Sanity prevailed Tuesday night and the La Mesa City Council retracted the threatening letter that they had sent to resident Chris Tanner after he had the audacity to suggest the council might be in the pockets of developers. (You can find my previous posts on this subject here and here.)

At last night's meeting, several people wore neon yellow stickers that said “We support Chris!” More than a dozen spoke, their words often punctuated by cheers and applause from the audience.

A crowd spilled outside, and at one point, the doors were propped open so those people could hear what was being said.

Inside, council members took turns discussing their take on the letter. Some who already had apologized to Tanner did so again.

“I believe the letter was inappropriate,” Councilman Barry Jantz said. “It should not have gone out, and I regret it.”

Councilman Dave Allan stood with a microphone in front of the audience. Allan said he hoped residents wouldn't be afraid to express themselves at future meetings. Looking directly at Tanner, he said, “I really do apologize to you and your family with all my heart.”

Councilwoman Ruth Sterling, who has said she was upset the letter ever went out, was near tears.

“Mr. Tanner said nothing in my opinion that was offensive,” Sterling said. “And if he did, that is part of the democratic rule.”

Councilman Ernie Ewin, who has not spoken publicly about the matter, said that although he knew a letter was being drafted, he was unaware of the content until after it was sent.

“I apologize for not being a little more proactive in following this through,” Ewin said.

This is well and good. Four members of the city council did the right thing. But, La Mesa, we have a problem.

Mayor Art Madrid did not apologize and said “based on the information I personally saw, I would write it again.” Madrid said he wanted to defend the city's reputation. Later, he voted with the rest of the council to retract the letter.

His excellency, mayor-for-life Art Madrid still needs to go. The city doesn't need it's reputation "defended," because the city's reputation was never at issue -- at least, it wasn't until Madrid sent his fool letter. Madrid's failure to apologize and recognize that he was wrong is  an indicator that he needs to go into retirement.  La Mesa no longer needs his "leadership," because it's obvious that his tendencies will lead the city in the wrong direction.