Dear City Council and Staff,
Please see my attached input into the Environmental Justice Element. The input focuses on these key areas:
1. The document should be more concisely written and better organized. I offer my services to help.
2. The history portion should be fact-based. It omitted key details.
3. The elephant in the room is the development pipeline in District 1. This is a major cash cow for the city. Development needs addressing.
4. Outreach. I would like a table with public meetings and the numbers attending, and perhaps categorization. While I realize the EJ element rightly focuses on District 1, it is also a way to educate residents across all of Menlo Park. To me, many are unaware of the Citys concentration of development in District 1. Getting them informed would be important to later efforts focused on reducing the development revenue stream. More residents need to know about the direct harm development is causing to people.
5. Goals, Policies and programs. I believe these need major work. I did not focus on these as I know the Climate Resilient Communities led effort has done so. I have been unable to join their efforts due to my travel schedule. However, I agree with their ideas. I also agree with the input you have received from resident Naomi Goodman.
I would like the city to form a working group composed of staff and representatives from Belle Haven focused community organizations and then work to revise the draft before the next revision goes out for public review.
Lynne Bramlett
650-380-3028
