This is weird. I am quite sure reporters love America. But honestly, there’s no one way to love America. And Americans have very different views on what their republic should be. Reporters should report on government without any agenda.

I believe this was the right decision. If the job should be full time, go through the process to make it so. And that would mean more than a $50,000 salary, and have public buy-in. This wasn’t the way.

Here is my supplemental letter regarding the Fabian Rivera contract. It's come to my attention there is a second $20,000 executive directro contract, and the Sheriff hired a Macedon officer who resigned upon conclusion of the Rivera DWI probe. 1/ rachbarnhart.com/wp-content/u...

I already know 2026 is going to be about disclosure, disclosure, disclosure. Surveillance tech, the remaining Airbnb files, Avelo contract (FOIL'd months ago - they're stalling), and $20,000 contracts. I'm sure more will come up.

We need tighter controls on the $20,000 contracts, which are clearly being used to hook up friends while circumventing the legislature. Moreover, there seems to be an rule that it's okay to re-up annually. I can't find that in writing anywhere. 1/

I have to write a supplemental letter to the Fabian Rivera inquiry. They gave TWO executive director contracts for the same program- both $20,000, $1 below limit for legislature vote. AND I didn't realize Sheriff hired a deputy connected to the Rivera Macedon DWI incident. 🧐

Back when I was a reporter, I used to hate when producers would insist on getting random people to comment on important issues. There is a place for that, but in many cases, it just took crucial time away from sharing facts and context on the issue at hand. The job is to inform, not be a mirror.

Feel it’s worth noting the garbage was picked up yesterday, the scheduled day. Hopefully @cityofrochester.bsky.social has ironed out issues though I strongly believe there needs to be an accounting and explanation.

I have such great neighbors. Lots of people cleared their walks - not sure why there was no sidewalk plow. I think we hit the snow threshold, but maybe not.

No one “deserves” a government contract. Public jobs and contracts are not rewards, favors, or acts of grace. They are positions of public trust, governed by rules, transparency, and scrutiny that apply regardless of personal history, service record, or who knows whom.

I'm for personal redemption. I'm against using government to create jobs for friends. That's not having someone's back. That's rank cronyism.

If your response is, "He deserves a second chance and I trust Sheriff Baxter," that's not how government should work. This is a contract designed to avoid legislative scrutiny & implies future work. Process & transparency matter if we want people to trust government. We can't govern through vibes.

I really do believe in redemption. But that should come with transparency and trust. This ain't it. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/sheriff-wa...

Not surprising. The failure was in communication on the part of the Fire District. Late engagement on the project, weirdly-scheduled December 30 vote. Residents filled gaps with questions fueled by lack of trust. (I read through FD minutes and watched presentation. I would have been a yes.)

Leave the car home. Make it a strict rule when you're going out. www.whec.com/top-news/mon...

Prudy gets her walks, no matter what

The payments meant people were far more likely to be housed and fed -- and that's a success! Expectations of long term stability from $6,000 is putting way too much on the pilot.

Notable in this article isn't just the massive infrastructure spend but the fact the Onondaga Legislature is flipping from 12-5 GOP majority to 10-7 Democratic majority.

Must read: “I’ve learned Washington, and I’ve come to understand the brokenness of the place. If none of us is learning lessons here and we can’t evolve and mature with our lessons, then what kind of people are we?” I believe her because she's done, not angling for something else.

"Parents don't need to be AI experts. They just need to be curious about their children's lives and ask them about what kind of technology they're using and why."

“I would want to know, how loud is it? I would want to know, has that supplier done a large-scale fire test on these containers? And I would want to see that report on that, essentially, to make sure that if a container burns, it doesn't spread. "Otherwise I would not be concerned, really.”

RGH has been getting national attention for this work. Kudos to them for leading the way.

A moving story about a Trump voter reckoning with his choice. It is hard to admit mistakes and hard to admit betrayal, especially amid profound loss. I feel nothing but compassion.

"When utilities earn substantial profits, one might expect customers to see some relief in their monthly bills. But... this is rarely what happens. Rather, utilities earn substantial profits because regulators allow them to require ordinary people to pay more."

