Sen. Cooney, business owners walk and talk to discuss curbing violence along North Clinton Avenue

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney took the streets around North Clinton Avenue Wednesday, with a goal to see how he can help a continuing trend of violence in the area.

Cooney walked and talked with business owners directly as part of an invite from the North Clinton Business Association.

The area just recently had a shooting last Friday, which sparked a local advocacy center to call on legislators and other leaders to do more.

"It’s tough if you’re opening your business, especially during the holiday season, you’re trying to get customers in and sell your goods," Cooney said. "But if you’re feeling unsafe or you don’t want to operate, that’s a real problem, not just here on North Clinton but across the City of Rochester."

Wednesday was Cooney’s first time taking on the effort in the neighborhood.