12 Comments

1. 

   Joan Belle Isle on February 17, 2020 at 8:37 am

   OK! I’m not a knee jerk feminist, but I can’t help but ask whether this question, or one like it, was asked when Mark Laredo became president of the Council.

2. 

   Alison Leary on February 17, 2020 at 9:22 am

   Susan is doing a great job. I am very pleased with her. She is always well prepared, well organized, works well with the Mayor and her colleagues and works to find areas of consensus on the Council.

3. 

   Gerry Chervinsky on February 17, 2020 at 9:37 am

   Joan, by this time in Laredo’s presidency there was already a huge controversy over his inability to maintain decorum among councilors, so it had already become abundantly clear that his leadership was questionable, and more pointed questions were being asked than the one posed here. That’s because, as Councilor Leary writes, President Albright is doing a great job. None of the nastiness from 2 years ago has cropped up publicly, even among councilors who were undoubtedly unhappy about their new committee assignments. So kudos to President Albright for a job so far well done. Now if the Land Use Committee could only get moving on approving the siting of those cannabis stores…

4. 

   Bryan Barash on February 17, 2020 at 1:58 pm

   President Albright seems to be doing a great job so far. I’ve been a longtime admirer of hers, so glad the whole city gets to see a spotlight on her, it’s well deserved.

   • 

     Greg Reibman on February 17, 2020 at 2:32 pm

     45 days in, I’ve been very impressed. I admire the selections she made for committee chairs (really one of the most important decisions any council president gets to make). She didn’t just revert to reappointing the same long standing individuals, but selected well qualified folk who could bring a fresh perspective. And I was very impressed when she outmaneuvered an minority effort to use a parliamentary effort at voter suppression.

     I think President Albright is off to a great start.

5. 

   Kelley Brown on February 17, 2020 at 6:22 pm

   I don’t follow the Council as closely (or for such a long time) as other commenters, but I knew something was up when there was even a debate about using the primary election for the referendum or some other lonely Tuesday when no one would vote. Congratulations to President Albright for steering this one to the obviously right place. It is unfortunate that she has to expend her leadership energy preventing electioneering shenanigans.

6. 

   Mary Mary Quite Contrary on February 17, 2020 at 7:35 pm

   I’ve always liked her and am glad she’s the Council President.

   • 

     Marti Bowen on February 18, 2020 at 7:54 am

     I think President Albright started doing a great job right from the get-go. Her general business-as-usual attitude, her ability to get things done, her communication skills, her seemingly boundless energy and her attempts to find common ground were evident when she was an at-large councilor for Ward 2 – sometimes a challenge in this Ward. She brought all of the above to her presidency in addition to showing leadership can diffuse the antics that controversy can bring within the 24 members of the council and can select new qualified councilors to chair committees without it creating a squabble.

     She can work well with anyone and also insist that councilors provide a check on the executive branch. She was one of the few councilors who stood up to the mayor about her flawed approach to having a new senior center.

     She more than proved her mettle when, as Greg pointed out, she outmaneuvered the folks attempting to use chartering an issue, postponing it to the next city council meeting, as voter suppression in the upcoming veto referendum.

     Of course I also like that she reads and comments on V14.

7. 

   Rick Lipof on February 18, 2020 at 1:28 pm

   Well said Marti!

   I have always enjoyed working with Susan and also feel that she is doing a great job.

8. 

   Andreae downs on February 18, 2020 at 3:20 pm

   And we like her choice of Vice President, too. Happy President’s day!

9. 

   Rick Lipof on February 18, 2020 at 4:48 pm

   Too kind Andrea!

10. 

    Nathaniel Lichtin on February 18, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    I have been impressed with the City Council committees’ willingness to hold sessions where the public can speak even when it is not legally required, such as the Public Safety and Transportation Committee listening session tomorrow and the proposed schedule for Zoning Design. I believe that at least some of the push for this increased focus on listening is coming from President Albright so kudos for that.