Dear Mayor Ohtaki and Members of the City Council,
My name is Lawrence Lee. Me and my family are long-time resident of Menlo Park. We built and own a couple of houses in Menlo Park
currently renting them to supplement our income.
I urge you to reject the proposal of the Housing Commission to require relocation payments unless rent increases are capped.
The Housing Commission’s proposal is rent control and just-cause eviction in disguise.
The Housing Commission has expanded the scope of a relocation program beyond the City Council’s original intent – which was to
pursue a relocation assistance program triggered when units are permanently removed from the market or vacated due to
redevelopment.
Please do not create more legal hurdles and financial burdens on property owners. These proposals jeopardize my ability to
continue to provide safe, stable, and reliable housing for Menlo Park residents.
Instead, please continue working with housing providers to explore a true relocation assistance program that addresses situations
when residents are displaced due to redevelopment.
Thank you for your collaborative approach to addressing the region’s housing challenges.
Respectfully,
Lawrence Lee
