Med City Beat is no longer publishing new articles, though archives from 2014-2022 remain accessible to the public.
Med City Beat is a Rochester-based news project rooted in fairness, transparency and civic responsibility.
Est. 2014
In listening to Ward 2 residents, many feel disenfranchised because their voices come second place to an increasingly narrow world-view. That our leadership is focused on their priorities and pet projects. That the city comes before the needs of the community.
The results of my leadership and hard work can be seen around Rochester. Cascade Lake Park, the Uptown neighborhood, expanded transit, additional affordable housing, growth in the local food & beverage scene and broadband choice are all issues on which I have led.
Local politics matter. It has a huge impact on our daily lives. Let's be the change, friends. Our future is brighter together.
Times of great disruption require genuine leadership. This is why I strongly support Kathleen Harrington for City Council President.
I urge you to re-elect Michael Wojcik so we can continue to benefit from his experience and proven record of getting real work done.
As a small business owner for 28 years in downtown Rochester I am so tired of Rochester citizens telling me I just don't go downtown anymore unless I have a clinic appointment.
With Covid, we are living in uncertain times. We have to keep our community growing and moving forward. We can only do that with people who want to build others up, not tear them down. Civility, maturity and common sense have been lacking on our council lately. We need a change.
Michael Wojcik has made Rochester a better place to live and will continue to do so. Vote Wojcik for Ward 2!
In Congress, I’ll work every day to ensure that no parent is ever forced to choose between their child’s life and avoiding financial ruin. I’ll take on out-of-state pharmaceutical conglomerates and mega-insurance companies that hold outsized influence in Washington — influence that they use to keep their prescription drug prices and health care costs high in order to enjoy record profits. And I’ll never stop fighting to put people first.
People look to their doctors for advice. We need to likewise look to our public health experts to help lead us through this pandemic. And by doing that, we are caring for all of our neighbors and relatives — including our elderly ones — during this difficult time.
Sometimes, even in the face of opposition, our government agencies must make uncomfortable decisions to protect our health, safety, and economy. This is one of those times.
Right now, in this moment, we must have the difficult, but necessary conversations with our family, friends, and neighbors about how to put into action solutions that can change hearts, minds and, yes, systems.
Minnesota — Pay attention: If strong and revolutionary action is not taken, it will take more than a few lifetimes to change a system that will attract Andy Taylors when it was set up to empower Derek Chauvins to press their knees down our necks.
Jean Prokott has poetry published or forthcoming in Arts & Letters, RHINO, and Red Wheelbarrow, among other journals, and is a recipient of the AWP Intro Journals Award. She holds an MFA from Minnesota State University Mankato, a Master's of Science in Education from Winona State University, and she teaches high school American Literature, Creative Writing, and Philosophy in Rochester.
Life is not a zero-sum game — whatever is gained by somebody else is not taken from you. The future of our country depends on the continued successes of All, not just those who look like me. The aphorism “a rising tide lifts all boats” holds true. Your neighbor’s success only makes yours more meaningful.
During the town hall addressing race and policing, Chief Franklin and Mayor Norton both supported the current training and procedures Rochester Police Department (RPD) officers go through. The Mayor was adamant they will not defund the police department. However, there is a national and local outcry for reform in policing and it’s the City’s responsibility to ensure all Rochester residents feel safe and secure.
Having served as a past Commission I know it’s a good entity but the Commission has no power of enforcement. I would charge the City and County to come up with a better model or merge with the State Human Rights Office much like St. Cloud has done.
Stories are a versatile tool for connection. While statistics do have their place, too often we choose to view them as the be-all-end-all, never truly garnering a compassionate connection through actual human experiences, which are able to unlock a fervorous motivation for change as seen in the BLM movement. So spread your stories, because without them, our society loses sight of the humans behind the numbers.
As a practicing registered nurse, it has become clear to me over my career that our country has developed a social system that rewards the privileged and ignores the suffering of many.
We are a community that is quick to celebrate the good, the peaceful, and the ways in which we are working hard to build an inclusive community. But we know there is a tale of two Rochesters, just as in any other city. We must confront this fact bravely and fiercely, today. Our silence will not protect us.
