South District Updates
September 2021 City Council Round-Up Presented by
City Council South District Rep.
LaShay D. Harris
Councilwoman Harris introduces South District Public Safety Meetings.
Public Safety Meetings Mission and Purpose
To provide public information and education to the City of Rochester’s South District. Matters of public health, emergency preparedness, and emergency services will be the focus of regular meetings. The goal is to provide a space for information sharing, building relationships, and improving the quality of life for the residents of the South District. This meeting takes a holistic approach concerning public safety. If you missed the first meeting, provided is a link for individuals who want to view the meeting:
Passcode: F9i+%##5. Councilwoman Harris will host public safety meetings regularly.
New Route added to Reimagine RTS
In June, City Council Harris met with Danforth Towers residents and Rochester Regional Transit (RTS) officials to discuss the Reimagine RTS. The residents of Danforth Towers expressed their opposition to the RTS bus route changes during the Reimagine redesign. The feedback from the residents was well received, and RTS officials committed to restoring services to West Avenue. Effective September 6, RTS added service that includes West Ave. This route will run every 30 minutes on weekdays from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and every hour the rest of the time, including weekends.
Note RTS has additional temporary changes to the following routes: 3 (Joseph Avenue), 4 (Hudson Avenue), 5 (Portland Avenue), 8 (East Main Street), 11 (Monroe Avenue), 16 (Genesee Street), and 22 (Lake Avenue). The said routes will switch from 15-minute frequency to 30-minute frequencies beginning Thursday. September 13, 2021.
Mental Health
The Monroe County IMPACT team (Addiction Services) was created nearly a year ago and has brought greater focus and coordination to treating people and families suffering from addiction. The IMPACT team has visited almost every house where an overdose has occurred within 24-hours, including almost 100 overdoses, visitations, and referrals in the last three months alone. The IMPACT hotline is available weekdays between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. by calling (585) 753-5278 or emailing Impact@monroecounty.gov. Additionally, Open Access is a service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for individuals in need of substance use evaluation. Any resident or family member who needs treatment and care can call Open Access at (585) 627-1777
City Council Meetings
Per Senate Bill S50001, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on September 2, 2021, City Council will not be conducting in-person meetings for the month of September 2021. All meetings will instead be streamed live online on the City Council’s YouTube ([www.youtube.com/user/RochesterCityCouncil]www.youtube.com/user/RochesterCityCouncil) and shared on the Council’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/RochesterCityCouncil).
For a full list of Public Meetings and additional information about participation go to the Public Meeting Access page on the City’s website: www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmeetings.
Thursday, September 2nd
4:30 PM Agenda Review Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Thursday, September 9th
4:00 PM Committee Meetings Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
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4:00 PM Finance
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4:05 PM Neighborhood and Business Development
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4:15 PM Parks and Public Works
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4:25 PM Public Safety, Recreation, and Human Services
Thursday, September 9th
5:00 PM Public Hearings Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Monday, September 13th
12:30 PM Chairs’ Meeting Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Tuesday, September 14th
6:30 PM Speak to Council Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
7:30 PM Council Meeting Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Thursday, September 16th
4:30 PM Work Session Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Thursday, September 23rd
4:30 PM Work Session Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Wednesday, September 29th
4:30 PM Work Session Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
Thursday, September 30th
4:30 PM Agenda Review Streamed on Facebook & YouTube
(October Legislation)
Council Member LaShay Harris can be reached at lashay.harris@cityofrochester.gov or by phone 428-7538

The City of Rochester and Recreation and Human Services welcomes a NEW, Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) and Dr. Kiah E. Nyame (Dr. K.), ONS Coordinator.
The mission of the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) is to reduce gunfire and associated trauma. This non-law enforcement, the civilian-led effort is housed in the City of Rochester in order to convene and empower community partners and city agencies to work together in the co-production of public safety and prevention of violence through trauma-responsive, healing-centered, and equity-based approaches.
ONS builds and strengthens community partnerships and advances and supports initiatives that promote greater neighborhood and community well-being. ONS facilitates the provision of human and social service resources to the City’s most vulnerable individuals and communities, emphasizing reducing gun violence.
ONS was developed to foster a city-wide approach to reducing violence by serving as a central hub to coordinate the development of a Violence Reduction Strategy that will guide public and private sector investments in social programs, including Pathways to Peace; the ROC Against Gun Violence Coalition; and the Youth
Advocate Program. The ONS coordinator manages, develops, implements, and coordinates the community-driven, community-wide Neighborhood Safety Plan.