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Feb 14, 2018
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Input on affordable housing

Dear Mayor Ohtaki and Councilmembers,


This Thursday is the final community input session about the downtown library renovation. While I do not believe we need to
renovate the main library, I DO believe there's wisdom in adding more below-market and affordable housing to city-owned property,
such as the library.




Where will new firefighters, police, and teachers live? Not to mention wage earners working in our restaurants, cleaning our homes
and commercial establishments, etc? I also understand that there are over 30 open positions with the city of Menlo Park. Imagine
the hiring advantage we'd have if we could offer housing within walking distance to some of our employees!




At the annual State of the Valley meeting on Friday, hosted by Joint Venture Silicon Valley, they reported that the number of jobs
in Silicon Valley have grown 31% since the recovery in 2010, but housing growth is badly lagging behind. In the last two years,
Silicon Valley has issued permits for only 18% of the new housing needed, and only 7% of these new units are for affordable
housing.




Young families, employees, and teachers are all leaving Menlo Park for more affordable housing options. And while I’m happy to see
that the council has approved more housing in recent years in Belle Haven and near Facebook, it isn’t nearly enough and the
housing isn’t dispersed throughout the city.




Please say YES to planning for more affordable housing, either at the downtown library or elsewhere near central Menlo Park and
our trains and buses.

*


Sincerely,




Debbie Hall

1245 Hillview Drive

Menlo Park