*November 4, 2025*
Menlo Park City Council
701 Laurel Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Dear Mayor Combs, Vice Mayor Nash, and Honorable Councilmembers,
I am writing as a Menlo Park resident, parent, and nonprofit leader to
respectfully urge the Council to *commission an impact study* before taking
further action on the proposed ballot measure regarding the downtown
parking lots.
This proposal is not simply about parking - it would meaningfully limit the
City’s flexibility to use public land for community benefit, could expose
Menlo Park to litigation costs, and may affect our state-approved Housing
Element. I believe it is important to fully understand these implications.
Often, concerns about hypothetical future impacts can overshadow the real
challenges families are facing right now. Families who want to stay here
cannot find housing they can afford, and workers who support our community
- teachers, caregivers, and young professionals - are increasingly unable
to remain close to their jobs, schools, and support networks. At a San
Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women listening session last week,
even dual-income families working in education and public service shared
how difficult it is to stay in the region. Retired women told us their
grown children are questioning whether they can establish families here at
all. These are caring, committed residents who want to remain in this
community - and their stories remind us of what is at stake when housing
options are limited.
A thriving future for Menlo Park means ensuring that the people who teach
our children, support our businesses, and care for our seniors can also
afford to live here. That is a future worth planning for together - one
rooted in belonging, opportunity, and stability for families and workers.
Thoughtful housing decisions strengthen our community, our economy, and our
shared values; hesitating to plan for the future risks losing the very
people who make Menlo Park strong. *For the sake of transparency, fiscal
responsibility, and long-term community well-being, I respectfully request
that you commission the impact study for Agenda Items J2 and J3.*
Thank you for your leadership and for ensuring Menlo Park remains a place
where families, seniors, educators, caregivers, and essential workers can
belong and thrive.
Sincerely,
*Dayna Chung*
*Menlo Park Resident, Executive Director of Community Equity Collaborative
& Member of the Commission on the Status of Women for San Mateo County *
--
*Dayna Chung** (Pronouns: she/her/hers)*
*Community Equity Collaborative *
*Co-Founder & Executive Director *
*www.communityequitycollaborative.org
*
*What are pronouns and why are they in my email signature? More information
.
