On the Go with The Glenn Advantage Team

Mitch Gruber is a Rochester City Council Member at Large & Foodlink’s Vice President and Chief Impact Officer. He also teaches a Local Government class at the U of R in the Spring. Mitch and his family live in the Corn Hill neighborhood.Social Justice is a driving force in his life. After teaching for Headstart, he realized that teaching small children was not a calling for him but finding a way to address some of the inefficiencies, like the wasting of food in the program every day, was certainly something he felt he could help address.He was advised to contact Foodlink, and as fate would have it, the founder, Tom Ferraro, took the meeting with Mitch and Tom became Mitch’s mentor.  This is Mitch’s 3rd term on the City Council. He sits on the People, Parks and Public Works Committee and the Public Safety Committee and he is the Chair for Budget, Finance and Governance.Mitch sees the job of the local city council is to earn and keep the trust of constituents because the council is local and visible – they are seen on Saturdays at the playgrounds or at the grocery store. Being a council member is not only about writing big sweeping bills that keep the city running, it’s also about making sure people’s daily lives are handled – that their garbage is picked up. Post-Covid when every US city received money from the American Recovery Act, and it could be used however each city deemed appropriate, some cities chose wisely, some did not. Rochester used most of the money to replace lead service lines. It was an investment in the city before there became a problem.The Rochester Land Bank is a tool the city has to acquire vacant properties. “Rehabilitate the Dream” is an opportunity for first-time homeowners who otherwise wouldn’t be able to qualify for homeownership to get a home. CityofRochester.govDuring these times of federal policy changes, rollback of SNAP benefits, increase of food, transportation, rent prices, childcare costs, it’s difficult to ask an agency to pay your back rent. But food is a special opportunity for intervention because of the number of places where food is offered without fear or favor. Foodlink convenes the Emergency Food Network. Every city, town, neighborhood and rural area around ROC has food pantries that are in civic institutions, churches, mosques, or synagogues where people can just go and get a box of food to go home. Find a pantry near you at "Find Food": Foodlinkny.orgEven though Mitch has been a big proponent of municipal grocery stores, he is concerned about Mamdani’s proposal of spending $30M on just one market. Mitch now thinks that perhaps the Curbside Market, like Foodlink has, might be a more affordable option.Foodlink’s supplies can come from a manufacturer like Barilla or Motts. Those companies can’t give 2 pallets to each of 5 food pantries. They give all the pallets to Foodlink and they distribute it to their organizations who serve individuals.Until recently there was no pantry that specifically served the deaf and hard of hearing community and ROC has a huge population! So, Foodlink worked with Rochester Deaf Kitchen and started the first pantry in our region that specifically communicates with ASL. Rochesterdeafkitchen.comPlease check out these other programs supported by Foodlink: Community Health Education, Benefits Navigation, Curbside Market (“Make the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice”), Edible Education Center, Community Kitchen, Food Safety Trainings, Community Café at Central Library, Foodlink Career Fellowship. Foodlinkny.orgMitch’s email: [email protected] you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

We encourage you to listen to the entirety of this podcast – there is SO much to learn!On today’s podcast Marcia talks to Galen Silver, Bill Schubert and Connor O’Brien, 3 people who are working tirelessly to help Rochester NY GET OUT THE VOTE!Galen Silver is a member of Indivisible Outreach whose mission is to, “Raise awareness and act to Fight Fascism, Save Democracy, and Protect our Civil Rights”.He’s in this fight because of his children & grandchildren. He’s concerned about the environment, our democracy, economy, The Rule of Law and corruption, which he sees as being threatened by the current administration.He put together a website ROCNYProtest.com to provide a list of activist groups in the 6 county region surrounding Monroe County to give people who want to get involved a central location to participate with different groups as well as a calendar of events if there was an event in which they want to participate. It’s updated daily.The Bannering Project: non-partisan messages on bridges designed to inform and encourage drivers to vote. It started out as putting up banners between Rochester and Syracuse but has spread from Buffalo to Boston, Thousand Islands to Rhode Island. Last day to do it is Oct. 31. See the Oct. 17 Indivisible Outreach newsletter for more information. IndivisibleOutreach.comBill Schubert is part of People’s Action ROC which is a grassroots organization begun in 2025. He was motivated to get involved by the abuses from the current administration. Executive Orders should not be overriding constitutional rights. “Change through activism” is the motto of their organization. Voting is an action. Without voting you have no voice. It’s important to let people know why they need to vote.Bill has also just run his 77th Wednesday Constitutional Crisis Call Out at the Keating Federal Building to discuss the constitution, our