Just one day after telling City Attorney Pete Holmes that he must receive written authorization before doing his job, Mayor Mike McGinn seems to have abruptly changed course:

Holding out an olive branch, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said today he wants to sit down with City Attorney Pete Holmes, Police Chief John Diaz and Merrick Bobb, the independent monitor overseeing police reforms, to halt public fighting that has broken out over how to proceed with changes involving the Seattle Police Department.

“I really regret that we’re at this position publicly,” McGinn said during an appearance on KIRO Radio’s “Ross and Burbank Show.” “I really have to say that. It’s not where I think either of us want to be.”

McGinn said in the interview that he was sorry the fighting has gotten to this point, referring in part to the bitter dispute with Holmes over who has the authority to approve Bobb’s proposed plan to curb excessive force and biased policing. McGinn has accused Holmes of undercutting his concerns with the plan and unethically interfering in the negotiations with Bobb.

This is an excellent development. Hug it out, gentlemen.