Behavior on City Council unacceptable
In response to the recent Saratoga Springs City Council meetings, as a staunchly devoted member of this community, I am deeply offended by the hostility and downright bullying aimed directly at our mayor, Joanne Yepsen.
While this community has witnessed Mayor Yepsen work tirelessly across the isle and across issues with nothing but honesty and a steadfast devotion to this great city, opposing council members have worked to undermine the integrity of the mayor’s office, only to serve as a platform in which to deliver their own personal vendettas.
Saratoga Springs has a transparent and ethical mayor, and this has always been apparent. Joanne Yepsen has thrown the doors open to City Hall with the most transparent administration in the history of Saratoga Springs; posting schedules online for the public to see, holding open office hours, and literally removed the barrier from the mayor’s office to allow constituents to enter freely. Since elected, Mayor Yepsen has cut through partisan gridlock, appointing over 50 Republicans and Independence party members to work along side Democrats on city commissions and boards, and has brought positivity, inclusivity and vision to our city while establishing genuine partnerships between the mayor’s office and the community.
Commissioner Madigan’s unpredictable and unprofessional outbursts, laughing and mocking the very code of conduct she helped to write and voted on during the livestreamed council meetings is not just unsettling and disturbing but is an insult and an embarrassment to every member of this community. This petty political posturing has created an abusive and stressful environment where personal attacks and political rabblerousing have become the established norm, degenerating our political rhetoric to better match that of Donald Trump’s, not our local Democratic Party.
The residents do deserve better; better behavior from our City Council members who need to work with our Mayor, not against her.
— Desiree A. Farley
Albany