Public Bravery In East Rochester
Last year, when town meetings were being held about the Brooks/Minarik unFAIR plan, GOP County Leg candidates didn’t show up. Anthony Daniele, barely-elected GOP candidate for LD-10 didn’t because he feared “an ambush”.
When Maggie Brooks unveiled her unFAIR plan at a last minute press conference (and was whisked away quickly afterwards), she was called “brave” by a local columnist. Yet she had to hide behind fake phone-based “town meetings” where she controlled the audience, questions, and the message.
So regardless of what you think of East Rochester’s new mayor Jason Koon, you have to give it to him for showing up to the scream-fest that was the emergency meeting called by the ER town board’s GOP members. He faced and responded to people who were screaming at him, point-blank, in a small and crowded room.
Now that’s bravery.
What happened in East Rochester was magical tonight! Thank you Rochester Turning for advertising this and getting the message out! The crowd was approximately 60% PRO Koon, 30% PRO Old Regime, 10% just in attendance and didn’t appear to have an opinion.
Koon read his plans as Mayor which include the following intiatives:
1. Creation of a Public Safety Task Force to be lead by the re-seated (by Koon) Chief of Police to address and correct and reduce the level of crime and drug activity in the Village.
2. Creation of a Task Force on Property Taxes that will look at and evaluate ways to cut spending and decrease the tax burden on residents. He has committed to a 6% reduction in property taxes broken up into 2% the first year, 2% the second year, 1% the third year, 1% the fourth year. (I don’t think there has EVER been a reduction in property taxes in East Rochester - EVER!)
3. Develop a marketing plan to promote the Village to attract and encourage new families to purchase homes in the Village. He compared it to the great success the City has had with the “City Living Sundays” and thinks that the incorporation of new families versus absentee landlords can only further contribute to the stability of the future. He noted the excellent schools and small village family life and sense of community that he feels makes East Rochester great.
He put the Village Administrators replacement on hold for 45 days pending further interaction and cooperation with the Board members.
He also put the Village Attorney appointment on hold for 30 days pending negotiations with the Board and stated that he will not pay for the attorney appointed by the trustees “illegally” (this is the same firm that represents Maggie Brooks Administration) and that the law clearly states that the MAYOR has the appointing authority, not the trustees, therefore the appointment they made was illegal and not recognized, nor will their mistake be paid for by the taxpayers. (Go Jason!)
He also wants to look at tax breaks given to the “Wells Landing” development off Fairport Road on the old water plant property, and wants to make certain that taxation is fair to all residents, not inequities that burden some to the advantage of others.
It was like watching a butterfly emerge from the cocoon. One by one individuals with long-standing family names went up to show their public support for Koon and CHANGE.
This time when family members went up to the mike to criticize the new Mayor, their family associations were shouted out and they were booed loudly by the crowd!
The tide is turning, and it’s going to be very interesting and rewarding to watch the future of East Rochester emerge. A future filled with hope, growth, and a new found strength by a community to stand up and NOT be afraid to take back their town!
I am very proud of Mayor Koon, and just as proud of all of the people of East Rochester who showed up to let the old board know - that 55% of the vote Koon received was NO ACCIDENT!
WHOO HOO!