First hour: Discussing the economic recommendations in the RASE Commission report
Second hour: YMCA leaders and a member on the decision to close the Carlson MetroCenter branchWe continue our series of conversations about the recent report released by the RASE Commission. Co-chairs Bill Johnson and Muhammad Shafiq join us to focus on the economic recommendations in the report. They answer your questions as well. Our guests:
- Bill Johnson, co-chair of the RASE Commission, and former mayor Rochester
- Muhammad Shafiq, co-chair of the RASE Commission, executive director of the Brian and Jean Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue, and professor of Islamic and religious studies at Nazareth College
Then in our second hour, the YMCA of Greater Rochester announced Wednesday that it is permanently closing its Carlson MetroCenter branch due to financial challenges. YMCA leaders say in the year prior to the pandemic shutdown, only 19 percent of Carlson members actively used the branch once a week or more. In a press release, leaders stated, "As an organization, we cannot continue to dedicate financial resources to sustain a building that has nearly 65,000-square-feet allocated to health and wellness with so few people using it on a daily basis." Critics of the decision say the YMCA is prioritizing suburban members over members in the city. We discuss the news with our guests:
- George Romell, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester
- Pam Cowan, chief marketing and experience officer for the YMCA of Greater Rochester
- Chris Widmaier, former member of the YMCA of Greater Rochester
