Jason Partyka

Signs of spring!

Veo e-bikes and scooters are back in Rochester for the 2026 season. Use code SPRING26 for $5 in free credit through March.

Learn more: cityofrochester.gov/veo2026

I have family who skip the Covid shot because they get arm pain that would make them miss work. They tolerate the flu shot a lot better though.

The Iranian children whose homes are being bombed today will not grow into leaders who are friends to the United States tomorrow.

This war is making the average American less safe, not more.

Lawmakers want upstate drivers to help fund transit. It's a non-starter for Hochul Drivers in the New York City metro area already pay the yearly surcharge on their vehicle registrations to help fund the MTA.

This is a proven way to fund Transit, I fully support it.

It's getting to the point where I'm going to have to burn down half of my house to heat the other half.

Using detailed address-level microdata, we trace movement chains originating with the initial residents of The Central and document three main findings. First, we show the building generated a substantial number of local vacancies. We identify 180 specific addresses that became vacant because of moves into The Central. Scaling to account for data coverage suggests the new tower induced more than 500 local vacancies in the three years after construction, by setting off chains of moves. Second, while The Central units were expensive on a per-square-foot basis, the homes vacated by movers were significantly cheaper. Homes left behind by those moving into The Central were about 40% less expensive. Unlike much of the prior literature, which track the changing neighborhood characteristics of movers

Even more evidence that building new housing decreases rents: Researchers tracked the residents of a newly built luxury condo building and found that they freed up less expensive apartments nearby.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

The real threat to pedestrians are motorists. 🙄 www.rochesterfirst.com/new-york-sta...

This reminds me of when NYS put automatic tolling on the Thruway.

People were convinced the state would start sending out speeding tickets to anyone who got to their exit so quickly that they must have gone over the speed limit.

It's been five years and still no such tickets.

"...the plea agreement allows the court to compel Badger to take parenting classes as part of her probation."

I feel like this is shameful victim blaming. The folks who designed Ridge Rd, and who chose to make it an economic corridor, are just as culpable.

Ridge Rd needs to be radically redesigned

The scaled AV deployment outlined in the Governor's budget could nearly double vehicle miles traveled, reduce transit ridership, and hinder emergency response operations. We encourage the legislature to act with caution and ensure certain nuances are addressed. reconnectrochester.org/2026/01/smar...

For the record, I'm a city homeowner and I oppose state of emergency order.

Definitely a little tone deaf, lol.

That said, I do have a plug-in electric snow blower that did the job for me this morning.

Even the deep snow on the sidewalk that the city crews weren't able to clear before the morning commute... But it's too early to gripe about that, lol.

The plows have been by, so the streets are clear for the buses, thank you.

But the sidewalk crews haven't been out yet, which means we can't walk down the street to get to the buses!

Is there anything we do to get the sidewalk crews out in a more timely manner?

centrists like to use terminology disputes as a proxy battle for actual policy fights, and engaging is often fruitless. if you don’t like the slogan use something else. but the agency needs to be hollowed out, every existing agent needs to be put on no-hire lists, and there need to be prosecutions.

Mayor Evans pointing towards a video of a school bus with the stop sign extended

Mayor Evans speaking at the podium with RCSD Superintendent

Superintendent Dr Eric Rosser

RPD officer Greg Bello speaking at podium

“8,000 drivers have prioritized their own convenience over children’s safety.” Mayor Evans.

Enforcement for drivers who pass stopped RCSD school buses with stop signs extended begins TODAY. Thank you @cityofrochester.bsky.social for making this happen.

Was there even that much public backlash?

I'm a homeowner and have been a city resident for over twenty-five years. City council members deserved that raise.

And frankly, city residents deserve a council that can command a high salary.

Here's some important information from the ACLU about knowing your rights when protesting and/or interacting with ICE.

I would like to direct all speeders to this chart

It's frustrating because I feel like I am held hostage. Can I travel for the holidays, spend an extended amount of time with family?

