Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren says she wants to explore using tax revenue from New York’s legalization of marijuana to make reparations to what she sees as victims of the War on Drugs. She says the money should be applied to close the wealth gap between Rochester’s Black, Brown and White residents.
In a statement released Friday morning, Mayor Warren said she wants to explore creation of a Universal Basic Income as well as a home ownership program for people of color in Rochester. Warren says the recent RASE Commission report shows the “stark realities that exist in our community and inluded a strong call for all of us to take action to address these historic inequities.” Warren said the city should do more to close the wealth gap between Black and Brown people and their White neighbors.
The mayor announced establishment of an exploratory committee that would review existing UBI and reparation programs in other cities to see how a “life altering” program can be developed for Rochester. City Council and numerous community agencies including the Urban League and the Rochester Community Foundation have been invited to participate.