Tell City Council NO on Luxury Housing Tax Breaks

485-a/CUE is a tax break used by developers to create luxury housing in our city. When we subsidize high rent housing with 485-a, we drive up rents, and we shift the burden to pay for the tax breaks onto working class homeowners. Read more about 485-a here or listen to us talk about 485-a on the radio here.

We’ve given out over 20 million in these tax breaks so far. City Council will vote on 485-a on Tuesday. We can still stop these tax breaks by telling Council NO on 485-a at Speak to Council on Tuesday, November 9.

Tell City Council:

  1. Vote no on 485-a so that we can create a stronger housing policy with community input that promotes development without displacement and deep, permanent affordability in downtown Rochester.

  2. Pass all five policies in the Stabilize Rochester Platform, starting by passing Good Cause Eviction Protections and a no C of O, No Eviction Law in December. These eviction protections will save lives when the moratorium expires in January.

Speak to Council:

Speak to Council will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, November 9 a 6:30 pm. You can either participate live on Zoom or email/leave a voicemail in advance.

Registration instructions:

1. LIVE ON ZOOM: To sign up to speak live via Zoom, call 585-428-7538 or email council@cityofrochester.gov no later than 3:00PM on Tuesday. Please include “Speak to Council” in the subject line or email content. Staff will email the Zoom link and instructions on how to access the meeting around 5:00 PM on the meeting day.

2. VOICEMAIL: You may submit a voicemail comment by calling 585-428-7538 no later than 3:00PM on Tuesday. A staff member will collect your contact information and provide a direct phone number to record your voicemail; please only share your name and comments as this voicemail will be shared live.

3. EMAIL: You may submit written comments by emailing council@cityofrochester.gov no later than 3:00PM Tuesday. Please include “Speak to Council” in the subject line or email content.

When you sign up, you will have to give City Council the following information. Only your name, topic, and organization, if applicable, will be shared during the meeting.

  • Name

  • Mailing address (no PO box)

  • Phone number

  • Email address

  • Group or organization you are representing (if any)

  • Topic you are speaking on -- in this case 485-a/CUE