ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The agencies behind Rochester’s Project Exile say it has been one the most impactful gun programs over the past 26 years. “Bill Johnson, who was the mayor of the city of Rochester at the time, was desperately looking for something to help deal with the proliferation of guns in the city, illegal guns and the homicide rate,” Project Exile advisory board chairman Gary Mervis said. “We’re the longest-running Project Exile in the country. And it’s all about cooperation.”