"What's Happening?" August 17, 2009

"What's Happening?"
Mayor Duffy's meeting today is "CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC & MEDIA" !
August 17, 2009

Yesterday, our team spent the entire day at the Clarissa Street Reunion.

"Visitors spread precious nostalgia on Clarissa Street'
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090816/NEWS01/908160337/1003

I met many new people yesterday on Clarissa Street including Anagloria and Brother Crawford. I saw many people I have known over the years including my very dear friend of many decades, Frankie Steinz http://frankiesteinz.com/ who still owns the "Button Mansion" in Corn Hill. In the 1970's, Frankie owned the store "Treasure Hunt" on Monroe Avenue which was once banned by the City of Rochester for displaying dolls in the show window which appeared to look like male appendages. Frankie now designs costumes for major movies and for Saturday Night Live. She operates out of her store on Broadway. I remember when we both lived in Aspen, CO, Frankie would host art shows with Jack Nicholson. I also met many new friends such as Anagloria on Clarissa Street. .

While at Clarissa Street we collected signatures on our new petition to form a new political party, 'The Eagle'. This will gain us access to the ballot as a third party in the November 3 election. As you know, our team is already in the Democratic Primary on September 15, 2009. We are working to gain a third line in November to bring CHANGE to Rochester this year.

Why do we need CHANGE? Well, for one reason, let's look at today's news. Rachel Barnhart is reporting last night that there will be TWO forums tomorrow on the aftermath of ren square.

"Separate Forums to Discuss Theater, Main and Clinton Future"

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/Separate-Forums-to-Discuss-Theate...

"Two meetings on Monday will officially move the community beyond Renaissance Square."

In the morning, the Rochester Broadway Theater League is hosting an informational session at the Auditorium Center about plans for a new theater. A number of town supervisors and developers are expected to attend. They will get a tour of the Auditorium, which the RBTL says cannot be rehabbed to meet the group’s needs. RBTL has not raised funds for a new theater.

In the afternoon, Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy is hosting a forum for developers to weigh in on the future of the Main and Clinton block. There are a number of vacant and blighted buildings on the site. The meeting is closed to the media and public.

I repeat: "The meeting is closed to the media and public."

Closed to the public? Who does Mayor Duffy think he is? Maggie Brooks? Why is this meeting closed to the public? Is this the beginning of another 1,000 fast ferries? And why does Mayor Duffy not invite our own local talent to this meeting to show how development should be done in a sustaianable manner?

Mayor Duffy has ignored the will & common sense of the people of Rochester in the aftermath of ren square by not inviting Rochesters's own talent, i.e. Evan Lowenstein, Roger Brown & Joni Monoe to his developer's meeting to be held on Monday, August 18. In Saturday's (August 15, 2009) D&C, Roger Brown & Joni Monroe wrote:

"Certainly there is cause for optimism when discussing the revitalization of Center City, yet a major ingredient missing for its future growth as a vibrant, sustainable urban core is a vision plan to help coordinate and guide development.

"A vision plan embodies a community's aspirations for its physical and economic growth and expresses agreed upon strategies for current and future development. It illustrates how the built environment and public realm can be designed to effectively connect pedestrian elements, further develop civic and green spaces, illuminate the potential of natural resources (The Genesee River), and value the sensitive treatment of public buildings. If coordinated properly, with citizen participation and support, promoted, kept visible and accessible, a vision plan for our downtown would serve as a synergetic, motivating force, borne of civic pride."

While I praise Mayor Duffy for eventually arriving at the correct outcome for ren square, without citizen participation right now, Mayor Duffy risks the same fate as Maggie Brooks and her 1,000 fast ferries at Main & Clinton.

We must anticipate money that will probably be coming from President Obama's High Speed Rail stimulus money ($8 billion this year) and plan for smart development including an inter-modal transporation depot at the Amtrak station with a high speed rail train from Albany to Buffalo with a stop in Rochester.

"New York Coalition Statement of Regional Impact High Speed Rail, July 31, 2009"
http://harry2009.com/node/205

We must also consider my letter to Mayor Duffy of May 15, 2009 inviting experts I have worked with to hold a charrette for Rochester. Bill Reed was one of the founders of LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Desgn), the benchmark for any building built today.

Harry Davis letter to Mayor Duffy to fix ren square aftermath
http://harry2009.com/node/212

What is "LEED"?
http://harry2009.com/node/188

"For Rochester, Regarding Plans for Ren Square" by Bill Reed
http://harry2009.com/node/102

Please call Mayor Duffy's office at 585-428-7045 or email Mayor Dufy at: info@cityofrochester.gov and ask that either Gil Friend or Bill Reed be invited by Mayor Duffy to help Rochester. I am told Mayor Duffy does read his emails.

..

High speed rail is the biggest economic development for upstate New York in 150 years, since the Erie Canal.

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Harry