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.
Canceled plans tonight.
If I go anywhere, it will be on foot in the neighborhood.
If you’re driving, go slow.
Be patient.
Show grace.
Stay safe out there.
If I go anywhere, it will be on foot in the neighborhood.
If you’re driving, go slow.
Be patient.
Show grace.
Stay safe out there.
December 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Canceled plans tonight.
If I go anywhere, it will be on foot in the neighborhood.
If you’re driving, go slow.
Be patient.
Show grace.
Stay safe out there.
If I go anywhere, it will be on foot in the neighborhood.
If you’re driving, go slow.
Be patient.
Show grace.
Stay safe out there.
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. ❄️
Garbage got picked up just now. 311 told me this morning they were going to do my whole route today. Thank you to all the workers!
I hope Council asks for transparency on what is going on and extent of the issues.
I hope Council asks for transparency on what is going on and extent of the issues.
December 26, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Garbage got picked up just now. 311 told me this morning they were going to do my whole route today. Thank you to all the workers!
I hope Council asks for transparency on what is going on and extent of the issues.
I hope Council asks for transparency on what is going on and extent of the issues.
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/
This young woman is my constituent. Harvard, leave her alone.
Harvard reportedly investigating student from Rochester over Summers video
In the video, Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard, is talking to students in a lecture hall about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
www.wxxinews.org
December 26, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This young woman is my constituent. Harvard, leave her alone.
What shocking news. I hope they are able to return. This is an iconic local establishment — more than 50 years in business. 🏳️🌈
www.rochesterfirst.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
What shocking news. I hope they are able to return. This is an iconic local establishment — more than 50 years in business. 🏳️🌈
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! 🎄
"Deans of nursing schools and associations representing nurses fear the omission...will ultimately discourage people from becoming nurse practitioners...This could worsen the shortage of these critical health care providers in the United States."
Inside the GOP pushback to Trump’s student debt rules
Republican lawmakers are trying to add nurses to the Education Department’s list of professionals who can borrow more money to pay for advanced degrees.
www.politico.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
"Deans of nursing schools and associations representing nurses fear the omission...will ultimately discourage people from becoming nurse practitioners...This could worsen the shortage of these critical health care providers in the United States."
Crime rates have been on the decline since 2021.
U.S. murders on pace for largest one-year drop on record
The decline in killings is part of a broader drop in violent crime following the COVID-era spike.
www.axios.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Crime rates have been on the decline since 2021.
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 city did not pick up a pretty big section of The Triangle part of N Winton today. South side of Cedarwood to north side of E Main and side streets between Berry to Akron at least. That’s all I walked so far with the dogs.
December 25, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The city did not pick up a pretty big section of The Triangle part of N Winton today. South side of Cedarwood to north side of E Main and side streets between Berry to Akron at least. That’s all I walked so far with the dogs.
Oh wow - my garbage wasn’t picked up today. Only recycling. @cityofrochester.bsky.social
My recycling was missed two weeks ago. Leaves never got picked up, which I know is partly because of the weather, but still. I’m sorry to hear this is a systemwide issue because the city usually does an amazing job. I hope they figure this out.
www.rochesterfirst.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Oh wow - my garbage wasn’t picked up today. Only recycling. @cityofrochester.bsky.social
My recycling was missed two weeks ago. Leaves never got picked up, which I know is partly because of the weather, but still. I’m sorry to hear this is a systemwide issue because the city usually does an amazing job. I hope they figure this out.
www.rochesterfirst.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
My recycling was missed two weeks ago. Leaves never got picked up, which I know is partly because of the weather, but still. I’m sorry to hear this is a systemwide issue because the city usually does an amazing job. I hope they figure this out.
🧵JEDS:
During a rash of youth car thefts in 2023, County Executive Adam Bello announced the Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program.
Kids who are arrested & qualify for diversion get 2 weeks of “stabilization” to keep them out of trouble before the program starts. 1/
During a rash of youth car thefts in 2023, County Executive Adam Bello announced the Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program.
Kids who are arrested & qualify for diversion get 2 weeks of “stabilization” to keep them out of trouble before the program starts. 1/
December 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
🧵JEDS:
During a rash of youth car thefts in 2023, County Executive Adam Bello announced the Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program.
Kids who are arrested & qualify for diversion get 2 weeks of “stabilization” to keep them out of trouble before the program starts. 1/
During a rash of youth car thefts in 2023, County Executive Adam Bello announced the Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program.
Kids who are arrested & qualify for diversion get 2 weeks of “stabilization” to keep them out of trouble before the program starts. 1/
"In New England, the regional grid operator warned the stoppage could send power prices soaring & threaten the reliability of its six-state electric system. In Virginia, the utility...said the pause hinders its ability to keep up with rising electricity consumption from data centers."
