‘Six-Seven’ in the Chambers: Rochester Council Meets Meme Culture

The Rochester City Council meeting took an unexpected turn this week when a public speaker slipped the viral “six-seven” line into their remarks.

For anyone with kids, the phrase is all too familiar and probably a little annoying. I have two young children, and they’re constantly saying it, but it doesn’t bother me. When I was their age, the big trend was crotch-chopping and yelling “suck it,” so “six-seven” seems pretty harmless.

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"67" Is 2025's Word of The Year

Dictionary.com recently named “67” (pronounced “six-seven”) its 2025 Word of the Year, calling it a reflection of how slang and viral culture shape modern language. The phrase itself is essentially meaningless.

Experts say searches for “67” have spiked more than sixfold since summer, making it a true viral phenomenon and a symbol of the year’s cultural zeitgeist.

‘Six-Seven’ in the Chambers: Rochester Council Meets Meme Culture

At Monday’s Rochester City Council meeting, a plan to remove three century-old buildings on 2nd St. SW from the city’s historic district was under discussion. Capital Ventures argued that the buildings weren’t historically significant, didn’t generate revenue, and would be costly to repair.

During the meeting, Benjamin Zastrow of the Heritage Preservation Commission weighed in and dropped the viral “six-seven” reference. (1:23:20 into the meeting)

Ultimately, the City Council voted 6-1 to deny the request from Capital Ventures LLC to remove the Odd Fellows Building, the former Northwestern National Bank Building (now known as Brackenridge Square), and the Olmsted County Bank and Trust Building.