I am writing to wholeheartedly support "The Downtown Parking Plazas
Ordinance" Ballot Initiative. While we all share a commitment to addressing
Menlo Park’s housing needs, this ordinance represents a vital safeguard for
transparency, community engagement, and responsible development—not a
barrier to progress.
The ordinance ensures that any major redevelopment of the downtown parking
plazas—public land paid for and maintained by Menlo Park residents for
decades—receives direct voter approval. Decisions that could permanently
reshape our downtown’s character, traffic flow, and accessibility deserve
the consent of the very community that will live with those outcomes.
Public participation through elections is not an obstacle to housing; it is
the foundation of good governance. It strengthens accountability, builds
trust, and ensures that development reflects our shared values and
long-term priorities.
Responsible housing growth and democratic oversight are not mutually
exclusive. If a downtown project is thoughtfully designed, environmentally
sound, and consistent with community goals, it should readily earn voter
support. Moreover, this ballot does not preclude redevelopment and new
housing elsewhere in Menlo Park, nor does it prevent the city from pursuing
affordable housing on more suitable sites. What it does ensure is that our
limited public assets are not permanently transformed without clear and
informed consent from residents.
Menlo Park can and should pursue both housing solutions and open,
community-based decision-making. Supporting the Downtown Parking Plazas
Ordinance affirms our city’s commitment to transparency, balanced growth,
and the democratic values that make our community strong.
As a longtime homeowner and three time former member of the Menlo Park
Housing Commission I see Menlo Park through both a personal and
professional lens.
I respectfully urge the City Council to take this opportunity to adopt the
Downtown Parking Plaza Ordinance in its entirety.
Wendy McPherson