Nope. Good citizens stay home and shovel their sidewalks. No Christmas cheer for us.

Humbug.

A sidewalk that has been covered by snow by a passing snow plow. Photo taken 12/27/25

It would also be nice if snow from the street wasn't piled onto the sidewalk. I took this picture today on E. Main St.

I share a property line with a church. Whoever plows their driveway left a mound of snow obstructing the sidewalk.

It's hard to keep the sidewalk clear when plows keep burying it.

Key Takeaways: Monroe County would have a registry if not for Joe Morelle. Airbnb’s lobbyist here is the Congressman’s son, and the documents show he supplied draft bill language and had months of privileged access. That relationship — not policy — explains why we are the only major county to opt out. The Legislature cannot simply “opt in later.” Our attorneys work for the County Executive, not the Legislature. Under Bello’s interpretation of the Charter, we cannot direct him to act. He controls the legal drafting, the timeline, and the outcome — and legislators fear retaliation for crossing him. The administration went full Trump: deny the evidence, attack the messenger. Instead of refuting their own emails showing Airbnb’s involvement, they smeared me as vengeful and fictionalized the facts. They also pushed a false claim about revenue loss. Local media largely failed to inform the public. Most outlets refused to center the Morelle connection, softened documented facts into “claims,” repeated the administration’s untruths without challenge and covered the issue when it was too late to engage the public.

This is a long one, but the short-term rental vote was a great case study in a lot that is wrong with county governance.
Read: open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...

The entire debate about whether Democrats should moderate or focus on economic vs identity issues is moot if the media is just going to report that they're doing SJW Shit irregardless

So excited for this program at @thelittletheatre.bsky.social on 12/2! We'll discuss how to once again make downtown Rochester a thriving center of activity with streetlife, sidewalks teeming with residents & visitors, and diverse street level businesses. reconnectrochester.org/programs/roc...

It may not seem like a lot. But the 20,000 people who work for our region's second largest employer are going to collectively do a lot less discretionary spending.

Since consumer spending is such a large part of economy, it's hard to be optimistic about 2026.

I ended up being impacted by this, although not as dramatically as the providers.

They gave us our end of the year raises, which came out to $20 a week for me. But starting the first of next year my health insurance is going up $35 a week. So a net pay cut.

basically every 2024 truism is dead. Trump did not build a lasting multiracial coalition or turn young men into committed Republicans. You don’t need to cave on trans rights to win. The pundits have nothing left to tell you.

I wonder how the Y reconciles the need for this covenant with their insistence that they had to close this location due to lack of demand.

I think it's fair to conclude that the Y had other reasons for closing this location than what they have stated.

Share your feedback to help make our sidewalks, crosswalks, and bus stops accessible for everyone!

Join us for a virtual public meeting on Rochester’s ADA Right-of-Way Transition Plan on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 12 p.m.

Learn more: Cityofrochester.gov/ADAtransitionplan

I did not know right-on-red was 1970s invention!

She's not totally wrong. […] The first part is Deuteronomy 6:3-5. The second part is Leviticus 19. So you love God, so you must love his law. How do you love somebody? You love them by telling them the truth, not by confirming or affirming their sin. And it says, by the way, Ms. Rachel, might want to crack open that Bible of yours, in a lesser reference — part of the same part of scripture is in Leviticus 18, is that thou shall lay with another man shall be stoned to death. Just saying. So, Ms. Rachel, you quote Leviticus 19, love your neighbor as yourself. The chapter before affirms God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters. Now, so how do you best love somebody? You love them by telling them the truth. Don't be cruel […] I would love for Ms. Rachel to respond to this: Is pride a Christian value? She thinks it is. Happy Pride Month everybody! […] In fact the Scriptures tell us the opposite. "Pride goeth before the fall."

People keep "debunking" the claim that Charlie Kirk wanted to stone gay people to death but I'm pretty sure he meant it.