- the native canadian

Joseph Spector
Staff writer

(July 31, 2005) — Annie Tucker has seen a lot through the front window of her upholstery business at Ames and Jay streets in Rochester.

In the 20 years of her shop, she's watched the once-bustling business corridor become more and more run-down.

Tucker sees young adults walking the streets without jobs; single mothers struggling to keep families together; and a community resigned to indifference.

About this series

Today's story is the second in an occasional series looking at the issues facing Rochester and where the mayoral candidates stand. The first installment focused on crime, and the last installment will focus on schools.

She doesn't know if the next Rochester mayor can do much to help, but she wishes he could.

"I would like to see this community be a community," she said.

"There's no togetherness. There seems to be no hope — I go my way and you go your way."

For a city immersed in its first mayoral race without an incumbent in 12 years, the fate of the Rochester economy may serve as a deciding issue among the five candidates.

While City Hall has little control over whether companies such as Eastman Kodak Co. cut jobs, the next mayor's vision and ability to reach out to leaders in the public and private sectors will be critical to Rochester's future, local officials agree.

"What the mayor can be is a participant in the creation of a business-friendly environment — and we still have work to do on that," said Heidi Zimmer-Meyer, president of the Rochester Downtown Development Corp.

There's plenty to do. The city's unemployment rate, down from 10 percent in 2002, still hovers around 6 percent — higher than the state and national rate of about 5 percent.

What's at stake

The city's direction. Community leaders say the next mayor can play a key role in guiding the city's future, including its efforts to improve the economy.

The city's downtown core remains muddled in uncertainty. And while the Port of Rochester in Charlotte has been reborn with the start of high-speed ferry service between Rochester and Toronto, other city neighborhoods are struggling.

The High Falls entertainment district, in which the city has invested more than $30 million, also remains on unsure footing.

Those issues come as Rochester and Monroe County deal with mixed economic messages from their largest companies. On Thursday, Valeo announced the closing of its city factory, a loss of 500 jobs, and Kodak last week said it would cut 10,000 jobs worldwide, with an unknown number in Rochester.

But on the flip side, several companies have recently announced plans to add 2,300 jobs in the city and county. So for all its efforts, the city is often left at the mercy of corporate executives and their shareholders, officials said.

"There are too many external forces that you have absolutely no control over that can change your community," said Mayor William A. Johnson Jr., who is retiring at year's end. He was first elected in 1993.

The five mayoral candidates each offer plans to help foster economic growth — ranging from building a downtown casino to starting an economic development team in City Hall.

Mayor's authority

When it comes to the economy, a mayor oversees his economic development staff and is seen as the primary spokesman for a region's attempts to bring in new jobs and businesses.

City Councilmen Tim Mains and Wade Norwood, retired Police Chief Robert Duffy and political newcomer Chris Maj are seeking the Democratic nomination in a Sept. 13 primary. The winner, along with third-party candidates, will face Republican John Parrinello on Election Day.

Here's a look at development issues facing Rochester and where the candidates stand:

Downtown rebirth

The candidates often talk about the need to revitalize downtown, a place that generally turns into a ghost town after work hours. New housing projects have sparked discussions about linking them with new retail businesses. "We think there is a real hope and real promise for the city, and things are swinging on the right direction when it comes to housing," said Pat Tobin, vice president for Christa Construction, which is building luxury condominiums on East Avenue.

A report last month from the national Urban Land Institute recommends the city demolish most of the half-empty, sprawling Midtown Plaza, which opened in 1962 as the nation's first downtown indoor shopping-office complex. The group says it should be replaced with a park and housing.

Mains says the city needs a clearer downtown vision and proposes to develop a comprehensive plan to expand housing and stores. Duffy offers similar ideas, pledging to aid developers in doubling the number of downtown housing units by 2010.

Norwood warned that the city shouldn't lose the momentum gained from the Land Institute's report. He said he would support use of taxpayer money to help demolish parts of Midtown.

One of Maj's ideas is to fill in the Inner Loop highway and make it a ring of trees.