rights, voter rights, how the constitution answers the grievances put forth in the Declaration of Independence. He too is involved in the bannering project and concentrates more on the local Rochester area at a 490 overpass.Connor O’Brien is involved with multiple organizations but particularly GRAND (the Greater Rochester Area Network for Democracy) which is an organization that brings other organizations together. There is no one ideology or leadership that must be adhered to, only that the member groups believe in: defending our democratic republic, defending the spirit of the constitution, and fighting tyranny.Connor is very good at “connecting the dots”. Listen to the podcast to find out what local impacts some of the sweeping federal cuts will have to the people of the ROC area regarding: funding for non-profits, immigration lawyers for children, cuts to Medicaid, closing of local rural hospitals, cutting of funding at U of R, RIT, and the ripple effect that will have on the surrounding neighborhoods.Early voting numbers are up, but that’s no reason to sit back. All politics are local. All votes count. Golden Day: October 24, 2026, the last day to register to vote in this midterm election and the first day to early vote in the region. There will be a community event from noon to 3 pm at S & T Lounge, 328 North Street ROC: https://tinyurl.com/roc-golden-dayFree Rides to the Polls: MC Rides to Polls is offering free rides every day of early voting and on Election Day to help Monroe County residents get to the polls (585)371-8083. Interested in volunteering? Email [email protected],Feel like you don’t have enough information to vote? Go to Vote411.org sponsored by the League of Women Voters (non-partisan)Celebrate your right to vote!Midterm elections are determined by a very small number of votes.If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Joshua Stapf, Executive Director of Literacy Rochester joins On the Go with The Glenn Advantage.An owner of four dogs. a history of nonprofit fundraising and leadership and a plant enthusiast, Joshua has been the Director for 5+ years after joining the organization in 2019 as Development Director.  During his tenure he's led their annual Brain Game, an pub-style annual trivia event being held this year at the Hyatt Regency on October 22nd, 2026.  It's highly competitive and gathers 250+ local businesspeople for a night of unique, unpredictable fun.  What started as local lawyers competing via paper forms 26 years ago has evolved to 20+ teams competing over eight rounds via their smartphones.  Founded in 1964 as a simple church program, Literacy Rochester dates back to a legendary founder and businesswoman, Ruth Colvin.  She founded the original Literacy Volunteers of America in Syracuse, NY after seeing literacy statistics.  Ruth lived to 107.5 years old, golfed regularly into her 100s and traveled to over 50 countries promoting literacy.  She "told it like it was, didn't sugarcoat things, and did things her way."  Literacy Rochester focuses on adults ages 18+, helping them with math, reading, English language and digital literacy.  One-to-one tutoring is offered, along with small groups comprised of no more than 12 students.  Classes are offered across Rochester, typically at local libraries and Literacy Rochester's South Avenue location.Launched in 2013, their Digital Literacy program helped 2200 people spanning 37 locations in five counties over the last program year.  "Illiterate" is no longer the proper term.  "Low literacy" is more accurate and appropriate, per Joshua.  Students come to Literacy Rochester's programs from all ages and backgrounds.  Some need to improve their literacy for work purposes, while others have simpler goals - like reading to their children.  Literacy statistics are sobering - the Board of Regents reports that 3-4 million adult New Yorkers have limited literacy proficiency.  This is up to 20% of the adult population.  Locally, this challenge is no different.  Literacy Rochester also helps with financial literacy, online patient portals, résumé writing, Microsoft programs, job searches, email account assistance, and more.  The first step to improved literacy is taking that first step with courage and contacting LiteracyRochester.org / 585-473-3030.  January is often their busiest month for Digital Literacy, as many receive new devices and technology around the holidays.  Literacy Rochester has 4000 items in its library available to students and tutors, expanded during the pandemic.  Tablets, Internet hot spots and laptops were also deployed during the pandemic to assist the community.  Literacy Rochester needs volunteers to succeed and helping others in our community can be done in as little as three hours per week.  In-total, 12,000 volunteer hours were logged last year.  More information about volunteering can be found at LiteracyRochester.org.  Tickets and sponsorship information related to the October 22nd Brain Game is here: https://literacyrochester.org/event/brain-game-2026.If you have show questions or know of a worthy organization that On the Go may want to feature in the future, contact [email protected] you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

