Mayor Combs and City Council Members,
I absolutely support more affordable housing in Menlo Park and I know that
in the right locations, it will strengthen our community and bring some
much needed vitality to the our amazing town.
But our community is built around a shared downtown — and the downtown
depends on the public parking plazas. Repurposing those plazas would be a
once-in-a-generation decision with extreme consequences. There is not
enough parking as it is, and removing the majority of it will make our town
a spot no one wants to visit, in addition to chasing away the businesses we
need and want here. There are already way too many vacant storefronts and
this will kill the rest!
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. We, who pay
all the taxes, should be given the choice to vocalize our vision for the
downtown - after all we are the ones using it and paying for it!
Thank you for your service in representing the people of Menlo Park.
Sincerely, Erica Galles
