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Published on 11/27/1995 All articles from this issue

Mayor apologizes to resident for 'lapse' in cordial behavior

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Los Altos Mayor Bob Gray offered a public apology to local resident Ruth Polata last week for their public disagreement a week earlier during the Nov. 14 city council meeting.

"Last week, I lapsed," Gray said to the standing-room-only crowd at the Nov. 21 special council meeting. "It won't happen again.

"I sincerely apologize to our city staff, city council members and Ruth Polata," Gray said.

"Civility is much better than confrontation," he said.

Gray invited Polata to come forward, they shook hands and Polata presented Gray with a basket of goodies from The Butler's Pantry.

"The man made very gracious remarks," Polata said after the meeting. "It's not easy to stand up in public and apologize. It felt great that we were able to shake hands and put it behind us."

Polata, a long-time activist who had been chairwoman of the Homeless and Housing For Los Altos committee for four years, attended the Nov. 14 city council meeting to object to a letter Gray wrote that was published in the San Jose Mercury News from "Bob Gray, Mayor." Polata questioned the propriety of a letter going out from the mayor before being reviewed by fellow council members.

Polata also disagreed with Gray's statements in the letter about the affordable housing issue in Los Altos which now has state approval.

Gray interrupted Polata as she was reading her comments. She asked Gray to hold his remarks until she had finished.

"Yes, mother," Gray said, and later described Polata's letter to him, from which she was reading, as "obnoxious."

Los Altos resident Valerie McCarthy said she was touched and impressed by Gray's apology to Polata.

Gray said, "More often than not, disagreements between friends create a stronger bond. I subscribe to that and hope that Ruth does also. Our city needs her continued support during the next round of the housing element update."