September is Deaf Awareness Month. It celebrates the rich culture and unique communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Rochester is home to one of the largest per-capita populations of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals in the US. The Rochester Hearing and Speech Center is one of the places that provides specialized medical resources to the community.Today we meet Dr. Tela Palmer, Director of Audiology – RSHC is here for what you need: hearing checks, or assistive devices, or simply checking hearing health.RHSC helps people with the paperwork to assist their landlord or workplace in fulfilling ADA regulations.Presbycusis means hearing loss with aging. Some of the most mundane tasks or home appliances that we take for granted can cause hearing loss like vacuums and blenders if hearing protection is not worn. If hearing loss is addressed sooner rather than later outcomes are significantly better.If you’re questioning if a partner/spouse is having hearing difficulty, it is recommended that both people come in for the appointment because it’s best for a 3rd party to discuss the outcome of testing. OTC hearing aids are fine, in and of themselves, BUT it is very important not to take the clinician out of the picture completely. If you don’t do a preliminary evaluation to the cause of the hearing loss, you may miss a pathological cause. Auditory Processing Disorder is a person who can hear sounds at a normal volume but can’t understand the words. They misinterpret what you are trying to tell them.Social awareness is crucial to our success as human beings. Think about others!There are multiple organizations around ROC that will provide qualified ASL interpreters for events. Simply put “sign language interpreters in Rochester NY” in the search bar.Dr. Sara Calus, Director of Educational and Clinical Services - RHSC does far more than hearing and speech! Dr. Calus also runs a well-respected physical therapy/occupational therapy/speech program for young children. The Early intervention program is 0-3 years, and is Preschool is 3-5. To teach these very small children the questions become: “Where are you? Where do you need to be?  How are we going to get you there?” Pediatrics is learning how to do something for the first time. We help them make better connections and get them back on the educational sequence they want to be on.We work in Teams so we can learn from other people. (Teams meaning working with people from other departments.) They work with children with Autism, children motor delays, sensory delays, speech delays. RSHC is an interdisciplinary center with a holistic approach to identifying a child’s needs and helping that child to become the happiest and healthiest they can be.EI is a very challenging area – the demands for a professional staff are dramatic, but RHSC excels at having an extraordinarily talented and credentialed workforce. But the reimbursement rates throughout the country are staggeringly low. On top of that the demand for more therapists is rising rapidly.RHSC has found ways to be creative to include families on the waitlist and not simply leave them to linger with no services at all.Please join the Rochester Hearing and Speech Center on Saturday, October 17th at 7pm at the Eagle Vale Golf Club for their “Silent Disco” Ultimate 80’s Party Silent Auction and fundraiser. This organization benefits so many children and families in the Rochester area. Come out for a night of good fun and music and support the RHSC.If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Councilmember Stanley Martin started her career as a therapist, working with inmates in the Rochester jail. For many of those in the jail, their issues were systemic – poor socioeconomic backgrounds, most came from single parent households and these issues led her to community organizing, which led her to running for office.-            First elected in Nov. 2021 & re-elected in Nov. 2025, she sits on the Budget, Finance & Governance Cmte. & Public Safety Cmte.The Budget & Finance Cmte. is the lead committee that runs through the mayor’s proposed budget, it should be responsible for making amendments and making the public aware of what is in the budget. The Budget really is a moral document. It determines what the city’s priorities are, how we are going to care for our community. The budget passed in June. -            She supports the continued funding of The PIC Team (Person in Crisis) & the Credible Messenger Violence Prevention Program (violence intervention by trusted community members with shared lived experience that provides 18 months of intensive mentorship that focuses on youth at risk for gun violence).-            She does not support the large budget granted to the RPD.The Public Safety Committee members have differing views on what it means to “be safe”. Some members say it means affordable housing, access to quality education, food, and resources; others believe it means more armed police officers. The committee works to find compromise.RRRN: Rochester Rapid Response Network: volunteer-led network of people who respond in real time to stand side-by-side with people impacted by ICE, or immigration raids. [email protected] the People ROC began in the summer of 2020. It’s an organization centered around care and mutual aide. People in Rochester had concerns about policing in black and brown communities. It started as a “safe space” to share feelings of anger and rage and turned into an organization created to address issues of public safety and to make sure people weren’t experiencing harm by any government institution. [email protected]’s Law: across NYS people in mental health crisis are at higher risk of being killed by police. When someone was in crisis anyone BUT police were prioritized to respond to the call: social workers, mental health counsellors, peers