I would like to express my support for putting the initiative before the
voting public as quickly as possible. Building over the downtown parking
lots is a momentous decision and should be approved by the voters.
Scheduling the election for spring will reduce uncertainty and allow needed
updates to be made to the housing element in expeditious fashion, should
the initiative pass.
Although a special election will cost several hundred thousand dollars, I
note that the Council approved a virtually worthless report which cost
approximately half that much without any qualms whatsoever. Everyone knew
what this report was going to say before it was written. If its fine to
spend that money on a report which told us nothing, surely it would be fine
to spend twice as much on an election which will tell us what the citizens
of Menlo Park want for their downtown.
Sincerely,
William Lipa
A multi-decade patron of the Menlo Park downtown and its parking lots
