Rye’s Mayors, Past and Present, Gather for Annual Meeting at Square House

More than forty years of Rye's political leadership gathered at the Square House Wednesday to discuss current challenges facing the city and reminisce about the issues they faced as Rye mayors.

Rye's current mayor Doug French led the discussion with former Rye mayors Edward Grainger, John Carey and Steve Otis.

Grainger, a Republican who served as mayor from 1966-1974, recounted his experience fighting a proposal to build a bridge from Oyster Bay along the Long Island Sound to Rye. Supporters of the bridge said it would facilitate transportation from the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway to the Cross Westchester Expressway, but many Rye residents, including those on Manursing Island, said the bridge would disturb their community and cause an increase in traffic.

"It was the latter part of my first year and it took up a lot of my time," Grainger said. " I was and am a lawyer and had very agreeable partners that led me spend an awful lot of time on fighting the bridge, which we did."

Mayor John Carey, who succeeded Grainger in 1974, applauded his efforts.

"Ed, Rye will always be grateful to you," Carey said. "You could have been re-elected indefinitely.

Carey spoke about the importance of freedom of speech and the ability for any Rye resident to have their opinions heard at the Rye City Council meetings.

Carey also used the roundtable as an opportunity to make a plug for Rye TV, the public access station on which Carey hosts a show focused on international politics.

"We do have a right to be heard at City Hall. Other than that, is there any other place?" Carey asked. "Yes, there is. You can go to the Rye TV studio and make yourself heard."

Mayor Steve Otis, who led the city for 12 years before Doug French defeated him in the 2009 election, recounted his own involvement in challenging the Long Island Tunnel, a 16 mile proposed pathway that would have connected Long Island and Westchester. Otis said Grainger, who learned important lessons from his fight against the Oyster Bay Bridge, was critical in providing advice on how to handle the issue.

Otis also was gracious to his colleagues, especially Doug French, the man who succeeded him.

"My overwhelming reflection on 12 years is I loved every bit of it, and as I said to Doug before he took office, enjoy it because it is worthy of enjoyment," Otis said. "There's nothing better for all of you than to good things for this town."

The roundtable was part of the Rye City Council's annual meeting at the Square House. About 50 people attended the event, which served as a community gathering of sorts for Rye's political establishment.

Other Rye notables and former council members also attended the meeting, from former councilmen Gerry Seitz, Andy Ball and his father, Bill Ball, to Assemblyman George Latimer and County Legislator Judy Myers.

Members of the city's boards and commissions and most of the city's staff, including City Planner Christian Miller, City Assessor Noreen Whitty, Comptroller Jean Gribbins and a host of others also attended.