Mayor Roach Talks Issues with Diners at Dorry’s
FASNY, Planning Commissioneer Sue Habel’s retirement and the city’s diversity were just a few of the topics last Tuesday, as White Plains Mayor Tom Roach joined about 40 people at Dorry’s Diner. Roach was the guest speaker for June 26 regular meeting of “table talkers,” who gather at dinnertime each Tuesday to discuss issues pertinent to life in White Plains. It was a packed meeting with most tables taken as well as every seat at the counter as people listened intently to what their mayor had to say.
Offering a brief biography about himself, Mayor Roach told his fellow diners he was born and raised in White Plains and that his mother, when she was a little girl, was a resident at Winbrook. He said that during his career as a civil trial lawyer, he had never considered politics. “My run for Common Council came out of being active in the community,” Roach said. He spent 10 years on the White Plains Common Council and was president of the Council when Mayor Adam Bradley resigned in 2010. Roach took over as acting mayor, and then won a special election to finish out the four-year term.
Proud to say the populace of White Plains is progressive, Roach said he is a liberal. “That is just who I am,” he told the crowd gathered at Dorry’s.
When asked what his toughest challenge as mayor was, Roach responded: “Holding onto White Plains’ core,” explaining that keeping the great diversity of neighborhoods and people was important to him. Other questions involved diminishing grants for youth work programs, the French American School of New York’s application for a permit to run an educational center at the location of the former Ridgeway Country Club, another application before the Council for a Sunrise Detox center in the Carhart neighborhood, and the retirement of Habel. For the most part, Mayor Roach was not able to comment on how he felt about the issues before the Council for legal reasons. However, he did say there was a national search for a new planning commissioner and that local members of the planning department could apply.
Tuesday@Dorry’s is a weekly discussion group comprised of White Plains residents. The public is welcome. People generally gather around 5:30 p.m. to order dinner. The week’s guest speaker begins at 6 p.m., followed by Q&A, which ends at 7 p.m. For more information call 914-682-0005.
