Rachel Barnhart

@rachbarnhart.com

3052 Followers 436 Following

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.

Dogs
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.
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.
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.
Requests for legitimate information allowed. The County Legislature, its committees and its members shall be entitled to request and obtain legitimate information on a County agency from the County Executive or from any County officer or agency head.
Dear Ms. Cesario: I am writing regarding the County’s 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and its treatment of jail-related funds. In the ACFR, the County identifies “Jail Commissary Funds” and states that the jail commissary fund exists pursuant to New York State law requiring all profit realized on commissary jail sales to be used to purchase items to benefit jail inmates. The ACFR also classifies “Jail Funds” as restricted. Separately, in a June 9, 2026 letter from the Sheriff’s Office to Majority Leader Michael Yudelson, the Sheriff’s Office states that there have “always been two separate and distinct funds”: Commissary Fund 9618 and Telephone/Tablet Fund 9620. The letter further states that Fund 9618 is restricted by state law, while Fund 9620 is maintained as a separate account and is not subject to statutory use requirements. In May 2025, the Sheriff’s Office represented during the full legislature meeting that the Telephone/Tablet Fund held approximately $1.9 million. That makes it especially important to understand where Fund 9620 appears in the County’s audited financial statements and whether it is included in the ACFR’s “Jail Commissary Funds” / “Jail Funds” presentation. I am trying to reconcile these statements with the County’s audited financial statements. Please provide answers to the following
Penny and Prudy
President Trump reacted to your being fired. Did he? He went on a podcast and called you a stiff. I’m surprised that the president of the United States would bother to notice, but please tell me. I’m not aware of this. He said you were part of this gang of “stupid, crooked people that don’t care about your country.” Stupid? I can take that. Stiff? Yeah, probably. Don’t care about the country? I’ve never worn the uniform. But I’ve been in combat for this country, in Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. I’ve been shot at, spent nights in foxholes filling up with water in the desert. I’m not aware that the president of the United States has ever done any of those things for his country. Please correct me if I’m wrong. You become a journalist because you love the First Amendment. You become a journalist because you love the country. And while all the other descriptions that the president used about me might be applicable, not that one. [Tears up] There is no democracy without journalism. It can’t be done. That is why I am a journalist.
The United Way of Greater Rochester charged the state $1.2 million per year to manage a five-year grant on RMAPI’s behalf while it was developing MyWayFinder but declined to share a breakdown of how it spent the $6 million total. State documents show an unspecified part of the annual fee went toward the salaries of United Way of Greater Rochester employees not directly involved in either RMAPI or MyWayFinder, such as CEO Jaime Saunders. Recent tax filings show Saunders earned over $365,000 annually as the nonprofit’s top executive in 2024.
Rachel — I just got off the phone with Michael, my political director, and he said that we’re about 500 donations away from our FEC goal. He hadn’t seen a contribution from you come in yet and asked me to reach out. This deadline is important because it’s the last time our numbers will go public before the June 23rd primary and I want to have a strong showing. Here’s the best link to give: https://go.votemorelle.com/a/preprimaryfec Thanks so much! Joe