with lived experiences. The law was written and has been advocated for with its champions Sen. Samra Brouk and Assembly Member Harry Bronson. DanielsLawNY.orgRochester People’s Assembly: designed to provide a unified, inclusive space for residents and partners in government to discuss, organize and stay informed about issues that impact ROC. Housing Justice for all: Rochester is facing both a housing crisis homeless crisis. We need levels of care to address this problem. We need rent stabilization. Almost 2/3 of the city’s population are renters. We need funding, and grants for people ready to buy homes. We also need homeowner prep. programs to make sure they have all the tools they need to be successful. [email protected] options are needed for the deaf, disabled and elder communities. The city should be able to transform abandoned and vacant buildings into housing, and they can partner with small developers. The city can become its own developer. We had a very active community land trust at one point (City Roots Community Land Trust). It’s cheaper to address the root problem than to ignore it and deal with the consequences later.Salary Issues: the job requires a minimum of 30 hours/week. Weeks where legislative packets are reviewed require more time to research, read, prepare, ask questions. During the budget cycle it’s so easy to go to 60 hours/week reading the budgets, comparing it to previous years, finding out if certain elements can be amended, finding out where funding comes from. To make City Council more accessible to working class people the pay must be equal to a full time job. City Council Members shouldn’t just be for those who can afford it.To Contact Councilmember Martin: [email protected] you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Why is The Glenn Advantage Team doing a podcast? Because Rochester is fortunate to have an abundance of organizations, particularly non-profits, doing extraordinary work. Our podcast is trying to do our part to let you know about them!Jen Cathy, is President and CEO of Delphi Rise. This organization provides substance use prevention and treatment, housing stability support, care management, pantry services, community reentry programs, and more. Delphi Rise has been around for 90 years and during that time has changed the way it deals with addiction, just as the understanding of the root cause of the disease has changed.Delphi Rise talks to children as young as 5 about safe choices, healthy bodies, relationships, and boundaries, because that sets the stage for coping skills later in life. As students get older, they are introduced to more concrete information about substances. They are helped by trained counsellors who work in their schools. Delphi Rise also meets basic needs like a place to sleep, food, and clothing. In the early 1900’s alcoholism was seen as a moral failing or a character flaw. The “treatment” was to “find Jesus”, or “go to jail and dry out”. In the 1950’s thinking began to evolve that there may be an illness at play. In the 70’s alcohol became a public health issue.In the ‘90’s and early 2000’s we recognized that there may be a disease of the brain at play. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is recognized as a viable part of a treatment plan.2010’s Opioid addiction became prevalent. Addictions became so overwhelming, that we moved from “you need to stop using” to “you need to not die”. Narcan does not “cure” an addiction, but it might start the conversation. It is part of harm reduction. The whole person should be considered, not just “the addicted” part. Care needs to be integrated, which is why Delphi Rise has a pantry, housing services, and extra clothes. Not everyone’s treatment pathway will look the same.24/7 Open Access Clinic there is no wait list, just walk in. Assessment is done by a Peer Advocate, someone who understands the struggle. A clinician who is experienced in alcohol & substance use does an evaluation. From there Delphi Rise does its best to see that the goals of the eval are carried out. Pantry can use food donations, volunteers, financial donationsDelphi Rise serves anyone regardless of socioeconomic status.Housing programs through the federal government only lasts 2 years. Delphi Rise works with clients during the 2 years to find job skills so they can find a place to live on their own.Delphi Rise has been chosen by NYS as 1 of 5 to run a pilot program to be IN the community.Primary source of helping those who have just left state & local prisonsA Night to Rise – 90th Year Celebration! Join us for an evening of inspiration, connection and community. Thursday September 24th, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm, Arbor Loft.If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