Parrinello opposes the institute's recommendations, especially because it objects to a downtown casino — which he supports. While the other candidates are leery of a casino in the heart of downtown, Parrinello said a casino at Midtown would create jobs and tourism.

"That group was a shill," he said. "It was a dog-and-pony show."

Renaissance Square

The largest project for downtown Rochester is Renaissance Square. Spearheaded by Republican County Executive Maggie Brooks, the $230 million project would include a performing arts center, an underground bus terminal and a Monroe Community College campus all on one square block on East Main Street.

The project, construction of which may begin in 2007, has bipartisan support in the city and county. "We have to ensure that type of working environment continues," Zimmer-Meyer said. "It's been very productive."

Although the candidates pledge to work with the county, they offer varied opinions about Renaissance Square.

Parrinello, who chairs MCC's board of directors, said the project would complement a casino — which he wants across the street.

Duffy and Norwood said they support Renaissance Square but are unsure whether the bus terminal should be built below or above ground, which is under discussion by project planners.

Mains and Maj have the strongest objections. While Mains said the project may be too far along to change if he's elected, he questioned whether it will help neighboring businesses. He'd also prefer the bus terminal linked with the train station a mile away.

Maj said that with nation's fears of terrorism, it's a "bad idea" to build a bus terminal underground. He wondered why vacant buildings can't be rehabilitated instead of being razed for the project.

Neighborhoods wary

Linda Whittier, active in her Weldon Street neighborhood off Genesee Park Boulevard, hopes the next mayor won't neglect other sections of the city as officials work to make improvements downtown. "They need to revitalize neighborhoods and help make grant money available to neighborhood groups in targeted areas," she said.

To help neighborhoods, Norwood said that City Hall must develop a stronger relationship with the private sector. He also wants to streamline the city's economic development functions, including having a grant management office.

The next mayor should "really serve as the champion and when necessary, the critic" of new initiatives, he said.

Projects such as La Marketa, a Hispanic-themed shopping center on North Clinton Avenue, should be replicated in other parts of city, Duffy said. The city needs "to really champion the diversity in our neighborhoods," he said.

On Wednesday, Mains proposed changing the city's tax code to encourage developers to renovate existing buildings. "All Rochesterians should have the opportunity to gain from a more reasonable tax code," he said.

Maj wants the city to annex neighboring suburbs and offer abandoned city property to young people. Parrinello said the first step is ridding neighborhoods of crime, which would be his top priority.

Ferry service

Whoever is elected mayor will inherit the ferry and questions about its long-term viability. After the private owner discontinued service last year because of financial problems, the city bought the vessel out of foreclosure in February for $32 million and hired Bay Ferries Ltd. to run it.

Duffy called the ferry a "regional opportunity," saying other counties should help fund it to defray city residents' costs. (Fat chance, Bob. We didn't ask for the ferry, we had no say in the matter and we're not going to pay to bail your butts out.) Maj said the city should build a light rail system to help transport ferry riders after they arrive in Charlotte. (Why? The city of Rochester has taken over four years to rebuild just one damn street. Lake Avenue has been under some stage of construction for years; how long would it take to build a light-rail line? What are you going to do with a light-rail line to nowhere when the ferry goes under?)

Parrinello wants to add gambling on the ferry and require monthly public reports on its financial status. (Just like that, huh John? Gambling on the ship has been turned down both by the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. You going to get some associates of yours to challenge that?)

Ultimately, the city should look to make the ferry so profitable that a private group would buy it and operate it, said Norwood, who sits on the city's ferry board. (The Mayor-As-A-Prophet Syndrome. 'A private group might buy it', but I wouldn't bet the farm on that.) But Mains estimates it will take three years to know whether the ferry will be successful and said the current ship, which can hold 774 passengers, may be too large to be profitable. (Half right. It sure as hell doesn't take three years of losses to be able to tell that a business isn't successful.)

Sandy Parker, head of the Rochester Business Alliance, said business leaders recognize the impact the next mayor will have on initiatives critical to the region's future.

"We all feel very dedicated to the importance of the city and to its overall impact on the economic development of the region," she said. "That's why this mayoral election is so important."

JSPECTOR@DemocratandChronicle.com

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