Dear City Council Members: I was disappointed when I read the invitation to the Housing Element Focus Group. They are choosing only 15 people at random to represent all the homeowners in Menlo Park. I understand this is just the start of the process but I think they could easily have more focus groups. Below is the response I sent to their invitation.
Thank you for working on this and so many other matters all at once! I admire you all! - Susan Bryan 222 Blackburn Avenue
My Response to Invitation to Housing Element Focus Group:
Sir or Madame: I do not want to be one of only 15 homeowners to be in the focus group because I have no special expertise on housing and I know other homeowners in Menlo Park do. I do not want to take the place of someone more knowledgeable. Therefore, I will NOT confirm your focus group invitation.
I had hoped that there would be lots of focus groups and that everyone interested might have a chance to chime in on this very important matter.
Please keep my name on the list in case you do have multiple focus groups so you get better indications of what homeowners in Menlo Park would like as their future.
In other words, I am disappointed that you are only choosing 15 people to talk for the whole community of homeowners. That may be professionally accepted practice. But it is NOT a good way to build consensus in a town like Menlo Park. Sincerely, Susan Bryan
