Not electing Chiara “KeeKee” Smith isn’t just passing over a candidate—it’s risking our city’s future. Here’s what Rochester stands to lose if we sit this one out:

1. Continued Affordable Housing Crisis

Between fiscal years 2024 and 2025, average fair-market rents for one-bedroom apartments climbed nearly 10%, while the number of homeless families skyrocketed from 109 to 421. Without strong tenant protections and new housing initiatives, more Rochester families will face eviction, instability, and shelter stays—driving up social service costs and deepening neighborhood disinvestment. Chiara’s plan to expand affordable units and enforce tenants’ rights directly addresses these sharp trends; without her leadership, rents will keep rising and homelessness will worsen.

2. Worsening Overdose Epidemic

Last year alone, Rochester lost over 500 residents to opioid overdoses. That’s not just a statistic—it’s 500 families shattered, 500 friends gone, and 500 futures erased. Chiara proposes citywide Narcan distribution, stigma-breaking recovery programs, and integrated mental-health support to stem this tide. Failing to vote for her means doubling down on fragmented efforts that haven’t moved the needle—leaving lives on the line and first responders stretched to the breaking point.

.

3. Gaps in Mental-Health Access

Too many Rochester residents—especially youth and underserved adults—can’t get timely therapy or crisis support. Chiara’s “no one left behind” approach calls for school-based counseling, expanded community clinics, and 24/7 crisis lines so that help arrives when it’s needed most. Without these measures, children at risk of self-harm may slip through the cracks, and families coping with trauma will continue shouldering overwhelming burdens alone.

4. Escalating Gun Violence

Chiara has spent years on the frontlines in neighborhoods like 14621—organizing street outreach, youth mentorship, and trauma recovery initiatives. Her data-driven, community-centered strategy has shown real promise at reducing shootings and building trust. Rejecting her candidacy means reverting to reactive policing models that fail to address root causes like poverty and trauma—perpetuating the cycle of grief and retaliation in our streets.

5. Missed Opportunity for Compassionate Leadership

Rochester deserves a council member who doesn’t just promise change but shows up in neighborhoods every day—listening, advocating, and delivering results. Chiara’s track record of “working every day for everyday people” signals the difference between top-down politics and heart-centered action. Passing on her campaign means settling for business as usual, rather than embracing a vision of healing, stability, and hope

.

Bottom line: By not voting for KeeKee Smith, Rochester risks deepening its most urgent crises—housing instability, overdose deaths, mental-health gaps, and gun violence—while forfeiting a proven, compassionate leader who’s ready to deliver real solutions from the ground up. This June, our vote determines whether we continue on a path of incremental fixes or seize the chance for bold, people-first change. Don’t let Rochester lose what we can still win.