“Housing instability has no definition. We need language to help solve this problem.”Ben Hart is a realtor and entrepreneur who grew up in Rochester’s 19th Ward. He is a house re-developer who takes vacant and distressed homes and revitalizes them for occupancy.Rochester has a housing crisis at all levels and Ben’s goal is to work with those who find it difficult to find housing due to financial constraints or income requirements for rental properties.He encourages long-term leasing with stable pricing. Ben offers the renter the opportunity to become financially stable to buy the house they want (or are currently renting) or to simply continue to rent.Ben wants to work on the problems of urban Rochester. He believes there’s not enough concentrated redevelopment going on in downtown Rochester which is why there has been perpetually blighted neighborhoods for decades. Some neighborhoods have overcome their issues, but Ben is looking to create a more vibrant and permanent communities Downtown. Hart Homes is a for-profit company, but it has a social mission. He cares about the community, he would like to see more landlords think in terms of being business owners when it comes to philanthropy and investment in the community.Homeowners engage in more civic events, they vote more, they volunteer more. More owner-occupants are needed. In the suburbs the ratio of owners to renters is about 70% to 30% but in the city, the ratio is nearly reversed.There should be incentives for long-term residential renting, similar to what is done with commercial real estate. This would encourage stability. Ben emphasizes it’s not just home ownership that’s the pinnacle – it’s the sense of home – you know that you’re safe, your lease is enforceable, you’re not going to be removed due to the whims of someone else, or that the owner isn’t going to sell the property out from under you. Having a sense of home, even if you don’t own it, you know that you can renew your lease, you know you are working toward home ownership, and that you have an easy relationship with your landlord, that’s the pinnacle.Attainable housing vs. affordable housing – those are not the same.It the job of Hart Homes to take the house no one wants and create a house that is livable and rent it or sell it – to take something no one wanted, add value, and create a homeowner.Ben Hart is more interested in you being a homeowner than you being his tenant. He will not do rent-to-own. He will refer you to another realtor to avoid conflict.The Housing Bill There are various ways to address the housing crisis in Rochester – it’s not a one-solution crisis. There is Buy the Block (GRHP), purchasing Tiny Homes or Manufactured Homes, making loans accessible to Micro-Producers like Hart Homes. It’s easy to criticize any one of these but we must be open-minded about how we’re going to solve this housing crisis problem. “If you listen and you build what they ask for, they will come.” – Ben HartPositive Only Rent Reporting Initiative – the landlord reports on-time rent payments to credit agencies. It helps tenants who are “credit invisible” build credit.Financial Empowerment Center does 1-1 financial coaching in Rochester.“Slow Growth is Good Growth, scale the solution, not scale the portfolio.” – Ben HartIt doesn’t matter what your product is. “All business is people business.” – Ben Hart Be cautious with the posted “We Buy Houses” Signs.‘“It’s My House but It’s Their Home” so I shouldn’t be sending over maintenance guys that are cursing and smoking cigarettes, and scratching. And I should be giving 24 hours as a bare minimum required by law. I need to do 72 hours if I can. Respond to maintenance requests with respect. Mind the children, and their calendars. Home is where citizenship happens. “Greater Rochester Association of Realtors Classes (GRAR) very good, well balanced“Home is where the Hart is”   HartHomesRoc.com  If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Diana Kastenbaum lives in Batavia in Genesee County. For 25 years she owned a small IT Tech Company that worked with law firms. She returned home where her family owned a tool & die casting business and became the CEO. Her mission was to bring the company up to date and create a legacy plan so when the company was eventually sold, the vendors, customers and the employees who had faithfully worked with the company for years would continue to have jobs & accounts. While there she wore many hats: truck driver, purchasing agent, improvised sitter, healthcare manager, etc. Her father, a veteran, and her husband both became ill around the same time. She became very familiar navigating both healthcare systems and greatly admires those who provided the care.  Crossroads HouseDiana has one daughter of whom she is very proud!Not to disparage Claudia Tenney, but she is not accessible to her constituents. Last year, right after Sackets Harbor, Diana formed Concerned Citizens of NY24 with Scott Comegys. It was created because people wanted to talk about all the deportations & executive orders. Tenney was invited to several Town Halls and available for none. Diana visited that (Sackets Harbor) farm afterwards and spoke to the owners at length. ‘I like to go myself and find out what’s happening in the district.’Regarding the current immigration policy, Diana says this district is huge, encompassing 14 counties, so what happens in Niagara may not happen in Jefferson. There are many issues in this red, gerrymandered district. "The NY24 Representative must be facile, adaptive and be willing to travel!" Even if all the democrats came out [to vote] we couldn’t win. Hopefully the non-affiliated will come on board. Winning will not be possible without republicans. Many may stay home, but hopefully they are so disgusted with what is happening that they come out and vote. Farming is the economic driver in NY24. There are orchards, vineyards, crop farmers and dairy farmers that go all through this district. Diana has been on a farm tour throughout. Most of the owners are republican. She’s sitting down with them for 2 ½ hours or more and asking questions.The farmers are very upset with the tariffs. The farmers are paying tariffs on new machinery AND they are also paying tariffs on parts for existing equipment. The input costs just on equipment is huge. Getting fertilizer for the smaller farms has been difficult with the issues in Iran.  