Mayor Combs and City Council Members,
I support more affordable housing in Menlo Park, but not if it takes away 3 downtown parking lots. Menlo Park is built around a shared downtown and never have I been made more aware of this than when collecting signatures on our petition downtown and talking to the many people using these parking lots. Downtown truly depends on these public parking plazas.
I moved here in 1953 at the age of 8, two years before Stanford Shopping Center opened. We saw a big change then, but nothing like repurposing three of the parking plazas for housing. Over the years, Ive watched more change including losing our Chamber of Commerce to the County based in Redwood City and with it losing the support for the merchants who will be most affected by this.
And though I understand and support the need for low income housing, I dont believe it belongs downtown. This would be a once-in-a-generation decision with extreme consequences.
On this decision, I trust the people of Menlo Park to do whats best for the town in which they live.I therefore urge you to adopt the Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance, giving residents the right to vote on the future of their downtown.
Your service in representing the people of Menlo Park is much appreciated.
Barbara Mason
