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Youth task force urges city action; council adopts resolution to address poverty, homelessness and substance abuse
Summary
A youth-led task force presented citywide engagement findings and a resolution prioritizing poverty, homelessness and substance use; the City Council committee passed a resolution and asked administration for an interdepartmental implementation plan in writing.
Hazel Roberts, chair of the Youth Policy Task Force, told the Parks and Public Works Committee that Rochester was one of three cities chosen for a nationwide, youth-led policy initiative and described four town halls that identified youth priorities. “The main things across all four town halls recurring themes was safety, health and wellness, education, community resources, voice and reputation, poverty, and equality,” Roberts said.
The task force sought to translate that input into a policy resolution and asked the City Council for continued funding and administrative support. The resolution presented to the committee, introduced as Introductory 309, “affirm[s] the city's commitment to address poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse as prioritized by the Youth Policy Task Force through citywide engagement.” Committee members moved and seconded the resolution and it passed.
The task force described its process and products: a 20-member youth policy group, four town halls across the city, and a summit where youth presented four topic areas (gun violence and safety; alcohol addiction; substance misuse; poverty and related services). Roberts summarized the resolution’s structure as having sections on youth-led priorities for action, youth access to training/support, substance-use awareness, trauma-informed and crisis intervention training, prevention and restorative justice, and accountability and implementation.
Council members praised the youth-led process and pressed for follow-up. Council President Miguel A. Melendez Jr. told the room he was “impressed” with the task force’s engagement and asked staff and council to support the recommendations. Councilmember Lupien and others asked the administration for a written accountability mechanism; Lupien suggested quarterly check-ins or metrics to track progress. Councilmember Martin asked how youth would hold elected officials accountable if the council approved the resolution but did not implement recommendations; Roberts responded the task force intended to stay involved and “continue to be involved in discussions with you all, and just kind of, move the process forward.”
Committee members requested that the administration provide, in writing, a plan for cross-department implementation and clarifications about funding and timelines. The committee recorded the resolution as passed and advised that staff follow up with the implementation details the council requested.
The committee also discussed related city items later on the agenda, including Introductory 311 (Peacemaker Fellowship) and Introductory 313 (a convention center grant item discussed in a separate article), but committee action on Introductory 309 was the formal adoption of the youth resolution.
The youth presenters asked the council to permit the task force to continue its work and to return with further policy proposals; council members welcomed further engagement and asked staff to put implementation details in writing.
