Hello Menlo Park City Council,
I am writing you to inform you about a very upsetting interaction I had regarding parking enforcement.
I live in an apartment on Roble Ave. I have a parking permit to park on the street. I left my car parked on the street for less
than a week while I have been on vacation. Today, the person who lives in the apartment below me informed me a police officer came
by to give me a ticket and that my car would get towed today at 5:30 pm.
I would really appreciate it if the city would consider giving residents one week's notice before closing off areas of the street
to parking, except of course due to an emergency, in which case I would expect that no tickets or fines would be issued. If I have
been given a week's notice, I wouldn't have parked there. No problem.
As well, I am very confused that I am learning about this through my neighbor. Thankfully she was able to have my car moved, and
keep it from being impounded. But the police office has my phone number attached to my license because I bought a parking permit.
Why was I not called?
Third, when I purchased my parking permit, I wish I had been warned that things like this can happen. Or that I was given some
maximum time that I should expect to be able to park my car in the street with no worry. If I had realized this was a possibility,
I would have left my car in someone's garage or left it at work. Something like that.
Listen, I don't make a lot of money. I cannot afford to buy a house in Menlo Park and have my own driveway. As such, I am not the
kind of person who can just afford to deal with a ticket and getting impounded. This has a real impact on my life. But I still
live here, and you are my council people. I need you to look out for me. I will always obey the law and park my car where I am
supposed to. If a sign comes up that tells me to park somewhere else, I'll do that. But I need to know ahead of time.
I think what I am saying is fair. What do you think?
Thank you,Chelsea Liekhus-Schmaltz831 Roble AVE, apt 3,Menlo Park, CA 94205
