News Blog

Rochester businessman Alex White will make an announcement this afternoon regarding the 2013 elections. White, a member of the Green Party, has waged unsuccessful bids for Rochester mayor and City Council in the recent past.

“There has been speculation as to my intentions for the local races this year,” White said in a press release. “I have been talking with people all over the city, getting advice and feedback, and I’ve come to a decision that I hope will bring people together to help Rochester achieve its full potential.”

The mayor’s office is up this year, as are all five at-large seats on City Council. Incumbent Mayor Tom Richards is seeking re-election, and may be challenged in a Democratic primary election by City Council President Lovely Warren.

White’s announcement is at 1:15 p.m. today, Monday, February 11, outside Rochester City Hall, 30 Church Street. Christine Carrie Fien

City schools Superintendent Bolgen Vargas will hold a public meeting on the 2013 to 2014 proposed budget at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12. Vargas is projecting a $50 million gap in the $726 million proposal, and is soliciting input from parents, residents, and community leaders. The hearing is at central office, 131 West Broad Street.

The Rochester school board’s monthly business meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, which is a week earlier than usual due to February recess. The meeting is at central office.

Rochester for Obama will hold a State of Our Union watch party at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12. Volunteers and supporters can watch the president’s address and discuss ways to support his initiatives at the local level. The party is at Merchants Grill, 881 Merchants Road. Tim Louis Macaluso

The County Legislature will decide the future location of Monroe Community College’s downtown campus on Tuesday night.

Legislators will vote on a referral that, if passed, authorizes the county to buy several buildings at Kodak’s State Street site; the buildings would be renovated and used for a new city campus. The legislation stipulates a purchase price of just under $3 million. The college would get approximately 562,000 square feet of space as well as part of a parking lot.

MCC officials plan to initially renovate 275,000 square feet for the new campus. SUNY officials have tentatively backed the plan and said they’ll provide financial assistance for the purchase and renovations.

Last year, WinnCompanies purchased the Sibley building, which is the current home of MCC’s city campus. Gilbert Winn, managing principal of the company, is asking the Legislature to delay Tuesday’s vote for 60 days so his company’s plans for a downtown campus can have a public airing.

Winn says it can renovate 275,000 square feet at the Sibley building for considerably less than the total cost budgeted for the Kodak site.

But MCC officials question the plan, particularly the purchase price for the Sibley building. They say the college would spend more money and end up with less space.

The Legislature meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 12, at the County Office Building, 39 West Main Street. Jeremy Moule