On Dec. 27th I saw a picture on the front page of the Daily Post of the 6 or 7 shopping carts in front of Pharmacia (spelling?) in
downtown Menlo Park. I am so glad that a resident sent you a photo and complaint. I have been meaning to do the same. I try to
walk to town every day from my house on Cotton Street. In the last two weeks there have been two instances that I have been
involved with the woman that has these carts. The first time was when she was complaining in a LOUD/RAUCOUS manner to a shop
owner. Then yesterday I was returning a shopping cart and walked by her. She yelled at me in a LOUD/RAUCOUS manner and I was
scared that she would attack me/run after me. I kept looking back to see that she stayed seated on the bench. I guess the noise of
the wheels woke her up and she was not happy. She was under a tarp. The situation is unsightly and not fair to the owners of
Pharmacia. I do not know how they stand it. Not exactly what you want to see when entering a wellness store.
I have also complained about a family that was begging in front of Trader Joe's. I waited 30 minutes for the police to come. They
had other calls that were first. The police said that since the children had water, they could do nothing. What about their mental
health? I haven't seen this family recently, but they use to hang out at the Sharon Park shopping center as well.
I think it is time to have a No Loitering/Homeless Encampment Law. I do have sympathy for these unfortunate people, but begging
and living on the streets of Menlo Park is not the answer. If you allow it, word gets out that Menlo Park is a nice, safe place to
live on the streets... and then we have more. It is a tragic situation, and doing nothing is not the answer.
Cheryl DeGolia1221 Cotton StreetMenlo Park