‘Incredibly reckless’: Trump’s wind halt stuns even some allies
Republican worries about energy affordability didn’t deter the administration from halting five major projects that had already begun construction.
www.politico.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
"In New England, the regional grid operator warned the stoppage could send power prices soaring & threaten the reliability of its six-state electric system. In Virginia, the utility...said the pause hinders its ability to keep up with rising electricity consumption from data centers."
Many warnings the suspect was a danger to his ex and community. How do we prevent these horrible incidents going forward?
Police: Domestic violence at the center of deadly shooting that left three officers injured
www.wxxinews.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Many warnings the suspect was a danger to his ex and community. How do we prevent these horrible incidents going forward?
Insane - six towns in Onondaga County could run out of water in less than a week because of a water main break.
McMahon: If residents of six CNY towns don’t conserve water, ‘we have serious challenges’
Without cutting back on water, some areas could lose water in less than a week.
www.syracuse.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Insane - six towns in Onondaga County could run out of water in less than a week because of a water main break.
For more than a year, I've tried to substantiate claims about the much-heralded JEDS program.
What I've found is the Bello administration is using misleading and inflated statistics to justify the youth anti-crime program. 1/
What I've found is the Bello administration is using misleading and inflated statistics to justify the youth anti-crime program. 1/
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
For more than a year, I've tried to substantiate claims about the much-heralded JEDS program.
What I've found is the Bello administration is using misleading and inflated statistics to justify the youth anti-crime program. 1/
What I've found is the Bello administration is using misleading and inflated statistics to justify the youth anti-crime program. 1/
In 2026, fees are going up the zoo, lodge rentals, golf, camping and dog parks.
An amendment to keep zoo admission flat failed.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
An amendment to keep zoo admission flat failed.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
December 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
In 2026, fees are going up the zoo, lodge rentals, golf, camping and dog parks.
An amendment to keep zoo admission flat failed.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
An amendment to keep zoo admission flat failed.
open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
“To continue health coverage for themselves and their two teenage children, the Newtons would have to pay an annual premium of $43,000 — about a third of their gross income.”
A middle-class family’s only option: A $43,000 health insurance premium
Consumers are left with few options and crushing prices as insurers offering Affordable Care Act plans pull out of some regions.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:26 AM
“To continue health coverage for themselves and their two teenage children, the Newtons would have to pay an annual premium of $43,000 — about a third of their gross income.”
Tucked into the budget document are performance metrics. I love asking about them, because you end up learning a lot about what's going.
I learned the county has made significant progress processing SNAP benefits within 30 days. 1/2
I learned the county has made significant progress processing SNAP benefits within 30 days. 1/2
December 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Tucked into the budget document are performance metrics. I love asking about them, because you end up learning a lot about what's going.
I learned the county has made significant progress processing SNAP benefits within 30 days. 1/2
I learned the county has made significant progress processing SNAP benefits within 30 days. 1/2
“Canada has been boycotting American spirits since March in retaliation for President Trump’s ongoing trade war and U.S. whiskey sales to that country are down by more than 60% through October.“
Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
“Canada has been boycotting American spirits since March in retaliation for President Trump’s ongoing trade war and U.S. whiskey sales to that country are down by more than 60% through October.“
Denmark is a very different place. For starters, they have universal health care.
Why Denmark's vaccine schedule works for Denmark — but not for the United States
With its vaccine schedule, “Denmark has made a values choice to accept preventable hospitalizations and illnesses that other countries have chosen to prevent.”
www.statnews.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Denmark is a very different place. For starters, they have universal health care.
Horrible situation: three officers shot and wounded, suspect killed after domestic call.
Wishing these officers strength and a full recovery.
Wishing these officers strength and a full recovery.
3 Rochester police officers shot, suspect killed in late-night gunfire. What we know now
Three Rochester police officers were shot and a suspect was killed following an exchange of gunfire during a domestic incident response late Friday night, police said.
www.democratandchronicle.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Horrible situation: three officers shot and wounded, suspect killed after domestic call.
Wishing these officers strength and a full recovery.
Wishing these officers strength and a full recovery.
“The document contains photographs of girls described in the notes as from 14 to 17 years old, around town and in bikinis on the beach. The notes reference New York locations…in Rochester and Brighton Beach, New York, and a high school prom.”
FBI notes detail grim demands Epstein made for procurement of underage girls
Interview from 2019 reveals specific preferences for recruitment, including age and race
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:48 AM
“The document contains photographs of girls described in the notes as from 14 to 17 years old, around town and in bikinis on the beach. The notes reference New York locations…in Rochester and Brighton Beach, New York, and a high school prom.”