This keeps bothering me about Airbnb discourse. Conversations shift away from platform power and toward individual hosts "trying to make ends meet." Hosts = human shield. The question of whether a multi-billion-dollar company should be subject to public oversight — disappears. 1/

Smart piece. It doesn't feel like there's a lot of coherence around messaging on AI. The only thing that unites people is opposition to data centers.

I've always maintained the tax piece -- and the resulting data it requires to audit properly -- was always the central issue. Airbnb guards # of locations, booked nights and rates like a trade secret. My take: Airbnb's desire for secrecy is not our problem.

Monroe County audits hotels all the time, often discovering unpaid occupancy taxes. But the county has no such authority over Airbnb. If Airbnb were a hotel, it would account for 1 in 10 room nights. Yet the county can't tell you how many rooms there are or where they are. 1/

“The response did not meet our standard of performance, and we are taking immediate steps to correct it.” Refreshing honesty. I do wonder what the meteorologists have to say about blaming a lighter snow forecast. 🫣

I will basically be complaining about the state of our sidewalks through spring. We are so blessed to have a city that does sidewalk snow plowing. But property owners still need to clear their walks. I love my neighbors who pitch in to help each other with this. It gets tough.

I care a lot about public safety. That means doing things that actually work. Not making up statistics to suit a PR narrative. Unlike the county administration, when I use data, I show my work and cite my sources.

"It could power nearly every home in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties combined." These should be nonstarters unless it's studied exactly how supply, and as a results, rates will be impacted.

The framing of this story is problematic - especially the headline. This is going to a vote. While it looks like a good project, it's not up to the D&C to declare it necessary as part of its reporting.

"But when it does happen, rescheduling won't automatically revoke federal laws targeting marijuana, and interstate marijuana commerce would remain illegal"

Good morning to everyone except the people who park their cars across sidewalks overnight, causing sidewalk snow plows to make a giant mess of snow mountains for everyone to climb over.

Canceled plans tonight. If I go anywhere, it will be on foot in the neighborhood. If you’re driving, go slow. Be patient. Show grace. Stay safe out there.

Just shoveled. Sleet in the wind is not fun. Icy pellets hitting face sideways. ❄️

Garbage got picked up just now. 311 told me this morning they were going to do my whole route today. Thank you to all the workers! I hope Council asks for transparency on what is going on and extent of the issues.

I had an "a-ha" moment after I crunched the numbers for JEDS and found the claims were inflated. JEDS was supposed to tackle most troubled-youth. But it wasn't legally able to do so. 1/

This young woman is my constituent. Harvard, leave her alone.

What shocking news. I hope they are able to return. This is an iconic local establishment — more than 50 years in business. 🏳️‍🌈

Wishing you a holiday filled with joy and peace. Merry Christmas! 🎄

"Deans of nursing schools and associations representing nurses fear the omission...will ultimately discourage people from becoming nurse practitioners...This could worsen the shortage of these critical health care providers in the United States."

Crime rates have been on the decline since 2021.

That's the area where garbage wasn't done in NWV. Everyone is calling 311 tomorrow. Workers are complaining about route changes. You need a systemic problem for an unprecedented, citywide issue like this. Staffing can't be the issue (that would also be a management issue).

The city did not pick up a pretty big section of The Triangle part of N Winton today. South side of Cedarwood to north side of E Main and side streets between Berry to Akron at least. That’s all I walked so far with the dogs.

Oh wow - my garbage wasn’t picked up today. Only recycling. @cityofrochester.bsky.social

My recycling was missed two weeks ago. Leaves never got picked up, which I know is partly because of the weather, but still. I’m sorry to hear this is a systemwide issue because the city usually does an amazing job. I hope they figure this out.

🧵JEDS: During a rash of youth car thefts in 2023, County Executive Adam Bello announced the Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program. Kids who are arrested & qualify for diversion get 2 weeks of “stabilization” to keep them out of trouble before the program starts. 1/

"In New England, the regional grid operator warned the stoppage could send power prices soaring & threaten the reliability of its six-state electric system. In Virginia, the utility...said the pause hinders its ability to keep up with rising electricity consumption from data centers."