To the Menlo Park City Council,
My name is Katie, and Im a young community member who has been working with environmental justice groups including Menlo Together, Belle Haven Empowered, and Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) to prepare Menlo Park citizens for todays Council meeting and study session of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability (EJS) Element.
Last Friday, we worked with over 20 local community members to dive into the history of environmental injustice in Menlo Park and explore avenues for change. Based on a comprehensive survey Climate Resilient Communities conducted of over 400 members of Belle Haven and based on our conversations with the community members last week, we are preparing to speak up at council for the members of Menlo Park who will be most impacted by the changes the EJS element will catalyze.
Specifically, CRC, over the course of 15 months, compiled requests of Belle Haven community members and has since narrowed down their requests to key recommendations, including planning to fund implementation. These recommendations will be shared tonight and are also on these slides.
We thank you in advance for hearing our voices tonight, checking out the presentation, and through it all, proving you hear and care about the needs of your community members––especiallly those who have historically gone underserved and unheard.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Katie Rueff
