Phone: 585.428.7045 Fax: 585.428.6059 TTY: 585.428.6054 EEO/ADA Employer
Lovely A. Warren
Mayor
City Hall Room 308A, 30 Church Street Rochester, New York 14614-1290 www.cityofrochester.gov
March 25, 2021 Angelica Perez-Delgado, President & CEO Ibero American Action League, Inc. 817 E. Main St. Rochester, NY 14605 Dear Ms. Perez-Delgado: The recent report by the RASE Commission made plain the stark realities that exist in our community and made a strong call for all of us to take action to address these historic inequities. It also highlighted that the 25th Congressional District is one of the worst for Black and Brown people. Beyond changing policies and procedures, we must do more to close the wealth gap between Black and Brown people and our White residents. With marijuana legalization on the horizon in New York, we have an opportunity we never had before to bring real resources to bear to uplift our families and improve, not just their financial wellbeing, but their very future. I believe that among the best and most sustainable ways to achieve these goals is through the payment of reparations with the establishment of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) program, or through a home ownership program. Therefore, I am humbly requesting that you provide a representative to work with my Chief of Staff, Brittaney Wells, and our Chief Equity Officer, Dr. Cephas Archie, to explore these concepts and develop a fair and equitable plan for funding and implementation. I understand the magnitude of this undertaking and know that it will take the support of not just the City, but our government, business, non-profit and community partners to achieve. That is why I am calling upon you to join us in this effort. The exploratory committee will be charged with reviewing the UBI and reparation pilots in other cities to determine how we could develop this life-altering program for Rochester, and possibly a City-sponsored home ownership mortgage program. These other cities can serve as examples and provide data to support the creation of these initiatives in our city. Just this week, Oakland, CA and Evanston, IL adopted legislation to begin similar programs in their cities. It is also important to note that historically the concept of a UBI has had wide support including from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Richard Nixon. We should not let this moment pass us by. With the legalization of marijuana on the horizon, we have the ability to enact legislation locally to make the concept of reparations through a UBI and home ownership a reality for Rochester and its families. To this end, I hope you will join our effort to shape this initiative to finally resolve the historic inequities that exist in our community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Ms. Wells will follow up with you directly regarding your participation. I appreciate your continued dedication to lifting up all the people of Rochester. Sincerely, Lovely A. Warren Mayor