Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello are teaming up with a game plan they say will be a game-changer in the effort to fight inequities and racism in our community.

“This is the first time in history, that I know of, that city and county government is looking at government specifically, how we govern, as it pertains to race relations and equity,” said Mayor Warren.

Mayor Warren and County Executive Bello announced an effort to make the Rochester and Monroe County community, as a whole, more equitable. They are establishing the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity. 

“This commission will be empowered to examine and develop policies and legislation to overcome systematic and institutional inequities as well as racism in Rochester and Monroe County,” said Warren.

“While we don’t have the power to change state or federal law, we do have the power to get our own house in order and I will commit to acting on recommendations made by this committee where I have the power and authority to effect change,” Bello said.

The committee will have 21 members.

Selected as co-chairs are former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson and Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, executive director of the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue at Nazareth College.

Named to lead the support team are Rochester’s Chief Equity Officer, Dr. Cephas Archie, and Deputy County Executive, Corinda Crossdale.

Planners say the committee will meet the governor’s mandate regarding a review of policing and will go beyond that to review education, health care, job creation, and more.

 “When we look at what policies and procedures this commission will be able to bring forth, it’s not just about one sector, it’s about how we do business as government across the board and how we can improve the lives of people of color in our city and our county,” said Warren.

“That’s exactly right, Bello said. “The purpose of this commission is to look at county government, city government, how we spend our resources and the programs that we offer and the services that we provide to make sure that we are providing an equal playing field for everyone."