The cost of off road diesel fuel has gone up too. Deportations – ICE has come in and taken the farm’s workers – the farmers are very concerned because the workers are like family to them. The farmers are the stewards of the land. Their succession plan is their family, something Diana can relate to. The other thing affecting the farmers is the reduction of their markets. Programs like USAID and SNAP have been eliminated or severely curtailed. These were supplemental income that farmers had, but now those markets are gone. NY24 is also right near Cornell Land Grant Institution.  Many of NY’s farmers have gone to school and gotten their degrees in the Agriculture Department. With federal funding being taken away from institutions like Cornell, research is not progressing and the next new molecule is left undiscovered. Showing up and talking to the farmers, being familiar with their struggles, hearing what the people of NY24 have to say and marching with them in protests may be reasons people will vote for Kastenbaum over Claudia Tenney.What farmers are looking for their representative to do once on The Hill: 1-Be on the Agricultural Committee; 2-Be on the Appropriations Committee; 3-Have an Advisory Board that can reach out to NY24 Constituents and stay current with the district’s needs and keep the dialog open Diana is not against ICE as it was originally created, in the Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services under the Department of Homeland Security, with vetted agents who have been trained to do their job. There must be better training, absolutely no masks, and judicial warrants must be in place. The unqualified agents need to go. The brutality needs to stop. It needs to return to its original intent and correct some things that weren’t done right the first time.Kastenbaum fears that if they start picking up migrants, what’s to say they don’t start picking up someone who is Muslim or Jewish or autistic, or gay or lesbian or trans? When do we say it’s enough? So, it’s important that we stand up and fight against this kind of authoritarianism and make sure it does not happen here.Diana agrees with Gov. Hochul’s provision in the 2027 budget that prohibits local law enforcement agencies from working with ICE agents to identify, detain and process suspected illegal aliens. She is also encouraging anyone who lives in a county in NY24 that currently does not have a resolution on the books that prohibits local law enforcement from colluding with ICE, to reach out to your County Legislators. YOUR VOICE DOES MATTER!Kastenbaum believes term limits for Congress should be 3 terms, 6 years. Senate should be 2 terms, 12 years, no grandfather clause. She has signed a pledge for US Term Limits. Tenney did not. Diana says the US Supreme Court used to be one of the last bastions of our balance of power. Now it’s not. There should be more than 9 Supreme Court justices, and an age limit with a retirement age in the mid-80’s.Regarding women’s healthcare, Kastenbaum has always been for a woman’s right to choose. New York is great, but what about the people in Texas or Tennessee? What if you have a high-risk pregnancy? What if you miscarry and need further medical intervention? The difference between life and death is a matter of a few hours, sometimes minutes. Life experience creates empathy with people and that’s what I think is lacking with candidates. You can say good things but unless you can come to the table having lived a full life and gained wisdom and experience, you’re not going to be able to serve them that well.Please give us your thoughts on Israel and Iran – and, if you think Cuba is next:Diana is Jewish. She believes this is a difficult question for Jewish people and that the Middle East is complicated. She is for a 2 state solution. She believes that October 7th was an atrocity and she does not support Netanyahu at all. She doesn’t support Hamas or Hezbollah, or the Muslim Brotherhood in Iran. The Palestinians and the Israelis want peace. That’s why we need a 2 state solution. Diana is against insider trading. She feels The Epstein files need to be released. This is an abomination.Kastenbaum’s top goals for bettering the 24th District if she is elected all have to do with affordability: 1) Healthcare – every year prices go up and coverage goes down; 2) Tariffs make commodities higher; 3) Educational costs; 4) Energy costsDiana was asked what makes her different from her democratic opponent (Alissa Ellman)?Diana's Response: Ask yourself a question: You need to come to the table with some knowledge, some expertise, the wisdom, the experience to start on Day 1. Who is better suited for the job?Diana Kastenbaum for NY24: dianaforny24If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Alissa Ellman grew up in Houghton, NY. She is the youngest of 6 children.Her first job was at Houghton College. She joined the military as a way earn money and pay for college. Alissa entered the National Guard’s Basic Training. Shortly after her return, September 11th happened and, as for so many, everything changed.  