Dear City Council Members,
I am a resident in Central Menlo Park with grave concern about the state of our City's downtown.
I grew up going to school locally at Sacred Heart Schools and can recall the downtown being a vibrant, clean, and safe area for children, families, and seniors to gather and enjoy. Over the last 15+ years though something has changed. The downtown is for a lack of a better word, dead. Much of the responsibility here lies with the property owners that have kept their storefronts vacant. However, I believe the City Council has a duty and responsibility to the citizens of our City, to make the downtown corridor a primary focus. Whether that is through rezoning, development and investment incentives, or other awareness programs, our downtown needs all of the help it can get. The outdoor dining was a positive step in the right direction and I commend you for it, but we need more action to attract high quality retailers instead of the 5 or 6 carpet shops currently in business.
The other problem we seem to face downtown is homelessness. Our City has become numb to the problem of homelessness, both for the people experiencing it and the residents of the community. People walk around the downtown, quietly ignoring the shopping carts filled with belongings, suitcases neatly stored on the sidewalk, or people sleeping on the park benches. There is a man on the corner of Santa Cruz Avenue and Doyle Street that has a work desk and computer in the middle of the sidewalk, with all of his personal belongings right next to it. In what world is this acceptable? Particularly given the substantial revenue sources from our property taxes. As a resident, I am ashamed, and you as the City leaders should be as well. These people experiencing homelessness shouldn't have to live on the street, especially those that have mental illness. They should have access to shelters and housing that can help them get back on their feet. Similarly, our residents shouldn't have to navigate around personal belongings and trash on the sidewalk. It's unethical, inhumane, and a public health and safety concern.
I ask you all, what is the City Council doing about the alarming problems facing our downtown?
Regards,
Narsai Tailo
