Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 10/27/1999 All articles from this issue

Town brouhaha climaxes in council decision: Wong to stay on LAH planning commission

printer friendly version

By Leslie K. Martin

Town Crier Staff Writer

A vote at last Thursday's council meeting to determine whether or not Charles Wong should remain on the Los Altos Hills Planning Commission was obscured by emotional charges of racism.

Facing another large throng of his supporters, council members voted 3-2 to keep Wong on the commission with the condition that he resolve alleged violations on his property by Jan. 1.

Council members also faced a full house of supporters when they considered Wong's dismissal Sept. 2. They took no action at that meeting.

The council's decision capped a busy week during which the town received unflattering media attention on the issue. The lightning rod for this was a sign erected by Wong's neighbor, Mildred Gallo, written in Chinese lettering. The sign, which she said reads, "Great Man Honors Truth," was meant to reference Wong's violations and his denial of them. However, Wong, who heads an Internet company and is fluent in English, was offended by the sign.

But the sign issue was a distraction from the reason for the Wong hearings. He was appointed in July with no knowledge among council members that a project on his property had been red-tagged.

To this date, according to town planning director Curtis Williams, Wong has not addressed the building code violations cited against his property. Williams wondered how a commissioner could sit in judgment of others while not having his own property in order.

Mayor Elayne Dauber, unhappy with the council's Sept. 2 inaction, put the Wong issue back on last week's agenda. Some residents had voiced outrage over Wong's appointment and a resident committee formed to drum up support for his ouster. Still others, notably the Los Altos Hills Civic Association, came to his defense.

"There were no new allegations, and I don't understand why we are rehearing this issue again under old business," said Councilwoman Toni Casey. "We resolved it at the Sept. 2 meeting."

"Lots of people expect us to hear it tonight, and I'm willing to hear it," Councilman Bill Siegel said. Casey attempted to move the item forward on the agenda. Dauber held the agenda order.

Casey said Williams' report about Wong's violations showed several inconsistencies and that Wong had no outstanding permit violations on his property. Casey repeatedly interrupted Williams as he attempted to explain why the violations remain outstanding. Casey said that Wong has never been listed on a code violation list. Williams and Dauber said that Wong had been listed. Casey and Williams disagreed on every violation point until the question seemed to be not whether code violations existed, but rather who should be believed, the council member or the planning director.

Siegel said that he wouldn't vote unless the motion included the condemnation and removal of this "outrageous hate sign." "That sign has done more damage to Los Altos Hills ... than anything I've seen in the last 10 years."

Councilman Steve Finn said, "The only thing that will do more damage is if you remove Mr. Wong - it will be remembered for 20 years in this town, and it will create more divisiveness than you can imagine."

Wong supporters continuously interrupted with clapping and noises of support or dissension.

Siegel raised a motion that the sign must come down, and that Wong bring his property into compliance by Jan. 1 or have this item returned to council agenda. Finn and Casey called for the vote before public discussion.

Dauber said, "I know that there is a great deal of unhappiness in the community having a city planning commissioner who is not only currently in violations, but who is defiant - that there are no violations. I would like to see that there is an acknowledgment that there are violations, that he will correct them and that he will resume his seat after all violations have been corrected."

In the following public discussion, Wong supporters accused Gallo of hatred and racism. A neighbor, Linda Chen said, "Millie Gallo is not a racist. She opened her home and she opened her arms to us. Millie Gallo has been wrongfully accused." Gallo protested that the sign had nothing to do with hatred nor racism and that she would never have put up the sign if anyone at city hall had listened to her .

There was general agreement that the sign was inappropriate.

Some residents pointed out that the issue was not the sign but the fact of whether it was appropriate for a planning commissioner to have outstanding violations.