Mike DiTullio for Webster

Let’s go!!! Re-elect Adam Bello for Monroe County Executive!

Pardon this long post. My older brother, who lives in the North Country, texted me when he saw the breaking news of the attack on Lake Rd. I know I shouldn’t check my texts during Christmas Eve mass, but I did. My brother wanted to know if everything was okay. Then he shared a screen shot of the CNN story. I wasn’t aware of the attack at that point, neither was my nine year old son, who was following the text exchanges with my brother.

My son asked what was going on. Not sure what to do, I took him outside. If you remember, the snowfall that night was lovely. Big flakes, no wind. The juxtaposition of the violence and peaceful snowfall was jarring. I told him something like, “There was a very bad thing that happened a little ways from us, and some people were killed. I can’t talk about it now, but I will tell you more after church.”

Throughout the rest of the mass and the drive home I wondered what to say. I always told myself I would parent my kids like Atticus Finch. I would treat them as equals and always be truthful. But do I tell a nine year old about this? Thankfully, my son said he didn’t want to know what happened. It was like he was sparing me the unpleasantness.

Ten years later, I’ve been reflecting today on the many acts of evil my son and his younger sister have had forced upon them through their formative years. There’s too many to mention. Add a global pandemic to it. It’s amazing, the resilience our young people show us everyday. Despite that, they still need our help. Pay attention, listen, be present, and given them all the time you can.

Merry Christmas. Peace on earth.

County Legislature Republican caucus seems to be playing politics with vital APRA funding.

The Democratic Caucus sought to bring ARPA up for a vote on Nov 15, the entire Republican Caucus opposed it......

Here is another example of an important program that is being impacted by the delay in voting for the distribution of ARPA funds by the Republican Caucus.....

As one of my constituents shared....

ARPA funds to create a first of its kind in Monroe County—Deaf Refugee Advocacy Community Connections (DRACC) will provide this marginalized subset of the deaf population, unable to get appropriate support elsewhere in MC, opportunities to improve their language, technical, and cultural competencies, economic standing, and health.

This addresses two of three Bring Monroe Back goals (Workforce Development & Economic Recovery and Public Health & Public Safety), including creating jobs for individuals who will operate the DRACC. Increasing the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging among deaf RIAs and their families will ultimately result in greater equity and participation of deaf RIAs as citizens who contribute to a thriving MC.

Learn more: https://www.deafrefugeeadvocacy.org/