Comments on: City Council Clash Sends Mayor to ER

By: Cayce

Cayce — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:35:57 +0000

:( where was everybody at the meeting, I gave it a go…. for what it was worth.

By: Cayce

Cayce — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:19:54 +0000

Sounds like a great place to start thank you, I will be there!

By: Kemble K. Pope

Kemble K. Pope — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:06:27 +0000

@Cayce – “What are the steps to taking our outrage/shock/embarrassment and doing something as a community to make this different?”

A lot of people are asking themselves the very same question. There are very few satisfying answers. I do know that many people are planning on going to the Council Meeting this Tuesday to make a comment in the initial Public Comment period… perhaps enough people of common conviction will show and a path to move forward will become clear…

By: Cayce

Cayce — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:07:33 +0000

What are the steps to taking our outrage/shock/embarrassment and doing something as a community to make this different? Short of paper bagging my head out of shame when I go to other towns, I would love direction. I have written to the council. I agree with Amanda, Ruth’s response and playing along with this with her own response. Can someone tell me what to do, oh great wise people?

By: Amanda Kimball

Amanda Kimball — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:18:06 +0000

While I am not impressed with Sue’s communication style, I would actually like to see Ruth and the rest of the council do a better job of putting Sue in her place (and I do *not* mean arguing with her). I have a tremendous amount of compassion for our poor mayor suffering anxiety attacks on the job! At the same time, I wish she could see that only she has the ability to rise above it and change her own response.

Kudos to Councilman Souza for his attempt to help police the situation. It’s fortunate that Don Saylor seems well prepared to handle this [i.e. Sue].

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:36:04 +0000

Thanks for the commentary, Kemble. I hope that unfortunate event serves as a wake-up call to the Council – and the larger community – that we need a more civil public discourse. Like you said, it’s almost as important to address that issue as it is to address the myriad, daunting policy challenges we face.

By: Jon Q. Public

Jon Q. Public — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:07:56 +0000

A lack of compassion speaks volumes about anyone in any circumstance.

By: Cayce

Cayce — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:27:50 +0000

Wow Kemble,
thank you for the wonderful coverage of city shenanigans! Shame, shame on Sue for her inability to control her mouth and mind. I work with people who have anxiety disorders and am shocked at the lack compassion and respect for ANY person who struggles to control anxiety. Panic and anxiety attacks are biochemical reactions to environments, toxic environments should NOT be tolerated in city council.

We all understand the tone of debate and discussion however city council should stop allowing a toxic tone in these meetings. I strongly encourage Sue to get some awareness/education about mental wellness and manners, maybe someone could call her mom so she can get a refresher on basic manners and sensitivity. Sue’s disregard and lack of sensitivity for the mayor’s anxiety attacks as reported is like telling a person with depression to “just get over it”…. I am shocked.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:52:51 +0000

Thank you for writing about the encounter Kemble. I want to offer my sincerest thanks to Council members Souza and Heystek and Mayor Pro Tempore Saylor for their attempts to address the escalation.

After people process what occurred, I hope some constructive ideas arise to address the tenor and tone of the meetings.

By: Greg R.

Greg R. — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:56:04 +0000

Next time I’m waiting for an ambulance, I pray that Sue is out of state.