Interview by Emily Hessney Lynch. 

Published July 5, 2018.

Where are you originally from?

I grew up in Perinton, near Bushnell’s Basin. I attended Geneseo for college, and had the opportunity to live in Dublin and intern at Irish Parliament. I decided to stay in Rochester after college because I had seen so many people badmouth Rochester, and it seemed so sad to me that you’d have to leave to find opportunity. I wanted to change that, and be part of the solution. That’s why I got into government and politics.

What is your favorite part of living in Rochester?

The variety of things to do. We have everything: festivals, sports, 90s laser light shows at the planetarium, Star Wars RPO shows, skiing. And it’s all very accessible and affordable.

What are some of your favorite Rochester spots? 

I go to Salinger’s a lot. There’s also a really nice stretch in Powder Mill Park with a creek bend and shoreline that I used to go to with friends when I was younger. Now, I like to go back and enjoy how peaceful it is. There’s a nostalgia element to it as well; it’s exactly the same as it was 20 years ago.

What's the most unique event you've attended in Rochester? 

Silent Disco at the Fringe Festival. I’d recommend it to anyone! You’re singing out loud and stomping your feet, and it feels like something from behind the scenes in a movie. Pride is also a lot of fun--they always have a great drag show.

What are some of your favorite local nonprofits to support? 

The Special Olympics. I’ve done the Polar Plunge every year for maybe 16 years now. I had this thought when I first started doing it that, huh, I can donate my body and other people can donate their money. I feel like everyone is equal in sports. I want to spread inclusiveness, and give opportunity so that others can learn some of the lessons that I learned while playing sports growing up.

Gilda’s Club is another great organization doing important work for folks with cancer. Their Bachelor Auction every year is an awesome event.

If you had $100 and two hours to kill in Rochester, how would you spend the money/time? 

I would start at Lux, and have some cheap PBRs. Then I’d head to a Red Wings game, or an Amerks game if it’s winter. Afterwards, I’d go find some Mexican food, maybe at John’s Tex Mex. Or, if it was summertime, I’d snag some Jazz Fest tickets and see a show, then save a little bit of cash for a late night garbage plate. Or, I’d go dump a lot of money into videogames at Swillburger, or at the Happiest Hour at Strong.

What's your favorite neighborhood? 

I’m biased--I’d have to say the East End. But the Monroe Ave area may be my favorite place to be. The diversity of people and the people watching is the best in the city. It’s our one area that you could maybe call edgy. There are so many different restaurants, bars, and shops, and it has more of a melting pot/big city feel.

Best place to get a garbage plate? 

Tahou’s. You’ve always gotta go with the OG, and they’re always the best. It’s lost some of its ambiance now that you can’t go at 2am. Their mac salad doesn’t have much mayo, which is just the way I like it. Mark’s Texas Hots and Dogtown are both great too. Dogtown probably has the best ingredients.

What is your personal coping mechanism for cold/gray weather? 

Being Irish, I like the cold, gray and rainy. When I was in Ireland, the weather reminded me of home. I enjoy it. When I start to get stir crazy, I’ll go out and find places like Swillburger. Doing anything slightly physical helps. I’ll also seek out a good Scotch Ale or some cheap whiskey--like Black Velvet from a plastic bottle. It’s gotta burn.

What is your favorite Rochester memory?

I once got an email that had a line in it saying, “You know you’re from Rochester when you judge someone’s socioeconomic status based on which Wegmans they went to growing up.” That’s always stayed with me for some reason.

What makes Rochester unique?

We have a variety of cultural and environmental opportunities. Within 20 minutes, you can be in some of the best or the worst neighborhoods, lakes, hills, historical areas, the canal. We’ve got Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, Sibley’s and Western Union. I love seeing the old and new architecture around the city, and being downtown. The Metropolitan is such a funky building, and then that’s balanced with places like the County Office Building, where I work, and the old subway. The early/mid-1800s is still here, and we’re driving on some of that stuff years later! It’s melded into who we are.

What do you think could be improved?

We have this quirky pride here. We’re proud of Taye Diggs and other Rochesterians who have left to find their success. The diaspora of Rochesterians to the rest of the country and world isn’t a good thing. We shouldn’t be excited about the fact that there’s a Bills bar in San Diego! We should be wishing for a Chargers bar in Buffalo. Maybe that’s my Irish pessimism coming out. But keeping more of the U of R and RIT kids in town is a great thing.

I also think it’s important for us to equalize opportunity for everyone in Rochester. Because of our segregation, we’re basically sentencing entire chunks of our population to struggle. Factory jobs and working your way up into the middle class isn’t really a thing anymore, and children in the city are being failed by the school system. Kids need a good education. A system like regional schools may be a good way to address the problem. I believe that Rochester is a small enough city that we can all participate in effecting change.

What are some small ways we can all take part in making Rochester a better place?

Find organizations that are trying to bring people together and offer resources to neighborhoods in need. By localizing the money and getting people involved, we can create meaningful change. What matters to the people in Swillburg is going to be very different than what matters to neighbors on Avenue D. That’s why letting people make decisions for their own neighborhood is so crucial.

If Rochester was an animal, what would it be?

Rochester would be a cat. Cats have a dual nature--they can be affectionate or aloof. In Rochester, we have all these great things, but also all these challenges. Overall though, you have to love it. If shit ever really hit the fan, we’d pull together well.

What advice would you give to someone who's new to Rochester and wants to get to know the area?

Start with City Newspaper’s guide to whatever season you move here during. City tends to skip over the obvious stuff and do deeper dives into the more unique. Just keep exploring! And chat with people. We’re friendly.

And please, please stop talking people to Wegmans as a tourist attraction.