Monroe Avenue businesses band together to find solutions for preventing crime

Rochester, New York – Businesses on Monroe Avenue say they’re tired of being the targets of criminal activity and are working together to find solutions.

Businesses in the area answered questions about their top concerns for the future in a survey provided by the Monroe Avenue Revitalization Coalition. Public safety and security were at the top of that list.

Two months after the July 18 shooting outside a store on Monroe Avenue, there was another gunshot inside the same establishment. An altercation on Monroe Avenue back in February resulted in a guy being dragged and pinned beneath an SUV. Then, only a few weeks ago, there was an armed robbery. Companies want change because they’re tired.

In response to these worries about crime, the Monroe Avenue Merchants Association and other local associations along Monroe Avenue made the decision to take action.

Elyssa Rossi of the Monroe Avenue Merchants Association stated, “We launched a survey back in June that we received over a thousand responses to and we’ve spent the last couple of months analyzing the results.” “This coming Tuesday, we will take some time to review the results.”

To discuss what has been a recurrent theme—crime, commercial development, and green space—the association will hold a town hall. The public is encouraged to contribute ideas and opinions about potential fixes.

“Everyone is frustrated and has their own views and feelings. However, we must advance it further. We cannot remain in this state of frustration indefinitely,” Rossi stated.

According to Rossi, a crime safety SMS thread established by the Merchants Association has been beneficial.

According to her, “if a business is harassed, robbed, or undergoes any other criminal activity, they share the information and now 30 to 40 businesses on Monroe Avenue have that information so the next person can be more vigilant.”

The proprietor of Aaron’s Alley on Monroe Avenue, Jennifer Plunkett, concurs. According to her, it all comes down to local companies acting.

According to Plunkett, “we can implement strategies so they don’t become problematic by working together to stay on top of those various changes.”

The town hall on Monroe Avenue will take place at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word on East Avenue and Goodman Street on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. According to the Merchants Association, elected representatives who are interested in the future of Monroe Avenue and the surrounding communities have also been invited.