Mayor Bob Duffy: "Like a boxer on one knee"

MayorTV is a challenge from America's Mayors to 2008 candidates: start talking about cities! MayorTV asked Mayor Duffy what he thought a national agenda for cities should look like.

Bob Duffy is a tough guy with a tough job. He's the mayor of Rochester, NY, a city of 208,000 grappling with some tough statistics. A few stand outs:

- 39% high school graduation rate
- 57% of adults read at 6th grade level or below
- 38% child poverty rate, the highest in the state
- a population decrease from 332,000 in the 50s to 208,000 today

And then there's the stat that underlies all the other stats -- a 41% drop in manufacturing jobs over the last few decades.

Rochester is not a big, glamorous city like LA or Miami. But the story of Rochester is one that must be told. Mayor Duffy speaks incredibly eloquently for the hundreds of small and mid-sized America cities that grew up around a strong manufacturing base, and have struggled for survival as that base drops out. For Rochester, that base was Eastman-Kodak.

"Eastman Kodak, when I was much younger, employed 65,000 people here in Rochester," said the 53-year-old Duffy. "Today, it's 11,000 to 12,000. That gives you a sense of the changes that manufacturing has had here, and across this country."

Before becoming Mayor, Duffy was Rochester's police chief for seven years, and a lifetime cop before that. It show in his neighborhood-centric, pragmatic, non-partisan (actually more like anti-partisan) approach to governing. And also in his metaphors.

"Our cities across this country are proud. They have a great history. But like a boxer, they've taken one knee, and they have to bring themselves back."

(More interviews and your comments at MayorTV.com)

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[QuinonesFamilyMedia]

Actually, Mayor Duffy is a great leader! He has been a positive force for this city! The 10th ward is not all white! I can show 20 or more mixed or BLACK families that live there. His history with the police department has helped define his role as a leader! Rochester prior to his leadership was plagued with the highest murder rate in the state per capita. Give the man a break! There is no one better suited. Jump off his back! Dont hate him because he worked his way into suburban living.

[HungryVermilingua]

If Rochester had a major crime problem, then we should hear about major arrests and convictions, but we don't.

Duffy lived in the burbs and was a registered Republican, before he decided to run for Mayor.

If he loves the City soo much, why did he live in Penfield???

And why didn't he run for Mayor as a Republican???

[HungryVermilingua]

In the 10th ward during his time, there was NO blacks!!!!!!

I also lived in the 10th ward back then, I can tell you that no one but whites lived in the 10th ward.

But I went to public schools with many blacks, unlike Duffy who went to Aquinas , a private catholic school with only white students.

[shawnw585]

Mayor Johnson was horribly corrupt. Mayor Duffy was the police chief before he was the mayor. It's not like he just ran back to Rochester to grab power. Also, just because he was the police chief doesn't mean it is a "police" state. That's a ridiculous claim. We all know that Rochester has a major crime problem. If anything crime should really be cracked down on. What's the name of the city council member that ran on a platform of "no snitching"? That's the kind of leadership that must go.

[HungryVermilingua]

So what, 10th ward when he grew up, had NO black people.

Plus the went to a private school which also had NO black people at it back then.

He moved out of Rochester by choice and only moved back to run for Mayor.

Where does Mayor Johnson still live???

[3602433]

nice man but he do need to go

[Devo2917]

Bob Duffy grew up in Rochester....10th ward. He is not new in this community

[HungryVermilingua]

Yes, Bill was better then Duffy.

Duffy doesn't really care for Rochester, he only moved into the City to be able to run for Mayor. He also was a republican, before he decided to run for Mayor. He's a big fake, and only is Mayor for a job and his own best interests. Plus a police chief becoming Mayor, sorta makes it a police state.

[hondolespaul]

I agree, Mayor Bob Duffy is not right for Rochester.

[Woblesavvy]

You want Johnson back?