She trained for Flight Operations and her first deployment started on her 19th birthday. She did an 18 month deployment, mostly in Afghanistan, and after she came home, she was recruited as a contractor back to Afghanistan where she did airfield management and logistics. After several years, Alissa decided it was time to come home.She settled down in Western NY, married, had 2 daughters, put herself through school and became a Special Education teacher, focusing on students with behavioral issues. In 2018 she was diagnosed with Burn Pit Cancer, which came from being exposed to toxic elements in Afghanistan. While rare, it is very curable. Grateful and impressed with her treatment from the VA, she decided to “give back” after she recovered. Alissa processed claims for the VA. Twenty-eight days shy of her one year anniversary she was “DOGEd” in the first round of cuts – not through any fault of her own, it was because the people in the government making the decisions were “delusional narcissists”.Alissa started a political action group with a friend Stand Up Lockport that began with having coffee once a week which grew to 300 people showing up. A movement was born. Now Alissa Ellman is running for Congress.1)   She wants comprehensive immigration reform. It must be simple, straightforward & affordable. She wants to start with extending visas. She wants a program where:(a) an immigrant comes to the country for 10 years and works, stays out of trouble, pays their taxes, doesn’t rely on any type of social programs(b) the immigrant gets the chance at citizenship, and the cost should be something affordable to a working class person(c) one program for seasonal workers who work for farmers with crops, orchards and wineries(d) a different program for dairy farmers who need help year-round.2)   Farmers and the people of the NY24 are upset about tariffs and the US’s current relationship with Canada. “If I win, I would meet with farmers on a regular basis because of how important they are to the local economy.”3)   Ellman thinks the traditionally Republican district might possibly flip this year: a)   Since being gerrymandered, NY24 is a huge district – it takes 4 hours to get from one side to the other. b)   This area has been a Republican stronghold, but these same voters are facing higher costs and lower profits.c)   Tenney’s political success is simply because the democrats don’t run for local offices. The democratic voters keep showing up and there is no democrat to vote for, so why should they bother to vote in a mid-term election?d)   The largest group of voters in NY24 are the No Party Preference, or “NOPs”. They are Independents. They don’t show up to vote because politicians don’t knock on their doors. That’s an opportunity for the Dems.e)   Statistics have shown that if you knock on a door, regardless of party affiliation, if there is a positive interaction, there is a 65% chance of getting the vote.f) There are more reasons to run for Congress than just to win. Ellman’s campaign helps all down-ballot races because it helps to drive voter turn-outg) Securing votes means building relationships & infrastructure for a viable congressional campaign. Even the last 2 democrats who ran and lost helped to build both those things. “My life’s goal is not to be in politics. I’m doing this to maintain the rule of law and to help to develop a country I’m proud of and want my kids to participate in and that’s going to care about people over corporations.”h)   If Alissa loses the primary or the general election, her plan is to encourage younger people to become involved in politics by mentoring them. As an experienced teacher she believes she is the right person to do that.4. Ellman believes that Claudia Tenney is vile and her voting record is horrendous. In her social media she is washing a veteran’s grave, but she voted against the PACT Act. Alissa calls that performative politics.5. Regarding ICE: Stand Up Lockport was one of the first groups to encourage the local sheriff to consider the legal and financial ramifications of detaining immigrants without due process and/or cause. No screaming, no protesting, no road closures. Just a very well-written letter by an experienced immigration attorney.6. Ellman wants to see government reform. She is in favor of term limits but is flexible about the implementation of the plan.7. She believes there should be turnover in the Supreme Court. It should be generational. The people deserve to have appropriate representation. 8. Access to abortion is healthcare. She is 100% pro-choice. 9. Ellman is against war in nearly all circumstances. She would prefer more diplomatic solutions.10. Release the Epstein files!11. Top 3 things she wants to do for NY24, under the umbrella of affordability:a) Scaling electric bills b) Weatherization programs that are fully and federally funded for homes, rentals, & trailersc) An extension of public school education down to 2yo   - Screenings can be done earlier to detect potential learning issues   - Child is with a degreed teacher rather than non-professional12. Wants to see Universal Basic Income implemented13. Why vote for her over Kastenbaum? She’s a fresh face, has better policy positions, and she’s more progressive.Alissa Ellman: EllmanforCongress.comIf you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Congressman Morelle is a former small business owner, Monroe County Legislator, and Majority Leader of the NY State Assembly. He's served the 25th District since 2018.He sits on 4 committees: his is the ranking member on House Administration; he serves on the all important House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library and joint Committee on Printing. He also supports many caucuses and task forces. Joe has co-sponsored and help to pass nearly 2000 bills and cast floor votes in support of major comprehensive legislation and was the primary sponsor of