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The District Attorney s Office has determined that county Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell did not commit a crime when he messaged an explicit photo to a 19-year-old city woman.
The DA s Office has, however, forwarded information it gathered to the county Board of Ethics, which is investigating Flagler-Mitchell.
The three-member Board of Ethics also has contracted with local lawyer David Rothenberg to conduct an investigation into Flagler-Mitchell. Rothenberg declined to comment Monday.
County records show that the Board of Ethics voted in March to contract with Rothenberg s firm of Rothenberg and Rothenberg.
Lakaya Sinclair, the young woman who received the explicit photo from Flagler-Mitchell, said Monday that she has talked to Rothenberg, but has heard nothing else about the county ethics investigation. She said she is frustrated by the pace of the investigation and the lack of information she has received.
CORRECTION 5.11.21: Due to an editing error, the original version of this story mistakenly reported that the legislation in question was introduced by members of the Black and Asian Democratic Caucus. The bill was introduced by Legislator Vince Felder, who is closely aligned with the caucus but is not a member, and supported by the caucus.
Small and medium-sized arts groups, all of which have taken a financial hit during the pandemic, could be in line for a share of $131,000 in grants from Monroe County under new legislation that appears poised to pass the County Legislature this week. The measure was introduced by Legislator Vince Felder and has support from members of the Legislature’s Black and Asian Democratic Caucus. It has been accepted by the Republican majority for consideration by the full Legislature during its meeting on Tuesday a signal that the bill is likely to be approved.
FILE PHOTO Ernest Flagler-Mitchell. As legislators, we hold a position of public trust and must hold ourselves accountable, read a letter to Legislature President Joseph Carbone, which was signed by nine of the body s 14 Democrats. At a time when trust in our government is at historic lows, it is important that we operate with transparency and integrity. Therefore, we request an independent review of the facts. Flagler-Mitchell has acknowledged sending the photo to the woman, Lakaya Sinclair, in a text message in November, but has said it was a mistake and that it was intended for his wife. The photo was of a male genitalia that Flagler-Mitchell has reportedly claimed is not his.
PHOTO BY JAMES BROWN / WXXI NEWS City Council President Loretta Scott. Scott said the rhetoric that she has seen being spread about the vaccines is concerning and false, particularly rumors about people being harmed while the drug was tested in trials. She said these rumors are especially harmful in minority communities that have been hit hard by COVID-19. Scott also said public officials should not use their energy to make people wary of the vaccine, especially with a high number of local positive cases. She said that the public should rely on medical professionals instead of social media to get information.
Credit James Brown / WXXI News
Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott is speaking out about misinformation involving COVID-19 vaccines.
Scott said the rhetoric that she has seen being spread about the vaccines is concerning and false, particularly rumors about people being harmed while the drug was tested in trials. She said these rumors are especially harmful in minority communities who have been hit hard by COVID-19.
Scott also said public officials should not use their energy to make people wary of the vaccine especially with a high number of positive cases locally. She said that the public should rely on medical professionals instead of social media to get information.