Election 2009: Roach Announces Bid for City Council
Greg Roach is announcing he is running for City Council but he has not yet taken out papers. This article was submitted by Roach.NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Greg Roach announced Tuesday that he is running for election to the City Council. His campaign focuses on the interconnected core issues that will define the next generation of North Adams' residents — economic development, education and neighborhoods.
According to Roach, "The city of North Adams is at a generational crossroads. The decisions we make today will shape the community that our children and grandchildren inherit. Some of the issues we face can be addressed easily, others will take decades."
Despite the challenges, Roach remains upbeat.
"The seeds of opportunity are already planted in North Adams. As well as being our home, North Adams is a college town. It is a traditional working-class city. It is a mecca of modern art. We have an amazing history and a promising future."
Roach's platform for his first term is posted on his Web site:
During my first term I will propose the following:
■ Advocate locally for the statewide adoption of Gov. Patrick's Education Readiness program, which makes public school teachers employees of the state rather than of the city. This will create pay equity between local districts and help North Adams recruit and keep talented teachers.
■ Create a non-voting junior councilor position on the City Council to be filled by a high school junior or senior, nominated by the community and approved by the sitting council.
■ Create property tax incentives for residents who convert rental, historic and/or dilapidated properties back into owner-occupied homes.
■ Reduce North Adams' stock of public housing to a level appropriate to a city our size.
■ Support the efforts the Hoosic River Revival coalition to redevelop North Adams' riverfront.
■ Put all city ordinances, code, zoning and public information on an Internet accessible and searchable database.
■ Honor Mayor John Barrett's 26 years in office by renaming Brayton Elementary School — Barrett Elementary School.
■ Encourage the state to renovate and develop Fort Massachusetts (in the Price Chopper parking lot) and fold it into the state park system.
I will encourage public discussion of controversial issues, rather than having such issues only discussed behind closed doors and/or in poorly covered and attended committee meetings. Citizens deserve to hear all competent sides of a debate.
Also, I promise to be accessible and an advocate for citizen voices. It is my belief that in a city the size of North Adams, through an orderly vetting process, all adult citizens should be allowed to place an item on the agenda of the council for discussion rather than be automatically limited to a two minute comment."
Roach will be taking out his nomination papers at the city clerk's office later this week.
Roach is a chef and a writer. He has worked in the hospitality industry most of his life and is currently managing and developing the new prepared foods and bakery department at Wild Oats Market. He has worked and trained under some of America's most famous chefs including Wolfgang Puck, Jimmy Schmidt and Charlie Trotter.
His writing includes stints as a columnist for the North Adams Transcript, the News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., and as a freelance copywriter for various clients. He also journals thoughts and observations at Greg Roach's Berkshires Blog.
Most importantly Greg is a father and a husband who spends much of his free time plotting fun day-trips with his family and helping with homework and projects around the house.
