VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have served as Mayor for the past three and a half years and have made great progress, while we still have much work to you. I have launched unprecedent levels of partnerships that are helping in moving Rochester forward. Cooperation and Collaboration are important qualities for a leader to have. I launched the office of Violence Prevention, launched the Rochester Peace Collective and expanded mental health services. These efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in shootings and homicides. We have invested close to a billion dollars in affordable and market rate housing in just 3 years and we are one of the only cities in New York State that are partnering with non-profits and builders to construct single family homes in the city. We launched the Office of Financial Empowerment with a focus on Home Ownership, Entrepreneurship and Youth. In September we will be launching the R-Future fund to help youth in the city save for the future. Please visit malikevans.org for more

The opioid epidemic is a challenge across the country and Rochester Monroe County is no different. There are overdoses, many fatal in the region on a daily basis. We have successfully sued the opioid manufactures for the harm they played in perpetuating this epidemic. We are now using those settlement dollars for prevention and intervention. We have set up an Opioid Steering Committee. We partner with the County through the Overdose Fatality Review Committee to track opioids in an effort to stop deaths from happening. We set up the Neighborhood Ambassador Program which helps people get into treatment. Each program operates in one of the 4 quadrants of the city and we partner with a community organization. This initiative allows us to meet people where they are and get them the support they need and turn their lives around. Mental Health is a major challenge. We have expanded our Person and Crisis Team, expanded mental health supports in R-Center and Libraries.

Innovative Partnerships are key to creating jobs for both youth and adults. We have built a very robust workforce development office in our Department of Recreation and Human Services. We have developed pre employment training opportunities for 12-14 year olds. I have instituted a policy that we will work to get any young person that wants a job a job. Our Summer of Opportunity job program had our biggest cohort last year and we work with employers that help train young people and then hire them. Our adult training program RE-JOB helps individuals get jobs in the environmental engineering space. After training they are placed with an employer. We also have launched a cdl training program, which is a in demand job. We partner with SEIU 1199 on a healthcare training program that gets individuals trained to work in the healthcare space. We also in 2022 my first year in office launched a Career Pathways to Public Safety program to get individuals prepared for jobs in EMS, 911 and fire.

The key to addressing the shortage of affordable housing is to build as much as possible. We have developed a strong partnership with New York State, local affordable housing developers and this has helped to make Rochester a leader in quality affordable housing development. We have converted old office buildings to affordable housing units as well as built new units. Creativity, partnership and innovation is important to addressing this important issue. Rochester has been designated as a pro housing community due to our commitment to addressing this issue through zoning and collaboration.

I bring a unique combination of lived experience, public service, and community-driven leadership that makes me the best candidate to serve as Rochester’s next Mayor. As a Rochester City Councilmember, I have been on the front lines advocating for affordable housing, economic justice, innovative approaches to public safety, and real accountability in government. I’ve led on major policy initiatives like pushing for tenant protections, community response teams, Advanced Peace, and investments in youth and families while never losing sight of the people most impacted by City Hall’s decisions. I’m also an educator and parent who understands the crisis facing our youth and families. My campaign isn’t backed by corporate interests. It’s powered by everyday Rochesterians who are ready for leadership that puts people first. I’m running to deliver the transformational change our city deserves.

Rochester’s two biggest challenges are housing and poverty and they are deeply connected. Too many Rochester families are one crisis away from eviction or homelessness. Rents are rising faster than wages, and our housing stock is aging and often unsafe. I will lead with a housing-first approach: expanding affordable housing, enforcing our existing codes to protect tenants, and creating pathways to homeownership for working families. I’ll fight for tenant protections and support development without displacement. At the root of poverty is a lack of economic opportunity. I will champion policies that put money directly in people’s pockets like guaranteed income and youth employment programs. We need to trust and invest in our residents.

