Supporters of the action plan gathered outside the County Office Building for a press conference to announce the plan.

Housing & Social Justice

  • Co-authored a plan to end homelessness. The Action Plan to End Homelessness in Monroe County was developed working alongside the county’s leading housing experts.
  • Turned advocacy into action on vouchers. Pushed for increased rental subsidies, leading to a state-funded pilot program for housing vouchers.
  • Exposed a broken benefits system. Compiled a report analyzing 20 years of data showing Monroe County denies public benefits at an abnormally high rate.
  • Made jail calls free. Secured a limited number of weekly free phone calls for people incarcerated at the Monroe County Jail — and fought to ensure revenue from calls and tablets is spent solely on inmate welfare.
  • Tackled the digital divide. Spearheaded a task force studying broadband access and affordability across the county.
  • Stood up to the Conservative Party. Repeatedly spoken out against Democratic Party appointments of Conservative Party members and Democratic candidates accepting Conservative Party endorsements — a party that is anti-union, anti-LGBTQ rights and anti-reproductive rights.
  • Backed the public defenders. The only legislator who pushed back when the county administration tried to limit legislators’ ability to advocate for recognition of the public defender’s union.

Protecting Immigrant Neighbors

  • Voted no on Stonegarden. Voted against Operation Stonegarden, a federal program that funds local law enforcement cooperation with border agencies.
  • Took on Avelo Airlines. Organized a protest against Avelo Airlines for operating deportation charter flights.
  • Changed the Sheriff’s policy. Joined with colleagues and community advocates to demand the Monroe County Sheriff adopt non-cooperation policies with ICE and CBP . The Sheriff quietly changed the policy to put tighter restrictions on interactions with federal immigration agents.

Taking on Big Corporations

  • Fought Airbnb and its lobbyists. Exposed and fought Airbnb’s effort to weaken Monroe County’s short-term rental regulations.
  • Reined in food delivery apps. Stopped GrubHub and similar apps from listing restaurants without permission, and capped predatory fees during the Covid shutdowns.

Ethics & Transparency

  • Strengthened the Code of Ethics. Introduced and passed legislation strengthening the Code of Ethics — prohibiting sexual harassment and banning officials from using county resources for politics.
  • Caught a $6 million mistake. Secured additional legislative oversight of the Seneca Park Zoo expansion after learning $6 million was spent on a design that can’t be built.
  • Posts her own disclosures. The only legislator who posts her financial disclosure forms on her website.

Surveillance Technology

  • Sunlight on the Sheriff’s tech purchases. Led passage of a law requiring the Sheriff to disclose purchases of surveillance technology.
  • Biometric data at retail stores. Introduced legislation to regulate biometric data collection at commercial establishments.
Rachel with the family that owns Golden Fox

Getting Rochester Through the Pandemic

  • Got small businesses through it. Convened restaurant owners and the County Executive, helping secure a grant program for small businesses — with an emphasis on women- and minority-owned businesses in distressed areas.
  • Brought vaccines to the neighborhoods that needed them most. Led planning of a COVID-19 vaccine neighborhood “festival” with Connected Communities, Common Ground Health and the United Way — using incentives to drive turnout, model that was replicated.

Active Transportation and Safe Streets for All

  • Passed the Carrie Ray 3-Foot Law. Led passage of legislation requiring drivers to give cyclists three feet of space, protecting bicyclists on Rochester’s roads.
  • Shapes how we build. Serves on the Monroe County Planning Board, reviewing land use and street design decisions.
  • Longtime transit advocate and bus rider. A longtime RTS passenger and advocate for public transit investment, and supporter of Reconnect Rochester.