Dear City Council Members and Environmental Quality Commissioners,
I'm so glad to see two important climate issues on the EQC agenda this week—building electrification and staff resources to implement our high-priority Climate Action Plan. Given that our escalating climate crisis has caused a “code red for humanity," these are top priorities for my Menlo Park family. It was great to see five electrification measures given the go-ahead by the city council on Aug 31. Please prioritize assistance for low-income families and affordable housing (one of the five measures). Helping families replace gas appliances in their homes will improve their health and resilience, especially with clean electric devices that include cooling and heating together. To do this, we need funding from our voter-approved Utility User Tax (UUT). Please also prioritize this action, so we can begin collecting the funds we need for an equitable and affordable phase out of gas. If the City needs additional staff to carry out these urgently needed climate measures, please dedicate the resources necessary to achieve them ASAP! Thank you for being a discerning climate leader, making our community more resilient and healthier.
Best regards,
Cheryl Schaff
