Rachel Barnhart

@rachbarnhart

Former journalist. Current Monroe County Legislator. Posts are personal views unless noted as official. Not allowed: threats, defamation, obscenity, harassment or spam. Rochester, N.Y.

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Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· 25d

Good morning from North Winton Village

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· 26d

Big focus is Monroe County’s Judge Moran.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· 27d

Last night, the legislature honored Brother Wease for his iconic career in local radio. He’s a cultural institution in Rochester and has been a friend to so many of us over the years.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 10

Members of Democratic Caucus and union members at the annual Rochester Labor Council picnic. Our caucus is a strong supporter of labor.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 9

I always assumed he was a grassroots candidate who started running and THEN caught attention. No idea he was recruited. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/u...

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 9

Happy Gotcha Day, Penny! 8 years with my little rascal.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 5

Two of my favorite people @acctprogressive.bsky.social @drmikemendoza.com

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 5

My parents and my cake. (Get Caked bakery)

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 4

I am a bicentennial baby. I never thought this day would come with so many mixed feelings. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/american-t...

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 3

Now that the sale has closed, we can say what the Carestream building will be used for. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-buildi...

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 1

Happy Rochester Pride Month! (We’ve always celebrated in July)

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jul 1

My thoughts on the Investigative Post story: The questions are adding up for Baxter and what's gone on at the jail. rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/baxter-nev...

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 30

Staying cool in AC

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 28

Hello again Trombone Shorty

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 28

Politics and friends

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 26

Good afternoon from North Winton Village

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 24

It's a lovely article, but I'm not sure it's "exclusive?" www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/l...

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 24

Good evening from North Winton Village

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 23

Fox News has been running the clip of the Monroe County deputy over and over in its “reporting” on the reflecting pool.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 23

Voted then dog park. Good morning.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 22

NY 25 GOP candidate sends out mass text to Dem primes. She must really want to face Wilt instead of Morelle. Also this isn’t bad…

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 21

My statement on the deployment of a Monroe County Sheriff's deputy to DC.

I am requesting an immediate explanation from Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter regarding the deployment of a Monroe County Sheriff's Office deputy to Washington, D.C. as part of a federal security operation connected to the Trump administration's Freedom 250 events.
Residents have contacted me after images circulated online showing what appears to be a Monroe County Sheriff's deputy participating in law enforcement activity related to recent arrests near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has separately confirmed its participation in this deployment through its own public statement.
Federal deputizations for major events are not unusual. However, this assignment has become associated with a deeply controversial federal enforcement action. President Trump has claimed, without providing evidence, that vandals sabotaged the Reflecting Pool — a $14.65 million renovation project completed via a no-bid contract awarded to a company with ties to Trump's golf club that failed almost immediately after completion. Among those arrested was a three-time U.S. Olympian who says he did nothing wrong.
Monroe County sent one deputy among a limited number from agencies across the country. That means our patch is visible. When Monroe County personnel appear in viral images tied to arrests and disputed White House claims, Monroe County has become part of the public story. That is a legitimate reason for elected officials to ask whether continued participation serves this county's interests.
I am asking the Sheriff to explain who authorized this deployment, the scope of the deputy's duties, whether Monroe County taxpayers are bearing any costs, and whether Monroe County personnel have participated in arrests or enforcement actions connected to this controversy.
I am also calling on the Sheriff to reassess this assignment and bring our deputy home.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 21

From a constituent concerned about a Monroe County Sheriff's deputy being deputized to help the US Marshals. According to MSCO social media post, there is only one. This message explains the problem better than I can.

Thank you so much for following up. The community has a right to know why Sheriff Baxter is detailing deputies to DC under these circumstances.

The White House has shown no regard to DC residents and visitors nor the National Guard troops that continue to patrol like beat cops far outside of their training and remit. What will the sheriff do if Monroe County deputies are deployed by the US Marshals in violation of their oath? How does this agreement affect morale in the sheriff’s office?

How is Baxter covering the loss of these deputies on Monroe County streets, for how long, and at what cost to tax payers?

My brother is a sheriff’s deputy in another state. My dad was a correctional officer. I am not anti-law enforcement. However , entering into an agreement with this lawless administration that politicizes law enforcement is not right.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 21

Danielle Ponder

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 20

🧐

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 17

Tom introduced himself to me tonight. He’s a former neighbor and has been a Facebook friend for years. Tom is a Vietnam veteran and retired union construction laborer. Tom, thanks so much for saying hello and thank you for your service!

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 16

From what I can tell, Democratic women got this text from @morelle.house.gov’s GOP opponent. I’ve been asked if it’s true. Yes, it’s true. If we had a functioning media, they would be fact-checking these communications for you.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 16

Morelle office response to Think Big PAC spending on his behalf. The problem here is he has a red box on his website. So either he anticipates or welcomes this kind of spending.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 15

And any time I can trot this out to county officials, I will.

There is no charter provision, local law, legislative rule, or written policy requiring oversight
questions to be submitted through caucus leadership. Nor does the Charter require that legislators be
collegial, deferential, or meet whatever standard of "decorum" the Sheriff's Office finds convenient.
The Fourth Department addressed this directly. In Barnhart v. County of Monroe, the Appellate
Division unanimously held that "addressing public concerns, supporting constituents, and calling for
official investigations are functions of a legislator." The court rejected the argument that a legislator's
speech is confined to formal meetings or official county business. My right to ask questions about
Fund 9620 is not a courtesy the Sheriff's Office may extend or withhold based on its preferred
definition of "professional, direct, and constructive communication." It is constitutionally and
judicially protected conduct.

Rachel Barnhart@rachbarnhart· Jun 14

Last week, the Sheriff attacked me on social media for basically being a nasty woman. But that's not the most concerning thing; in that post, his attorney says there are no laws governing inmate phone revenue. I explain in a detailed letter back why I think they're afoul of state law. 1/