Apology should have been forthcoming

After hearing rumors that our hardworking A.E. Wright PFC President Jane Contis was caught stealing election signs, I went to the monthly PFC meeting that was held the day after the election, on the day before The Acorn’s article about the incident appeared.

I figured Jane would start the meeting with an explanation and, if the rumors were true, a sincere apology. Then everyone would get back to business. She didn’t say anything at the beginning of the meeting, nor during her president’s report. Finally, at the very end of the meeting— just after the board had been discussing its anti-drug program which, ironically, included talk of parents setting a good example for their kids—I raised my hand and asked if she was going to address the rumors.

At first it seemed as if Jane didn’t know what I was talking about, but finally she said that yes, it was true and she was “humiliated,” “embarrassed,” and had “made a big mistake.” She said, and I’m quoting, “If someone wants to make a big deal out of it, I can say I’m sorry.” Not exactly heartfelt, but sort of an apology, none the less.

Then The Acorn article came out and I’m sure Jane was even more embarrassed. As Jane is a person in a position of public trust in our community, I figured the next week’s Acorn might even have a letter of explanation and apology from Jane and then we’d all get back to business.

But, no. What the community got instead was a vicious attack on the woman who stopped her car when she saw her neighbor’s property being stolen. I’m just glad an L.A. County Sheriff happened by, so Ms. Robinson wasn’t branded a liar as well. I just can’t see Jane’s husband buying that full page advertisement without Jane’knowledge of its contentsWhere is the Contis family’sense of right and wrongWhere is the humility? I seonly arrogance. And that is so sad. The incident would have been forgotten quickly; the Contis’ responswill not. Robyn Britton Agoura Hills