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Duffy has a long list of what he believes are accomplishments. He will point to asbestos abatement taking place at Midtown Plaza. That will enable the former indoor shopping center to be demolished in favor of redevelopment.

Duffy will talk about the new Monroe County Crime Lab under construction at the corner of Plymouth Avenue and Broad Street.
And the mayor will also show off the new ESL headquarters on Chestnut Street that will be ready for occupancy in early 2010.

"It goes on and on with projects that are happening right now in one of the worst times," Duffy said. "For all the nay-sayers, I'd say, 'get in the car with me and drive with me and you'll see things happening.' If we can not only survive but begin to thrive and show growth during these very difficult times, then when the good times return then we'll see what I hope to be some explosive growth here in Rochester."

One project some blame the mayor for defeating ... Renaissance Square. The county was the lead on on the project that would have taken a portion of East Main Street and converted it into a bus terminal, downtown campus for Monroe Community College and a performing arts theatre.

The collapse of the Ren Square project put a strain on relationships between Duffy and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.

"It's so important to have the county and the city working side by side. It doesn't mean we always agree; I think just by the nature of our two jobs and the people we represent, there's going to be some fundamental disagreements that will come from time to time. How we manage those disagreements is the important thing. I've always gotten along very well with Maggie Brooks and I think we've had a very good relationship. Although the Ren Square situation has caused some strain, I think we're trying to get back and repair that strain and get to work."

As a former police chief, public safety is an issue Duffy says he took seriously as chief, and that continues as mayor. He says over all, violent crime is down with the homicide rate the lowest since
1999.

Duffy attributes that to the good work being done by police officers.
But he reminds us that the men and women in blue put their lives on the line everyday to keep city residents safe.

"We've had three police officers shot in the last year, which is absolutely atrocious, but we have some cops that are doing great work in our neighborhoods. We have a young police force, but we have numbers now that we've never seen before in terms of number of police.

That investment was made by this administration, very clearly for one reason; crime and public safety priority."

What's on the horizon for Duffy's second term? Or will it be a short one, as he is mentioned as a possible candidate for lt. governor.

Those answers are coming up in Thursday's report, as we look ahead to 2010.

City of Rochester