Sinha Rebukes Evans' State of the City Address, Vows Bold Action on Crime, Housing, and Education

Mayoral candidate Shashi Sinha sharply criticized Mayor Malik Evans’ State of the City address on Thursday, arguing that the mayor’s portrayal of progress in Rochester does not reflect the struggles many residents face.

Rochester Mayoral Candidate Shashi Sinha

“Last night the outgoing mayor gave another speech,” Sinha said in a press release issued Friday. “He painted a picture that doesn’t match the reality people in this city are living.”

Sinha, a small business owner and first-time candidate, pointed to persistent issues in the city including violent crime, a severe housing shortage, poor school performance, and population decline. He noted a recent spike in gun violence, surging car break-ins, and what he described as the administration’s lack of accountability regarding the Rochester City School District.

“Despite a $1 billion budget for RCSD, our schools are at the bottom of the NY state list,” he said. “The administration has washed their hands of holding RCSD accountable.”

According to Sinha, Rochester has lost 3,000 residents in the past three years and now has a smaller population than Yonkers.

“We keep electing the same kind of career politicians and expecting different outcomes,” he said. “Rochester doesn’t need speeches. We need better outcomes.”

If elected, Sinha promised to address crime by refocusing police efforts on “guns, gangs, and violent crime,” and to build 4,000 affordable homes for ownership over four years, “built and sold at cost, without any subsidies.”

On education, he pledged to appoint a cabinet-level official to work closely with the RCSD board and new superintendent, aiming to audit spending and demand accountability.

“I’m not here to make small adjustments,” Sinha said. “I’m here to transform this city with our residents and for our residents.”