Thanks for the email, Bianca. These are good ideas to keep in mind.
Best regards,
Kirsten
On Sun, Apr 29, 2018 at 2:40 PM Bianca Walser wrote:
>
Honorable Council Members,
Tuesday morning I had plans to meet a friend for coffee at the new Coffee Bar. Since it was a beautiful day, I decided to walk
downtown. On my way home, I was passing Draeger’s and I started to think about what I was going to feed my family for dinner that
night. I remembered that Draeger’s often has really nice fresh trout that my children actually like to eat, so I stopped in and
picked up some trout for dinner, and some fresh asparagus too. Then I walked back home. Had I driven to Coffee Bar to meet my
friend, I would not have stopped at Draeger’s that day.
Saturday morning I had plans to meet another friend for coffee. On my way downtown I remembered that my son has a birthday party
coming up for which I needed to buy a present, so I popped into to Cheeky Monkey, bought a gift, and had them wrap it. After
coffee I remembered I needed a card too, so I stopped in at Village Stationers and bought a card. I also spent another $20 on what
I freely admit to be impulse purchases. Heading up Santa Cruz, I decided to pick up some bagels at Posh Bagel. Then I walked back
home. Had I driven to Coffee Bar, I might have stopped in at Cheeky Monkey, but I would not have visited Village Stationers or
Posh Bagel that day.
As Council considers the various ideas and suggestions for a parking structure downtown, I ask you to remember that the cars cost
the city money, yet they do not spend money. People spend money, and pedestrians cost the city little in terms of infrastructure.
Foot traffic creates opportunities for impulse purchases. Just this week I spent at least $70 downtown that I would not have spent
had I driven downtown instead of walked. So as we discuss all the various options on the table, please make choices that keep
downtown Menlo Park attractive to impulsive pedestrians like me.
Thank you.
Bianca Walser
Allied Arts
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Best regards,
Kirsten Keith,
Councilmember and former Mayor, City of Menlo Park
