Madam mayor
YADIRA RAMOS-HERBERT • mayor • City of New Rochelle
WORK • Tuesday Routine
YADIRA RAMOS-HERBERT • mayor • City of New Rochelle
Neighborhood you live & work in: City of New Rochelle
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I chair the City Council meetings, which take place on the second and third Tuesdays of the month. After dropping my kids off at school, I arrive at City Hall around 830a with a cup of coffee in hand, and my day starts with a final review of the agenda for the evening alongside the City Manager and Corporation Counsel to review executive session items and any remaining questions.
This year, I launched Coffee with the Mayor, a monthly pop-up conversation series hosted in local cafés, small shops, senior buildings, and neighborhood hubs across New Rochelle. No big speeches, no agendas, and no barriers, just real talk with residents about what excites them, what challenges them, and what they want to see next in their city.
What’s on the agenda for today?
This morning, I’m meeting with the City Manager to discuss some ongoing capital projects. We’re preparing to welcome more than 15,000 new residents downtown over the next decade, so we’re making sure our public realm, infrastructure, and retail landscape can meet that demand. We are also working on a comprehensive stormwater management program, where we identified and designated resources for 120 city-wide projects in a proactive effort to upgrade infrastructure, reduce flooding, and protect our neighborhoods for existing and future New Rochelleans.
Later, I’m meeting with a prospective business that’s very interested in expanding its footprint with a new location in downtown New Rochelle. One of the most exciting efforts we’re leading right now is our Vanguard Initiative, a bold plan to attract new retail, restaurants, entertainment, and services that residents have been asking for, to our bustling business district.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Lately, my family and I have really enjoyed Taco Project, a new restaurant opened near Iona University. My go-to is a steak bowl, tres leches and a mango margarita. During the week, I love checking out Juiiicy, a new downtown restaurant for a chicken breast tartine, plantain chips and a mango maracuya juice. On the weekends, I usually stop by Cafetero (my go-to order is a latte and an empanada), Harpoon Hannas (where my go-to is a French roast and ricotta toast), or Casaroma (cafe con leche with one of their croissants).
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
New Rochelle has so many great parks and trails that our Parks and Rec Department does a wonderful job of maintaining, so I’ll often join my family for a walk or bike ride at Five Islands or Huguenot Park. In the fall, our Parks Department hosted a new event, Views and Brews, right at Hudson Park. There was live music, a beer garden, outdoor games for all ages, and views of the Sound — it was a perfect family event and a nice way to close out the summer season.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
In public life, “purchases” are often more institutional, but in a personal capacity, I’ve invested not so much in an item but an experience – specifically, tennis lessons and clinics. I learned how to play as a kid in Queens through a phenomenal organization called the New York Junior Tennis League. I currently play out of Yonkers Tennis Center, I love the coaches, the camaraderie of the women I play with, and I love the challenge.
As a city, we recently received about a million dollars for a solar array installation project at the New Rochelle Transit Center that will generate renewable energy. This is one of the first steps in another major development project as we reimagine the NRTC into a true multi-modal hub with better connectivity. We’re the second busiest stop on the New Haven line (second only to Grand Central), and in a few years, when we add Penn Station service and become the only station in Westchester to do so, ridership will increase further.
What store or service do you love to recommend?
I love shopping in New Rochelle and highlighting our local businesses for those who might not know about our bustling retail hub. A few favorites:
ZenShu Spa is my go-to for a mani/pedi and some time to recharge.
SuggarPlums for amazing soul food.
Our Closet Consignment, a great place to find some great deals on pre-loved consignment retail.
18th and Ward, a great spot to grab an IPA that also hosts live music, trivia night and comedy night.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I work closely with the Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle, Hope Community Services, and the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence to participate in a myriad of student center programs and forums. My role isn’t just to serve the community, it’s to work alongside them. As a mom with children involved in many of New Rochelle’s great programs and resources, it’s even more important to pour what I can back into the city.