Join the Zoning and Permitting Accountability Coalition at our press conference at the corner of Portland and Oneida Streets to protest the zombie cell tower - once again under consideration for Portland Avenue!

The City Planning Commission has - twice - denied Verizon's application for a special permit to build a six story cell tower in the middle of a residential neighborhood, right across from a church and school. Now they are being asked to vote to reverse their denials, on bogus grounds of "effective prohibition of service" which Verizon cannot prove - and Planning Commission is not authorized to adjudicate. This is a blatant attempt by a powerful corporation to exploit an under-resourced neighborhood, and we need to band together to keep it from happening!

We will be floating a balloon on 59 feet of string to show just how tall the tower would be if it were to be built on that site. After the press event, we will drive to City Hall to observe the Planning Commission's 5 pm meeting at speak at the 6 pm hearing. Carpool available.

Here is the direct zoom link for this meeting; if you will be joining by phone, the local number to use is +16468769923,,3405715325#

Please RSVP below if you intend to come - it will help to know how many people to expect, and to be able to send out reminders. We're asking for phone numbers to help keep in touch and addresses so that we can figure out ahead who is in what legislative district.

After a rousing coalition Lobby Day in Albany this past week, it is clear that our best next step will be to work with our coalition allies and local legislators to set up Healthcare Town Halls in Rochester and Buffalo. These will move us forward in multiple ways:

• Promoting and attending the Town Halls is a "doable" ask that engages supportive legislators in more active championship of the bill
• Organizing and promoting the events give us further outreach into the community, getting the word out about the bill 
• Working together with coalition organizations will tighten our communications and friendships 
• On the day we can sign more people up to become involved and build capacity

The overall goal is building the statewide voter groundswell demanding radical change that will show legislators that enacting the the New York Health Act is politically safer than maintaining the status quo.

The meeting will end by 8, but people who have questions will be welcome to stay a little later to get answers.

Welcome to Rochester for Energy Democracy (R.E.D.)!

RED is Metro Justice’s campaign to replace foreign-owned RG&E in Monroe County into a not for profit, locally controlled public utility. RG&E's track record speaks volumes—surprise billing, exorbitant rates, terrible customer service, and rising rates have plagued our community for far too long. It's time for change. That’s why replacing RG&E with a public utility is necessary and holds the promise of lower rates, improved service, the restoration of good local union jobs, and and a renewable energy transition accessible to all.

At our biweekly organizing meetings, we discuss aspects of our strategy to win, determine collective action items, and delegate work. This committee is the heart of our campaign, and a great way to get involved to make a difference and meet our community of volunteers leading this fight. 

We'll meet at the Metro Justice Office from 6-8 PM. Please RSVP below! We welcome folks bringing snacks and drinks to share if you would like to do so. 

For some background on RED: For-profit, investor-owned utilities like RG&E keep raising our rates. In May 2025, a 34% rate hike went into effect, yet RG&E continues to neglect grid maintenance and expand fossil fuel infrastructure. On top of that, RG&E and its multinational owners are asking for another 34% increase - more money coming out of our pockets for what? For RG&E to line shareholders' pockets, all while they misbill and exploit our communities. RG&E continues to invest in oil and gas, while continuing to lobby against a transition to renewable energy. As a result, we all pay more than we should in energy bills while the continued use of fossil fuels pushes us towards catastrophic environmental damage. 

In R.E.D., we believe that in order to combat the climate crisis and ensure environmental justice in the long-term, we must fundamentally transform our energy economy. We need to build an energy system that meets the needs of communities instead of meeting the greed of distant investors and CEOs. We also need a shift to energy that is 100% clean and renewable. We believe this is possible if we takeover RG&E with a public, local, and community-controlled utility. This will give communities a say in what kind of energy we use, who we get it from, and how the money we pay is used to benefit our community. Furthermore, everyone could only pay what is necessary to develop and maintain energy infrastructure, taking millions in profits for investors and CEOs out of the picture. We can also make sure that all jobs associated with the utility are local union jobs that pay family-sustaining wages with benefits. who

A community-driven energy system needs the involvement of people in our community to succeed. So are you ready to take the fight to RG&E? To join us at our next meeting, please RSVP below!

Directions to our office: 

- The address is 389 Gregory Street, Unit A. 

- Please use the Cayuga Street entrance; come to the large double doors with a keypad on it. 

- Enter, go up the stairs to the second floor. Unit A will be on the right.

Did you know that RG&E is currently trying to raise utility bills by over $50 a month for most people?

If RG&E's current rate case gets approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC), it would mean another 34% increase in utility bills. Join us for a rally & block party to let RG&E & the PSC know we won't take another round of rate hikes while RG&E and its multinational parent companies take over $100 million in profits out of our community every year.  

We'll gather at Washington Square Park, across from RG&E's main office, to voice our demands, share food and music, and have opportunities for people to learn more about the fight for a utility that we own and that invests in us. 

We hope to see you there!

Join us for our second time around canvassing to keep each other safe from ICE! We will be canvassing businesses to inform neighbors of their rights and build up communities that can provide sanctuary for themselves. A training and snacks will be provided at the Metro Justice Office before we hit the road.

Whether you're an experienced canvasser or you've never done something like this before, we encourage you to come out and we'll guide you along!

If this sounds of interest but you can't make it, keep an eye on our upcoming events page or get in touch with our organizer, Carlton Huff (contact info below).

We keep us safe!

Welcome to Rochester for Energy Democracy (R.E.D.)!

RED is Metro Justice’s campaign to replace foreign-owned RG&E in Monroe County into a not for profit, locally controlled public utility. RG&E's track record speaks volumes—surprise billing, exorbitant rates, terrible customer service, and rising rates have plagued our community for far too long. It's time for change. That’s why replacing RG&E with a public utility is necessary and holds the promise of lower rates, improved service, the restoration of good local union jobs, and and a renewable energy transition accessible to all.

