Dear Library Commissioners,
I attended the last two commission meetings and wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in both of them. I have
been following the Library Expansion in the past few months and have growing concerns regarding the way that the process is
handled by Staff.
As you have heard in the meeting on Monday, there is a strong feeling that the siting meetings were not accurately captured and
that the Staff recommendation is not what the majority of people at those meetings (at least the last two that I attended)
expressed.
I wanted to thank you for taking a brave decision to refrain from giving a specific site recommendation as a committee per the
directive of Staff. I agree that there are many questions that need to be answered and revealed before a decision can be formed
either way.
We, the residents of MP, trust the various Commissioners to represent the public wishes and protect its collective interest. We
expect you to ask Staff difficult questions and make sure that they give you a full and honest disclosure. I applaud you for
taking a small but significant step in not serving as a "rubber stamp of approval" for whatever path Staff is blindly leading us
all to.
Thank you for taking the time to do some more research, check the facts, and make sure that whatever decision is made - it most
accurately represents what most of the public wants. This is not a small lightweight decision, but a multi-million dollars one
that will have ripple effects and impacts on many. It is one that we should all make sure is done right.
Again, thank you for taking a stand and not being pressured to rush into a decision either way. You showed great responsibility
and your message is clear. More Time, Information, and I will add Transparency and Public Outreach, is needed. All of those are
currently missing from the process.
Best wishes and thank you for devoting your time in serving the public interest.
Osnat LoewenthalResident of Menlo Park
