Affordable housing and better transit are the focus at a noontime rally this Labor Day in Rochester. Activist Barb Andrew says there’s talk about having 10-percent “affordable” units in new multi-family housing projects, but she doesn’t know if even that will happen. Andrew says, “I think if we’re giving public funds to builders to build things that we need something for it. There should be 20 percent of affordable housing.” Rochester officials say they’ve been trying to address the problem in number of projects, but there’s still a need for more affordable housing.
Andrew contends public transit also doesn’t meet the need in Rochester. She says, “There’s one lady who said there’s not even [a] bus line that she can get her kid to school. People can’t get to jobs and it’s all around Monday through Friday. There’s a little service now on weekends and holidays, but not enough.” The rally is organized by a group called CURE (Communities United for Rochester Empowerment).