Opportunity City

Plastic tricycles and graffiti, Rochester, New York
Plastic tricycles and graffiti, Rochester, New York

Forbes Magazine ranked Rochester second on its list of “opportunity cities, places where it is possible to have a business impact, build a successful career and make a comfortable living in a relatively short amount of time.” Delmonize Smith, commissioner of neighborhood and business development for the City of Rochester, is quoted as saying “The creative class that’s here that typically has to make this choice between expanding on their passion or their creativity or paying their bills–they’re able to find a decent place to live, pay $400-$450 a month and focus on their passion.” This is exactly why we’re here.

But as lucky as we are to have such a healthy cultural scene the housing would not be so affordable if the city proper did not have real economic problems. Half of its children live in poverty for starters.

Meanwhile Attorney General Eric Holder announced the arrest of a Rochester convenience store owner as the first American to be charged with recruiting fighters for ISIS and plotting to kill returning servicemen.

1 Comment

One Reply to “Opportunity City”

  1. I don’t know where Del Smith gets his goofy numbers on rent- you can’t touch a place in the ghetto for $400 month. More like $600 and that’s a dump. In a decent area you’re at $750 and up for a one bedroom. The new downtown residences will be around $1200-1500 for same. Even flophouse rooming houses get $150/week for a crappy room.

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