The Mayor’s office can play a powerful role in creating jobs by using the full weight of city government to invest in people and prioritize inclusive economic development. For youth, we need to expand year-round employment programs (not just summer jobs) and ensure they’re meaningful, well-paid, and connected to future careers. That means partnering with schools, unions, and community organizations to offer mentorship, training, and real pathways into trades, tech, the arts, and public service. For adults, we can create good jobs directly through public works programs focused on housing rehab, climate resilience, and neighborhood infrastructure. We can also prioritize local hiring and fair wages in every city contract, and support local small businesses and cooperatives, not outside developers chasing tax breaks. Rochester has many workforce development programs, but they often operate in silos. I’ll ensure these programs deliver results for the people who need them most.

Rochester is facing a serious shortage of safe, affordable housing. While our cost of living is lower than in many other cities, that’s little comfort to residents struggling with rising rents, unsafe conditions, and powerful landlords. As Mayor, I will prioritize community-led housing solutions, not handouts to private developers. That means enforcing stronger tenant protections like Right to Counsel and Good Cause Eviction, cracking down on slumlords, and ensuring every rental property meets basic health and safety standards. We’ll regulate short-term rentals, expand code enforcement, and push for rent stabilization under New York’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act. I will also fight to grow and protect public and nonprofit-owned housing that exists for the public good. That includes supporting community land trusts, passing the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, and partnering with state agencies, nonprofits, and faith groups to build new affordable units.

I’m not a politician. I’m running for mayor because I’m tired of watching this city get managed into decline.

I have led large teams, handling hundreds of millions of dollars at Fortune 50 companies and making sure that results get delivered. I've restored fire damaged property that others walked away from, and carved successes out of setbacks. I have built businesses here, and I’ve raised my family here for 14 years. I bring a sense of urgency, discipline, and execution, things this city has lacked for far too long. Others talk; I will deliver actual outcomes: safer streets, houses people can afford, better schools, and job opportunities. I know how to manage people, budgets, and priorities. This is not about ideology, and it is not about playing it safe: It is about results. I am running because Rochester can't afford more of the same.

In addition to housing and growth, Public safety and Education are my two other pillars.

People are getting shot. Cars are being broken into. I am running for economic revival of our city. But Rochester can’t grow without city being safe and people feeling safe.

I'll drastically cut down on crime. To immediately address the issue, I’ll focus on hot zones with visible policing, and I’ll go after violent and repeat offenders. To address the core of the issue, I will bring community policing back and build community trust. And yes, the police need to be accountable. When I’m elected, a fair, honest, accountable police department will be my priority. We need safety and accountability.

We have a $1.1B of RCSD budget and we rank at the bottom of the list. I will be appointing a chief of education to work with the board, superintendent, teachers, parent and students, to help drive priorities and budget allocation that help kids succeed and address absenteeism and performance.

Hypergrowth is one of my pillars for Rochester. I will take the lead in driving job creation. For youth, we’ll expand paid internships, trade training, and apprenticeship pipelines, especially in fields like construction and technology. We’ll work with employers and schools to connect students to real careers, not just summer jobs. For adults, we’ll cut red tape for small businesses, open more city contracts to local firms, and invest in growth areas like housing development and tourism. We’ll actively recruit companies, attract outside investment, and make Rochester faster and easier to build and hire in.

Yes we do have shortage of affordable housing. 62% of our residents live in rental, and rent continues to go up. It is proven that when rental population goes this high, the city goes in decline. So we need to increase home ownership drastically.

Current affordable home ownership "Buy the Block" program wastes money. There are currently only 24 houses built and 32 in pipeline. And city has spend $500K+ just to build 1 unit!!! Where the money is going? This is not a sustainable housing plan.

I will build 4000 affordable housing unit for ownership. I plan to use 3000 city owned vacant lots to build high quality modular homes at cost between 80K to 125K. This will allow 5% of population to move into home ownership. This is self sustaining program without any subsidies. This will provide jobs for city residents and will bring tax revenue for the city.