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.
Employees spoke and RRH is listening — for now.
RRH pauses open enrollment after criticism over high health premiums
Rochester Regional Health System has paused open enrollment for employees after it received a flood criticism over new health premium plans for 2026.
13wham.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Employees spoke and RRH is listening — for now.
So, authoritarianism now?
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
So, authoritarianism now?
It's difficult to tie specific initiatives to reductions in crime. I'm glad the D&C is seeking transparency on the city's state of emergency actions.
Rochester officials double down on state of emergency, pointing to waning gun violence
Last month Rochester officials told the D&C a gun violence state of emergency will continue until shootings become "unusual."
www.democratandchronicle.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
It's difficult to tie specific initiatives to reductions in crime. I'm glad the D&C is seeking transparency on the city's state of emergency actions.
Good morning from North Winton Village
November 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Good morning from North Winton Village
To this end- it’s not progressive v moderate anymore. It’s fighters and doers v weaklings and status quo-ers.
That’s our fundamental problem.
That’s our fundamental problem.
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 AM
To this end- it’s not progressive v moderate anymore. It’s fighters and doers v weaklings and status quo-ers.
That’s our fundamental problem.
That’s our fundamental problem.
What was all of this for?
A future vote on the ACA tax credits is not enough.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
The American people about to lose their health care need results, not votes.
November 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
What was all of this for?
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 😂❄️
This is why I keep saying Hochul needs to just fund SNAP.
Trump administration demands that states 'undo' full SNAP benefit payments
Trump administration demands that states 'undo' full SNAP benefit payments
A new order from the Trump administration tells states to "undo" any full SNAP benefit payments made in November.
cnb.cx
November 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This is why I keep saying Hochul needs to just fund SNAP.
"We're tracking about 30 white clergy who are running for office as Democrats around the country. That's shocking."
"Shocking" number of white clergy run as Democrats in 2026
"We're tracking about 30 white clergy who are running for office as Democrats around the country."
www.axios.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
"We're tracking about 30 white clergy who are running for office as Democrats around the country. That's shocking."
“Venezuelans left without TPS may now be forced to return to a country plunged in a humanitarian crisis and economic turbulence, exacerbated by political repression — and now also facing the possibility of war with the world’s largest military superpower.“
Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, many in South Florida, lose TPS after Friday
President Donald Trump ended TPS for over half a million Venezuelan beneficiaries. That means they could be deported back to Venezuela after November 7
www.miamiherald.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
“Venezuelans left without TPS may now be forced to return to a country plunged in a humanitarian crisis and economic turbulence, exacerbated by political repression — and now also facing the possibility of war with the world’s largest military superpower.“
Light Sunday morning reading
November 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Light Sunday morning reading
"Among first-time buyers, the average age was 40 — an all-time high....First-time buyers accounted for only about one in five homes sold during the 12 months ending in June. That's a record low and half the share of first-time buyers a generation ago."
Many would-be buyers are frozen out of the housing market
Only about one in five homes sold in the last year went to a first-time buyer. And the average person buying their first home was 40 years old — a record high. A new report from the National Associat...
www.npr.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"Among first-time buyers, the average age was 40 — an all-time high....First-time buyers accounted for only about one in five homes sold during the 12 months ending in June. That's a record low and half the share of first-time buyers a generation ago."
"Under the new plan, I would go up to $338 every two weeks, so we're looking at a per-pay-period increase of over $220, and annually that's going to be an over $5,700 difference."
Rochester Regional Health employees hit with 'demoralizing' health insurance premiums
Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) Employees at Rochester Regional Health are sounding the alarm as open enrollment begins soon.
13wham.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
"Under the new plan, I would go up to $338 every two weeks, so we're looking at a per-pay-period increase of over $220, and annually that's going to be an over $5,700 difference."
Hochul’s communication on SNAP has been incredibly deficient. The lack of clarity could be resolved if she would just commit to using reserve funds no matter what happens.
Hochul says NY SNAP benefits to continue as long as Trump admin ‘upholds their commitment’
New Jersey said it paid its recipients for November and is awaiting federal reimbursement.
gothamist.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Hochul’s communication on SNAP has been incredibly deficient. The lack of clarity could be resolved if she would just commit to using reserve funds no matter what happens.
“Death by Lightning” is so good.
I suspect the villain is uncomfortably familiar to many elected officials.
I suspect the villain is uncomfortably familiar to many elected officials.
November 9, 2025 at 2:49 AM
“Death by Lightning” is so good.