At our biweekly organizing meetings, we discuss aspects of our strategy to win, determine collective action items, and delegate work. This committee is the heart of our campaign, and a great way to get involved to make a difference and meet our community of volunteers leading this fight. 

We'll meet at the Metro Justice Office from 6-8 PM. Please RSVP below! We welcome folks bringing snacks and drinks to share if you would like to do so. 

For some background on RED: For-profit, investor-owned utilities like RG&E keep raising our rates. In May 2025, a 34% rate hike went into effect, yet RG&E continues to neglect grid maintenance and expand fossil fuel infrastructure. On top of that, RG&E and its multinational owners are asking for another 34% increase - more money coming out of our pockets for what? For RG&E to line shareholders' pockets, all while they misbill and exploit our communities. RG&E continues to invest in oil and gas, while continuing to lobby against a transition to renewable energy. As a result, we all pay more than we should in energy bills while the continued use of fossil fuels pushes us towards catastrophic environmental damage. 

In R.E.D., we believe that in order to combat the climate crisis and ensure environmental justice in the long-term, we must fundamentally transform our energy economy. We need to build an energy system that meets the needs of communities instead of meeting the greed of distant investors and CEOs. We also need a shift to energy that is 100% clean and renewable. We believe this is possible if we takeover RG&E with a public, local, and community-controlled utility. This will give communities a say in what kind of energy we use, who we get it from, and how the money we pay is used to benefit our community. Furthermore, everyone could only pay what is necessary to develop and maintain energy infrastructure, taking millions in profits for investors and CEOs out of the picture. We can also make sure that all jobs associated with the utility are local union jobs that pay family-sustaining wages with benefits. who

A community-driven energy system needs the involvement of people in our community to succeed. So are you ready to take the fight to RG&E? To join us at our next meeting, please RSVP below!

Directions to our office: 

- The address is 389 Gregory Street, Unit A. 

- Please use the Cayuga Street entrance; come to the large double doors with a keypad on it. 

- Enter, go up the stairs to the second floor. Unit A will be on the right.

Here is the direct zoom link for this meeting; if you will be joining by phone, the local number to use is +16468769923,,3405715325#

Please RSVP below if you intend to come - it will help to know how many people to expect, and to be able to send out reminders. We're asking for phone numbers to help keep in touch and addresses so that we can figure out ahead who is in what legislative district.

After a rousing coalition Lobby Day in Albany this past week, it is clear that our best next step will be to work with our coalition allies and local legislators to set up Healthcare Town Halls in Rochester and Buffalo. These will move us forward in multiple ways:

• Promoting and attending the Town Halls is a "doable" ask that engages supportive legislators in more active championship of the bill
• Organizing and promoting the events give us further outreach into the community, getting the word out about the bill 
• Working together with coalition organizations will tighten our communications and friendships 
• On the day we can sign more people up to become involved and build capacity

The overall goal is building the statewide voter groundswell demanding radical change that will show legislators that enacting the the New York Health Act is politically safer than maintaining the status quo.

The meeting will end by 8, but people who have questions will be welcome to stay a little later to get answers.

Welcome to Rochester for Energy Democracy (R.E.D.)!

RED is Metro Justice’s campaign to replace foreign-owned RG&E in Monroe County into a not for profit, locally controlled public utility. RG&E's track record speaks volumes—surprise billing, exorbitant rates, terrible customer service, and rising rates have plagued our community for far too long. It's time for change. That’s why replacing RG&E with a public utility is necessary and holds the promise of lower rates, improved service, the restoration of good local union jobs, and and a renewable energy transition accessible to all.

At our biweekly organizing meetings, we discuss aspects of our strategy to win, determine collective action items, and delegate work. This committee is the heart of our campaign, and a great way to get involved to make a difference and meet our community of volunteers leading this fight. 

We'll meet at the Metro Justice Office from 6-8 PM. Please RSVP below! We welcome folks bringing snacks and drinks to share if you would like to do so. 

For some background on RED: For-profit, investor-owned utilities like RG&E keep raising our rates. In May 2025, a 34% rate hike went into effect, yet RG&E continues to neglect grid maintenance and expand fossil fuel infrastructure. On top of that, RG&E and its multinational owners are asking for another 34% increase - more money coming out of our pockets for what? For RG&E to line shareholders' pockets, all while they misbill and exploit our communities. RG&E continues to invest in oil and gas, while continuing to lobby against a transition to renewable energy. As a result, we all pay more than we should in energy bills while the continued use of fossil fuels pushes us towards catastrophic environmental damage. 

In R.E.D., we believe that in order to combat the climate crisis and ensure environmental justice in the long-term, we must fundamentally transform our energy economy. We need to build an energy system that meets the needs of communities instead of meeting the greed of distant investors and CEOs. We also need a shift to energy that is 100% clean and renewable. We believe this is possible if we takeover RG&E with a public, local, and community-controlled utility. This will give communities a say in what kind of energy we use, who we get it from, and how the money we pay is used to benefit our community. Furthermore, everyone could only pay what is necessary to develop and maintain energy infrastructure, taking millions in profits for investors and CEOs out of the picture. We can also make sure that all jobs associated with the utility are local union jobs that pay family-sustaining wages with benefits. who

A community-driven energy system needs the involvement of people in our community to succeed. So are you ready to take the fight to RG&E? To join us at our next meeting, please RSVP below!

Directions to our office: 

- The address is 389 Gregory Street, Unit A. 

- Please use the Cayuga Street entrance; come to the large double doors with a keypad on it. 

- Enter, go up the stairs to the second floor. Unit A will be on the right.