Rachel Barnhart
@rachbarnhart.com
Former journalist. Current Monroe County Legislator. Posts are personal views unless noted as official. Not allowed: threats, defamation, obscenity, harassment or spam. Rochester, N.Y.
We got a Matter of Urgency with less than 24 hours notice to retroactively approve an extra $600,000 for security services for the year 2025.
I still have no idea what happened here, but it's clear something did.
I still have no idea what happened here, but it's clear something did.
January 14, 2026 at 1:59 PM
We got a Matter of Urgency with less than 24 hours notice to retroactively approve an extra $600,000 for security services for the year 2025.
I still have no idea what happened here, but it's clear something did.
I still have no idea what happened here, but it's clear something did.
A big welcome to our new Democratic legislators, Dr. Nazish Jeffrey and Marvin Stepherson. They are a terrific addition to the caucus.
January 14, 2026 at 1:29 PM
A big welcome to our new Democratic legislators, Dr. Nazish Jeffrey and Marvin Stepherson. They are a terrific addition to the caucus.
The screen is not damaged so this has to happen from the inside. This is my enclosed porch. Any ideas on how it broke? Probably decades old glass. Yikes.
January 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
The screen is not damaged so this has to happen from the inside. This is my enclosed porch. Any ideas on how it broke? Probably decades old glass. Yikes.
Finally getting the leaves!
Latest ever, but we had the snowiest start to winter in a decade.
Latest ever, but we had the snowiest start to winter in a decade.
January 12, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Finally getting the leaves!
Latest ever, but we had the snowiest start to winter in a decade.
Latest ever, but we had the snowiest start to winter in a decade.
We're voting on equipping probation officers with body worn cameras, which raises privacy concerns. Draft policy is really bad.
And during vetting of BWCs, we learned new probation officers now must be armed, which raises accountability concerns. Legislature never informed. 1/
And during vetting of BWCs, we learned new probation officers now must be armed, which raises accountability concerns. Legislature never informed. 1/
January 12, 2026 at 1:09 PM
We're voting on equipping probation officers with body worn cameras, which raises privacy concerns. Draft policy is really bad.
And during vetting of BWCs, we learned new probation officers now must be armed, which raises accountability concerns. Legislature never informed. 1/
And during vetting of BWCs, we learned new probation officers now must be armed, which raises accountability concerns. Legislature never informed. 1/
They knocked on my door today! Thank you for the gift (chocolate!). What a wonderful way to say hello.
January 10, 2026 at 7:45 PM
They knocked on my door today! Thank you for the gift (chocolate!). What a wonderful way to say hello.
These headlines really bother me because the country is not split. A majority is not okay with Trump's immigration crackdown, and polls will show a majority don't think this was a clean shooting.
January 10, 2026 at 5:32 PM
These headlines really bother me because the country is not split. A majority is not okay with Trump's immigration crackdown, and polls will show a majority don't think this was a clean shooting.
Damning column on the culture of ICE.
"All of us, citizens and immigrants alike, are being ruled by people who think life is a privilege bestowed by authority, and death is a fair penalty for disobedience."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
"All of us, citizens and immigrants alike, are being ruled by people who think life is a privilege bestowed by authority, and death is a fair penalty for disobedience."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
January 9, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Damning column on the culture of ICE.
"All of us, citizens and immigrants alike, are being ruled by people who think life is a privilege bestowed by authority, and death is a fair penalty for disobedience."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
"All of us, citizens and immigrants alike, are being ruled by people who think life is a privilege bestowed by authority, and death is a fair penalty for disobedience."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
You may recall that I exposed the fact we blew $6M on a zoo design that couldn't be built, and as a result the legislature passed an amendment requiring disclosure of cost overruns on new design contract. We have our first overrun. We have to vote if they top $1M.
January 7, 2026 at 11:46 PM
You may recall that I exposed the fact we blew $6M on a zoo design that couldn't be built, and as a result the legislature passed an amendment requiring disclosure of cost overruns on new design contract. We have our first overrun. We have to vote if they top $1M.
There's always that one guy (always a guy) who complains when I post letters I write as part of my work as a legislator.
Too bad.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Too bad.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
January 7, 2026 at 1:52 PM
There's always that one guy (always a guy) who complains when I post letters I write as part of my work as a legislator.
Too bad.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Too bad.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Democracies depend on people sharing a common set of facts - it’s vital to civic life. But that’s ending.
www.axios.com/2026/01/05/d...
www.axios.com/2026/01/05/d...
January 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Democracies depend on people sharing a common set of facts - it’s vital to civic life. But that’s ending.
www.axios.com/2026/01/05/d...
www.axios.com/2026/01/05/d...
Letter to Wegmans CEO regarding biometric data collection and usage at stores.
January 5, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Letter to Wegmans CEO regarding biometric data collection and usage at stores.
This has turned into a tangled web. 1/
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-fabian...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-fabian...
January 3, 2026 at 4:53 PM
This has turned into a tangled web. 1/
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-fabian...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-fabian...
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 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.
January 2, 2026 at 10:57 PM
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 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 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.
January 1, 2026 at 7:14 PM
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.
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.
I'm against using government to create jobs for friends.
That's not having someone's back. That's rank cronyism.
January 1, 2026 at 2:34 PM
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.
I'm against using government to create jobs for friends.
That's not having someone's back. That's rank cronyism.
I really do believe in redemption. But that should come with transparency and trust. This ain't it.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/sheriff-wa...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/sheriff-wa...
December 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I really do believe in redemption. But that should come with transparency and trust. This ain't it.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/sheriff-wa...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/sheriff-wa...
Prudy gets her walks, no matter what
December 30, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Prudy gets her walks, no matter what
In one audit, the county discovered more than $57,000 in unpaid occupancy taxes.
These dollars fund the Blue Cross Arena, convention center, museums, theaters, zoo, festivals and more. 2/
These dollars fund the Blue Cross Arena, convention center, museums, theaters, zoo, festivals and more. 2/
December 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
In one audit, the county discovered more than $57,000 in unpaid occupancy taxes.
These dollars fund the Blue Cross Arena, convention center, museums, theaters, zoo, festivals and more. 2/
These dollars fund the Blue Cross Arena, convention center, museums, theaters, zoo, festivals and more. 2/
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/
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/
December 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
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/
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/
Just shoveled. Sleet in the wind is not fun. Icy pellets hitting face sideways. ❄️
December 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Just shoveled. Sleet in the wind is not fun. Icy pellets hitting face sideways. ❄️
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/
JEDS was supposed to tackle most troubled-youth.
But it wasn't legally able to do so.
1/
December 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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/
JEDS was supposed to tackle most troubled-youth.
But it wasn't legally able to do so.
1/
Wishing you a holiday filled with joy and peace. Merry Christmas! 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Wishing you a holiday filled with joy and peace. Merry Christmas! 🎄
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).
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).
December 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
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).
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 claims got bigger. Much bigger.
JEDS had an 84% success rate compared to 36% statewide!
A 3% reoffense rate!
This data was used to ask the state for money for the $1.2M annual program. 3/
JEDS had an 84% success rate compared to 36% statewide!
A 3% reoffense rate!
This data was used to ask the state for money for the $1.2M annual program. 3/
December 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The claims got bigger. Much bigger.
JEDS had an 84% success rate compared to 36% statewide!
A 3% reoffense rate!
This data was used to ask the state for money for the $1.2M annual program. 3/
JEDS had an 84% success rate compared to 36% statewide!
A 3% reoffense rate!
This data was used to ask the state for money for the $1.2M annual program. 3/