quick and easy one, so let’s get their numbers going up!
• Get a "Replace RGE" yard sign! Be the envy of your neighbors!  

Join Metro Justice or renew your membership - in these dark times we need to stick together, and to plan to support ourselves as much as possible.