The city of Rochester issued a rare directive last week, requiring businesses along North Clinton Avenue to close early on Saturday following the Puerto Rican Festival.
The festival, one of the city’s largest summer events, took place from Thursday through Saturday at Parcel Five in downtown Rochester.
The order came in response to past incidents of post-festival crime, including a mass shooting in 2023 near Don Samuel Torres Park.
Businesses that received the city’s letter were instructed to close by 4 p.m. on Saturday, with noncompliance potentially resulting in misdemeanor charges.
Business leaders were scheduled to be interviewed Tuesday morning, and the president of the North Clinton Business Association held a press conference at 10 a.m. that day to address the city’s decision.
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