I suspect the villain is uncomfortably familiar to many elected officials.
I suspect the villain is uncomfortably familiar to many elected officials.
Wouldn’t insurers…get the money anyway? Just do Medicare for All already…
This is, unsurprisingly, nonsensical. Is he suggesting eliminating health insurance and giving people a few thousand dollars instead? And then when they get a cancer diagnosis they just go bankrupt?
He is so unserious. That's why we are shut down and Americans know it.
He is so unserious. That's why we are shut down and Americans know it.
November 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Wouldn’t insurers…get the money anyway? Just do Medicare for All already…
“New York had said access to full SNAP benefits should begin by Sunday.…Whether people actually will receive those benefits on their EBT cards remains unclear.”
Confusing because of court back and forth.
Confusing because of court back and forth.
People in some states get SNAP food aid while others still wait for their November benefits
People in some U.S. states have started receiving their November SNAP benefits after delays caused by a legal battle over the government shutdown.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:21 AM
“New York had said access to full SNAP benefits should begin by Sunday.…Whether people actually will receive those benefits on their EBT cards remains unclear.”
Confusing because of court back and forth.
Confusing because of court back and forth.
This was a fun interview. I loved the part on Rochester accents. Evan is right that Rochester is pronounced Rahshter among natives.
Actress Mimi Kennedy reflects on her Rochester roots
In the second hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on 11/7/25, we talk with Rochester native Mimi Kennedy about her path to Hollywood success and her start with the Rochester Community Players.
www.wxxinews.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:21 AM
This was a fun interview. I loved the part on Rochester accents. Evan is right that Rochester is pronounced Rahshter among natives.
Reposted by Rachel Barnhart
I've just directed state agencies to fully fund federal SNAP benefits for November.
President Trump's actions have been senseless and un-American. I'll never stop fighting for New York's families.
President Trump's actions have been senseless and un-American. I'll never stop fighting for New York's families.
November 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I've just directed state agencies to fully fund federal SNAP benefits for November.
President Trump's actions have been senseless and un-American. I'll never stop fighting for New York's families.
President Trump's actions have been senseless and un-American. I'll never stop fighting for New York's families.
"Rochester is especially sensitive to shifts in the H-1B visa system. With 751 approved workers through the third quarter of 2025, the area hosts more H-1B employees than any other part of the state outside New York City."
The new cost of global talent - Rochester Beacon
Rochester employers are paying close attention to a change in the skilled worker H-1B visa program, which requires a $100,000 fee for applicants recruited overseas.
rochesterbeacon.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"Rochester is especially sensitive to shifts in the H-1B visa system. With 751 approved workers through the third quarter of 2025, the area hosts more H-1B employees than any other part of the state outside New York City."
Democratic legislators were invited to private briefings about the 2026 budget. But not the legislators Bello doesn't like. All good- we have public budget forums so everyone can hear the questions and answers. It's better that way.
November 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Democratic legislators were invited to private briefings about the 2026 budget. But not the legislators Bello doesn't like. All good- we have public budget forums so everyone can hear the questions and answers. It's better that way.
In this moment, this is where RMAPI shows it's not a true advocacy organization, but in the pocket of the politicians who give them tax dollars to stay afloat.
RMAPI should have been the first organization calling on Hochul to fund SNAP.
Instead it's crickets.
RMAPI should have been the first organization calling on Hochul to fund SNAP.
Instead it's crickets.
November 7, 2025 at 3:07 PM
In this moment, this is where RMAPI shows it's not a true advocacy organization, but in the pocket of the politicians who give them tax dollars to stay afloat.
RMAPI should have been the first organization calling on Hochul to fund SNAP.
Instead it's crickets.
RMAPI should have been the first organization calling on Hochul to fund SNAP.
Instead it's crickets.
Great to see my E. Main St. neighbors Carroll's and Main Place make the list. Cheers! 🍻
Rochester’s best dive bars: 20+ local favorites that keep it real
It's tempting to think that dive bars are a disappearing breed, but when we asked Rochesterians for their favorites, we got lots of recommendations.
www.democratandchronicle.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Great to see my E. Main St. neighbors Carroll's and Main Place make the list. Cheers! 🍻
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s CEO started as a prep cook in Rochester when he was 18.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s current CEO started as a prep cook. Now, he’s planning its future
Mike Nugent sees possible expansion for noted Syracuse business in suburban locations.
www.syracuse.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s CEO started as a prep cook in Rochester when he was 18.