THE recent email leak showing tensions between the Lord Mayor of York and Mansion House staff has sparked national media interest and much local debate.

>>> Original story: Lord Mayor threatened not to leave Mansion House and told staff: "I am the first citizen"

Letter-writers have been joining the discussion, since our story broke last Monday.

Here are the eight most-recent contributions....

 

SO, the Lord Mayor of York threatens to refuse to leave the Mansion House and demands that her chains of office are re-gilded. 

Is this lady not aware of the austerity measures? Doesn’t she know that thousands of immigrants need housing? 

It seems to me that this lady, who never shuns a photo opportunity, is all about “me, me, me” and forget the rest.

Is our Lord Mayor up to the job?
Bob Redwood, Main Street, Askham Bryan
 

THE story “Lord Mayor’s Mansion Row” seems typical of the bad planning record of City of York Council.

Surely when it was “planned” to carry out the restoration work on the Mansion House consideration should have been given to the effect it would have on the day to day running of the people affected by it.

Regarding the “disgusting state of the chain of office”, has this just happened since Cllr Crisp took over or was not the previous occupant of the post as fussy?

If the position of Lord Mayor is making her ill, may I suggest that she gives up the post and reverts to her position as Holgate ward councillor and use her knowledge of the ward in assisting our two new councillors in the many outstanding issues.
A P Cox, Heath Close, Holgate

 

WITH the furore surrounding current Lord Mayor Sonja Crisp, bringing the role into disrepute with her prima donna histrionics, perhaps the time has come to re-appraise the position, and start a debate on the future of this largely ceremonial appointment.

The privileged position of Lord Mayor has a long history, and in the past was filled by a parade of various local dignitaries, including merchants, solicitors and innkeepers. It is only in recent times it has fallen to an elected member of the council chamber; to limit the selection in this way reeks of elitism.

I propose the role of Lord Mayor be re-imagined as a People’s Mayor. Nominations should be submitted to the council from the public, whereupon these can be shortlisted via a predetermined set of criteria. 

The final decision would then fall to full council in a free vote.

We could have a Lord Mayor renowned locally for fundraising or community work, rather than it being an unearned reward for longevity serving on the council.

I believe a People’s Mayor would endow the role with popular appeal, and would command the faith of local people to serve as ‘First Citizen’.
Baz Buchanan, Teal Drive, York


THE Lord Mayor is upholding standards.

I totally sympathise with the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Sonja Crisp, in expecting additional help with accommodation for the civic party while the Mansion House is refurbished.

She is being reasonable and not belligerent. 

If any of one of us were to attain the highest office in York, we surely would expect, and anticipate, a little courtesy from the council and its officials. 

If last year’s civic party duties are the norm, they must have undertaken several thousand engagements, so somewhere to change and refresh is perfectly reasonable. 

Surely this row should not have arisen in the first place as there is a saving of £22,000 to £24,000 by moving out of the Mansion House. 

The permanent council officer responsible – who has managed to remain anonymous – should have planned alternative city centre accommodation as common sense and priority.

When I met the Lord Mayor and civic party last year, I too was surprised at the state of the chain of office. It needs re-gilding. 

Also, the stunning silver collection should be seen at all the main Mansion House functions, and proudly displayed.

Perhaps Cllr Crisp’s standards are higher than those around her.
Keith Massey, Bishopthorpe, York


THE petulant behaviour of Sonja Crisp, unfortunately parading around as the current Lord Mayor of York, comes as no surprise to me at all.

It mirrors exactly the attitude that she and her colleagues James Alexander and Tracey Simpson-Laing when they chaired ward meetings.

As we all know these meetings, which were a good way of finding out what is happening in ones area and to let councillors know the feelings of residents about issues that affected them, were soon abolished under the Labour council headed by James Alexander. 

The reason was pretty obvious to anyone who attended these meetings. The councillors did not like to be questioned or confronted. The format was they spoke and you listened. 

Whoever decided to nominate Sonja Crisp as Lord Mayor has demeaned the role to practically meaningless. 

She calls herself the first citizen of York, which is meaningless as she is not even from the city. 
Bob Waite, Windmill Rise, Holgate,
 

I AM concerned at the responses to the current troubles of the Lord Mayor.

I would like to point out a couple of facts.

The Lord Mayor is second highest civic office in the UK after the Lord Mayor of London, and our Sheriff is the highest in England and Wales.

They meet constantly (in the Mansion House) with high ranking people from other countries as well as our own. Ambassadors, and our residents, expect the civic party to “look the part”.

I had the same problem with the chain as the current Lord Mayor.

It is no fun to be told the chain is disgusting when you are at a function.

My wife even had to repair the robe for myself and another recent Lord Mayor. I was not a male prima donna, just keeping up appearances.

I remember one Lord Mayor taking a lot of flak for wearing T-shirt and jeans. It seems we can never be right.

When you have four functions a day, starting before 9am and finishing at midnight, you need a base to freshen up, grab a bite to eat and change into more suitable attire. Some provision should have been made to accommodate this.

Brian Watson, Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York

 

I DO not understand the current problems with the Lord Mayor.

The position used to be given as an honour for long serving councillors. Now each of the main parties take it in turns to appoint the position.

Why don’t the people of York elect the Mayor at the time of the local election? Does it have to be a person from the council? York has had many inventors, scientists and artists.

My point is that whoever is chosen should want to do the job.

Timothy Wynn-Werninck, Dodgson Terrace, Acomb, York

 

THE portrayal of the Right Honourable Lord Mayor in the past week seems to be victimisation and blown out of all proportion.

Let’s not forget that Lord Mayors past and present have fulfilled a very valuable role to the city through their hard work supporting charities, voluntary groups and communities, enriching the city immeasurably.

This is a demanding role with a punishing schedule, and all the Lord Mayor appears to be requesting is some modest continuation arrangements for facilities that have always been made available to make this important work feasible.

Regarding the regilding of the chains of office, she is defending the need to maintain a historic city asset.

Those who don’t value that would probably happily see the bar walls flattened for roads and the Minster turned into a shopping mall.

York is not a vanilla carbon-copy town, and we should honour those who stand firm to preserve our heritage.

David Finch, Chudleigh Road, Holgate, York