legislation combatting drugs like Fentanyl.Joe enjoys spending time with his family, his wife, Mary Beth, of over 40 years, and their sons, Joseph and Nicholas and their wives. Joe and Mary Beth lost their daughter, Lauren, to Triple Negative Breast Cancer several years ago. She is survived by her now 2 teenage children with whom Joe and Mary Beth love spending time.They have established a tradition of Sunday Morning Breakfast where local family members and friends gather together and Joe cooks for everyone. He even cleans up afterwards! When Lauren was in treatment for cancer, after breakfast was over the family would get out their notebooks and calendars and arrange who would be taking care of the transportation for the medical appointments that following week.You never know what people are going through - give people a little grace - on the road, in the street, wherever you are.There really is no way to "wean" yourself off the death of a loved one, particularly if they die suddenly. There is a finality and absoluteness to them being gone. Be empathetic to them. Be patient with YOURSELF. Reach out to them. Follow the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."Morelle has proposed House Resolution 8984 to try and curtail the actions of the DHS at the Keating Federal Building. He believes these actions are necessary, in part, because of the chaos having a processing site or detention center would bring in a building that also houses municipal offices like Bankruptcy Court, Traffic Court, Code Compliance/Violation, law firms, the Social Security Administration, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand's offices and a daycare center. Additionally, if used as a detention center, it makes it far more difficult for citizens to exert their First Amendment Right to protest and free speech. His hope is to stop it before it opens.Trump NEVER asks:Is this Constitutional?Is this legal?Is this ethical?The immigration process has changed over the years. You used to be able to get into the country with $20 in your pocket, a relative who was already here, and no communicable diseases. Now it takes up to 10 years to become a citizen! Immigrants that come here, for the most part, WANT to be here, they WANT to work, they WANT to follow the rules, they WANT to pay taxes, they don't want to be demonized. The evil genius of Donald Trump is that he can get people to blame each other for his poor leadership.Morelle is a staunch supporter of women's rights in spite of this Supreme Court.In April 2026, he launched a new task force on Anti-Corruption and Democracy Reform to take on corruption and restore trust in government. There are 4 key areas the 120th Congress wants to focus on. (The initial draft is 1000 pages long!):Stopping the Executive Branch from monetizing the Oval OfficeStopping Congress, the President, Vice President and Cabinet members from stock trading and from becoming Lobbyists immediately after leaving officeReforming the Supreme CourtSafeguarding the ElectionsThe Congressman had specific thoughts about the Supreme Court: He believes there should be term limits. They should serve for 18 years, then gain "Senior status". In the event that there is an unexpected vacancy on the active court, the "Senior" member could step in during the interim so the court could proceed as usual.Each of the active members should be compelled to "ride the circuit" to hear appeals cases to attempt to regain the trust of the American people.As part of his task force work, Morelle is focusing on the upcoming elections:Identifying potential threats to the elections process Mitigating any threatsDo we have the resources to cover it?There are networks of networks covering this all over the country. The more people know their rights, the harder it is for people to interfere in the elections. There will be midterm elections. Election administrators take their responsibilities VERY seriously.We need a War Powers Resolution Act in regard to Iran.In order to preserve democracy we need new rules because of what Donald Trump has done to the Presidency.The Epstein Files will be released.His goals for the 25th district are: build more houses make it easier for people in crisis and poverty to get services government reform which helps everyoneFor more information on Congressman Morelle, please visit his website.If you are in the Rochester NY area and would like to be on the podcast, please send me an email and tell us what you do or what organization you represent that contributes to the bettering of the people or the Greater Rochester area. We bring local businesses to the forefront of the community and we look to keep you always informed in terms of what's happening in your community. [email protected] email your questions about today's episode or any questions you have about real estate, or buying or selling a home to [email protected]. We will be answering these questions in our future podcast episodes.Marcia Glenn is a licensed Associate Real Estate Broker with has worked tirelessly since 1992 for her clients, whether they are buying or selling a home. Her team of agents brings with them experience, innovation, perspective and drive to make them part of the top 10% of all REALTORS in the Rochester NY area. Join us next time for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team". Search for "On the Go with the Glenn Advantage Team wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our YouTube channel @glennadvantage, or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.