Voice of Business Blog

We are witnessing some of the worst political divisiveness I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Whether you’re watching national news or following social media, every day seems to bring new attacks on elected officials at all levels. They face far more pressure and danger than ever before, as evidenced by the recent assassination attempt on former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump.

We are constantly divided along political lines, but it’s not just about Republicans versus Democrats. It’s the extremes of both parties, which actually represent a relatively small minority, that are driving the conversation. These extremes often push policies and agendas that don’t reflect the lives of most Americans.

As I’ve said before, if you think of a metaphorical football field, most of our country resides between the 40-yard lines — in the middle, a little to the left or a little to the right. However, when we watch the news and social media, the conversations are dominated by the small number of people occupying both end zones. Now is the time for all of us to focus not on personality or partisan politics, but on policy — true policy agendas.

Most importantly, whatever your political persuasion, make sure to vote. Voter turnout has historically been low, despite changes and increased flexibility in voting laws. In 2023, only a little more than 26% of registered voters in Monroe County went to the polls — the lowest turnout for a general election going back to at least 2007. I sense that “voter suppression” is often self-imposed by personal decisions not to vote.

This November, we hope everyone takes the time to vote and exercise the constitutional right that so many have died to protect throughout our country’s history. We would love to see 100% voter turnout, regardless of which candidate wins, as that would be a true reflection of our democracy.

Please don’t fall prey to the claims from all sides that if their candidate doesn’t win, democracy is in danger. That’s utterly false and designed to create fear among voters, which is uncalled for. We need leadership now more than ever – leadership that doesn’t prey on fear and division but focuses on the future and what is best for our country, our families, and our children. Voting decisions should be focused on candidates whose policies, decisions, and/or votes reflect what you as a voter support.

On a positive note, I would like to commend the elected leaders who represent our region and the work they do daily, often going unnoticed. These leaders, from Senator Schumer, Congressman Morelle and Governor Hochul to our entire state delegation deserve recognition. I’d also like to acknowledge our local leaders, County Executive Adam Bello and Mayor Malik Evans, for their continued dedication to our community.

One of the key roles of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, with its 1,300 members, is advocacy and being a convener. Despite their hectic travel and session schedules, our state delegation has been outstanding, with the majority always willing to meet with various constituencies, business leaders, and members who have concerns about New York State policies. These issues range from childcare to public banking to tax matters, among others. I’m proud that these leaders, along with the Governor and her team, come, listen, and provide their positions with great candor.

I want to offer a different perspective because good government doesn’t mean agreeing with every policy position. Good government means listening to all sides and doing your very best to serve the majority of the people. I’ve witnessed it not only during my tenure in public office but also throughout my time at the Chamber, where I’ve had the pleasure of observing countless meetings of this nature and seeing so many positive examples of this.

When you drive around our city and region, you can’t go very far without seeing a construction project underway. These investments aren’t by accident — they’re the result of intense competition across our state and nation for limited dollars. The Greater Rochester-Finger Lakes region has fared very well over the last several years, thanks to the support and advocacy of the men and women we elect to represent us, along with their dedicated staff.

Our recent tech hub designation would never have happened without the leadership of Senator Chuck Schumer, Congressman Joe Morelle, and Governor Hochul, who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it a reality. Similarly, the success of last year’s 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill was greatly enhanced by the support of our local and state elected leaders. Their contributions were crucial to the event’s success, resulting in an approximate $200 million economic impact for our region.

Many of the requests we receive at the Chamber are relatively small and local in nature, but I can’t recall a time when the Mayor or County Executive didn’t pick up the phone or return a call to work with their staff to resolve these issues as they arise.

We have a new leader at the New York State Liquor Authority who has visited our office on two occasions and has worked hard to fast-track applications from establishment owners looking to open or expand their businesses. Chair Lily M. Fan and her team’s responsiveness has had a very positive impact on economic development in our region, as these establishments create jobs and contribute to the tax base.

I’ve learned one thing in my career: no single political party has the answer to all of our problems, and when they claim to, it’s usually only during election cycles. Once new administrations take over, everyone faces the same challenges – and finding solutions is not easy and requires significant political courage.

I always urge people to vote for the candidates who do the most for you and support the issues that matter most to you. Beyond the large projects, I’ve witnessed countless acts of good government by these leaders throughout my career – too many to name them all. But it all comes down to one key point. Government is at its best when it addresses issues that are very personal to constituents.

Let’s pump the brakes on the hatred and vitriol. Take a moment to thank the elected officials who work for you every day and express your appreciation where appropriate. And most importantly, be sure to vote this November for the candidate or candidates who reflect what you believe in and what you want most. If we can convince over 90% of eligible voters in our region, state, and country to take the small amount of time to get out and vote, we will never have to worry about our democracy taking a back seat. That is the essence of our democracy.

The military graveyards across our nation are filled with the headstones of men and women who gave their lives protecting our right to vote. Let’s honor their sacrifice by exercising that right this November. Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking your vote doesn’t matter – it absolutely does. Every single vote matters and sends a powerful message to those in office or running for office about what is truly important, beyond what we see in the headlines each night on the news.

I spent 10 years of my career in elected office, and I’ve always said, if you don’t vote, don’t complain. When you vote, you earn the right to voice your concerns. But if you don’t vote, you forfeit that right because you didn’t care enough to participate, whether in person, by mail, or through whatever forms are available today.

As the summer winds down and we head into the fall and election season, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce will consistently reinforce the need to go out and vote. We don’t endorse candidates – our Chamber has a separate political action committee that operates independently, in which I do not participate. Our position is apolitical. We support the men and women in office who support our members and the business community. But the most important thing is encouraging people to get out and vote, and that will be a mantra we reinforce time and time again between now and November 5th.

When a majority of people stay home and choose not to vote, they surrender their future and the direction of future policies to small groups of often fanatical advocates who occupy those proverbial end zones. By not voting, you are making a decision to silence your own voice. Let’s aim for a 95 to 100% turnout, not just in this election but in all future elections and primaries.

This column originally appeared in the Rochester Business Journal.