My email below was "blocked" by each recipient-- so I am resending now,
hoping it works--- thank you !
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: patty mayall
Date: Tue, Sep 30, 2025, 2:18 PM
Subject: Prioritize the Senior Center please!
To: , Cecilia Taylor ,
Betsy Nash
Honorable Councilmembers,
It is disturbing that many of the issues continue and some have worsened at
the Menlo Park Senior Center of Belle Haven (which I wrote about in August
and am resending below). Ive never received acknowledgement for past
letters nor answers to my questions.
What is most important are the concerns and experiences of the SENIORS and
community members of Belle Haven.
My friends and students need you to prioritize their lives and take action
to improve the ongoing conditions, please!
Please address the lack of "Accountability" with the current city manager
and also with the Community & Library Services director.
Will they answer the valid, vocal, and written complaints, questions and
concerns from so many of us ???
Thank you,
Patty Mayall
Patty Mayall
Former Foothill College instructor at MPSC
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: patty mayall
Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2025, 12:49 AM
Subject: Belle Haven / RWC Senior Centers
To:
Cc: Arden Margulis
Greetings Councilmembers,
As a former instructor at Menlo Park Senior Center in Belle Haven
(2017--2024), I am concerned by the apparent disturbing loss of safety,
staff, classes, accessibility (and more) for seniors since the new Belle
Haven Community Campus has opened. Please consider comparing the current
conditions to those of a few years ago for seniors of MPSC. Please
investigate what is really happening, or not happening, since the top
position changed, combining the Library and Community Services under one
director.
Before that change, and for many years, MPSC had been an award-winning
senior center, as you may remember. The outstanding staff, volunteers, and
community members created a true "home" for seniors (as many said) with
numerous classes, programs, events, and crucial resources for health and
social connections.
The city has shared a connection with Foothill College for numerous classes
at MPSC for decades. There were up to 7 instructors, each teaching 1-2
valuable, free, well-attended classes per week, and some of us continued at
the temporary site at Arillaga (my classes averaged 15--25 students). Now,
I believe one Foothill instructor remains (additional instructors have been
available, but not "approved").
*Are classes a priority or not ?
Ive taught at other centers, yet MPSC was truly above all others with
providing the most dedicated, compassionate, and creative staff and
volunteers. Avideh, Airel, Manuel, Isabelle, Pati, Carmen, Ismael, and
others, improved so many lives by providing that safe and vibrant center, a
true life- line for many people. Seniors had told me their stories of
coming there after losing a spouse or career, or navigating debilitating
health problems, or barely surviving depression, isolation, or separation
from loved ones far away.
Everything changed with the new building, and not for the better,
unfortunately, which the seniors had actually predicted before the
(unnecessary) demolition of the senior center. A new community center with
a library could have been designed while leaving the senior center as it
was. Their ideas and voices seemed to be ignored in that planning process.
In 2019-20, over 100 seniors signed their letter submitted to the city
council detailing their concerns that the current programs would not
continue at the new building, and promises were made to them, but seem to
be forgotten.
*Are you aware of the current conditions for Belle Haven seniors and the
impact to their lives ? Does this matter to you ?
Please consider what IS provided in neighboring Redwood City, with
over 20 classes, group programs and resources at the Redwood City Senior
Center, as published in their newsletter, The Sentinel (May/ June 2025):
https://www.redwoodcity.org/home/showpublisheddocument/29768/638817088782570000
Menlo Park can definitely do better for the Belle Haven community seniors,
as it once did--- IF this is a priority--
Please show us.
If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Thank you,
Patty Mayall
Instructor & Community Advocate
La Honda, CA.