Mayo Nash and Council members Combs, Taylor, Wise and Schmidt:
Must read:
The Builders Remedy and the State Mandate DO NOT require taking our Downtown Parking Lots for Apartments; AND YOU KNOW IT. !
The Builders Remedy is NOT at risk;
The "Builders Remedy" is a scare tactic, unsupported by facts.
Stop falsely claiming it !
Your own July 2026 Menlo Park city staff report says we have exceeded the state mandate by 30%.
So, 345 Downtown apartments IS "Optional". (NOT Required)
READ THE REPORT !
There is No Builders Remedy risk !
Plus, YOU admit that you cant afford to give a PRIVATE developer $45+million, ( an early estimate ) to "fix" the developers own bid that has SERIOUS MONEY GAPS ( as reported in Menlo Parks own Feasibility Report )
Plus: You are in a FiSCAL DEFICIT!
Your solution is to cancel the lighting of our town Christmas tree this year, to save money!
You have said, "We have to pinch pennies because of this fiscal deficit!"
But $45 Million to a PRIVATE Developer is fiscally responsible ? ! ! !
There is even talk of laying off city staff, because of the "Deficit".
(Can you please dispel that rumor?)
Reminder: The Citys own Feasibility Report says: All 3 developers bids are "NOT Financially Feasible".
YOU should: Vote Yes to stop your own irresponsible, irreversible mistake, caused by a mere 3 council members; AND, Two (2) of them are leaving, so they wont even be here to answer for their mess, ! ! !
If you go forward with the "Surplus Land Grab", the remaining 3 council members will be subject to being RECALLED too.
YES on P is the only way to stop this irresponsible city council from damaging Downtown Menlo Park.
The city council already botched the 80 Willow tower mess,
AND
the Meta Facebook Village deal !
This Downtown Apartment project is so feasibly flawed that it must be STOPPED.
There are many better locations for housing, IF NEEDED !
When a city council becomes financially irresponsible, you either RECALL THEM, or in this case, You must Vote Yes on P, to "recall their mistakes ".
Respectfully,
Michael DeMoss, resident
Commercial Real Estate Attorney
Former Chairman of the Audit subcommittee, Menlo Park Finance & Audit Commission.
Sent from my iPhone
