Hello Menlo Park City Counsel,
My name is Rosie and I have been a resident of Menlo Park since 2020. I live in a two bedroom home I rent from the Dominican sisters at the Corpus Christi Monastery with my husband and our two year old (as well as one baby on the way!) Due to the generosity of the sisters, we have been able to afford the home at a low, stable, rent, even though both my husband and I work in the public interest/nonprofit sector. Having access to affordable housing is something I do not take for granted and that I value deeply in the community.
As a young couple starting and growing our family here, having the city invest in more affordable housing will make or break the ability of our friends working in public interest to stay in the area, or the ability of our siblings/parents to move closer by. These friends and family are our proverbial "village", and maintaining this village will also ultimately make or break our ability to stay in the community long-term, even with the generosity of the Dominican sisters.
As you consider the proposals, I support Menlo Together and the Housing Leadership Councils identified priorities. I love Menlo Park and want to be able to raise my children in a diverse community and "village" - something that will simply not be possible here unless access to affordable housing is protected and expanded over time.
Sincerely,
Rosie Lebel
