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.
It's not unusual for big corporations to lobby governments. What's unusual is the lobbying firm's ties to local power and the outcome. No other large urban county in Upstate NY chose to opt out.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/inside-rec...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/inside-rec...
November 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
It's not unusual for big corporations to lobby governments. What's unusual is the lobbying firm's ties to local power and the outcome. No other large urban county in Upstate NY chose to opt out.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/inside-rec...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/inside-rec...
This is snow over a thin coat of black ice. Be careful.
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This is snow over a thin coat of black ice. Be careful.
I am NOT complaining - the city does a fantastic job with leaf pickup and I assume it will be delayed a couple weeks. This year, with all the wind, it’s meant the leaves raked to the curb are back on my lawn. 😂
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I am NOT complaining - the city does a fantastic job with leaf pickup and I assume it will be delayed a couple weeks. This year, with all the wind, it’s meant the leaves raked to the curb are back on my lawn. 😂
Good morning from North Winton Village
November 28, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Good morning from North Winton Village
I purposely didn’t look up who was the lobbyist until I finished most of the letter. Felt like Christmas morning.
November 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I purposely didn’t look up who was the lobbyist until I finished most of the letter. Felt like Christmas morning.
Why is Bello rushing through a short-term rental law designed to favor AirbnB? Follow the money and the friends, as per usual. Have to read to the end on this one.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/now-it-all...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/now-it-all...
November 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Why is Bello rushing through a short-term rental law designed to favor AirbnB? Follow the money and the friends, as per usual. Have to read to the end on this one.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/now-it-all...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/now-it-all...
HUD is prepared to make massive cuts to permanent supportive housing. There are about 1300 such beds in Rochester. I spoke at a rally today against this devastating change. Background: www.urban.org/urban-wire/e...
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
HUD is prepared to make massive cuts to permanent supportive housing. There are about 1300 such beds in Rochester. I spoke at a rally today against this devastating change. Background: www.urban.org/urban-wire/e...
Good afternoon from North Winton Village
November 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Good afternoon from North Winton Village
Prudy broke a window lunging at a squirrel. Hope my day improves. 🤨
November 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Prudy broke a window lunging at a squirrel. Hope my day improves. 🤨
40°. Builds character.
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
40°. Builds character.
Chuy García's ove is possible in New York. Here's how.
The New York Legislature should fix the system ASAP.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/could-chuy...
The New York Legislature should fix the system ASAP.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/could-chuy...
November 19, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Chuy García's ove is possible in New York. Here's how.
The New York Legislature should fix the system ASAP.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/could-chuy...
The New York Legislature should fix the system ASAP.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/could-chuy...
Good morning from North Winton Village
November 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Good morning from North Winton Village
Mass deportation efforts are making us all less safe.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
November 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Mass deportation efforts are making us all less safe.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Good evening from North Winton Village
November 16, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Good evening from North Winton Village
Today we honor the 27,840 veterans who call Monroe County home.
2023 ACS:
4.7% of Monroe County residents are veterans.
Vietnam veterans make up the largest group (8,848), followed the Gulf War (2001–) (6,597) and the 1990s Gulf War (4,625).
2,027 are women.
To all who served — thank you.
2023 ACS:
4.7% of Monroe County residents are veterans.
Vietnam veterans make up the largest group (8,848), followed the Gulf War (2001–) (6,597) and the 1990s Gulf War (4,625).
2,027 are women.
To all who served — thank you.
November 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Today we honor the 27,840 veterans who call Monroe County home.
2023 ACS:
4.7% of Monroe County residents are veterans.
Vietnam veterans make up the largest group (8,848), followed the Gulf War (2001–) (6,597) and the 1990s Gulf War (4,625).
2,027 are women.
To all who served — thank you.
2023 ACS:
4.7% of Monroe County residents are veterans.
Vietnam veterans make up the largest group (8,848), followed the Gulf War (2001–) (6,597) and the 1990s Gulf War (4,625).
2,027 are women.
To all who served — thank you.
Good morning from North Winton Village
November 11, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Good morning from North Winton Village
Good morning from North Winton Village
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Good morning from North Winton Village
Your annual warning never to click because these articles almost never include Monroe County 😂❄️
November 9, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Your annual warning never to click because these articles almost never include Monroe County 😂❄️
Light Sunday morning reading
November 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Light Sunday morning reading
A right wing guy filed a complaint against me for conduct unbecoming an elected official relating to my comments about ICE. The Monroe County Board of Ethics actually investigated. Needless to say, I'm pretty disturbed.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/bellos-eth...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/bellos-eth...
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 AM
A right wing guy filed a complaint against me for conduct unbecoming an elected official relating to my comments about ICE. The Monroe County Board of Ethics actually investigated. Needless to say, I'm pretty disturbed.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/bellos-eth...
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/bellos-eth...