Dear City Council and City Manager,
My name is Eduardo L. Hernandez, and I am writing to bring to your attention a serious concern regarding an incident that occurred on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Although we were informed that there was no real emergency, I want to share a firsthand account from a Spanish-speaking senior who experienced the event. According to them, the alarm went off in the building, but no one informed their class on the second floor. They only became aware of the situation after leaving the room on their own.
My mother-in-law also experienced this event. She reported that the teacher of the class was extremely concerned. She expressed that if a real emergency were to occur, she would not be able to properly assist the seniors in her care. She is worried not only about the safety of her students but also about her own.
In the words of one senior:
"Hola — quería decir que hubo un problema el miércoles de julio pasado que la alarma sonó y nadie nos avisó en nuestra clase hasta que nosotros salimos. Gracias por escuchar."
Translation: "Hello — I wanted to say that there was a problem on that Wednesday in July when the alarm went off, and no one informed us in our class until we left on our own. Thank you for listening."
While this may not have been considered an emergency by the City Manager’s office, for the seniors who were left unattended and unaware on the second floor, it was a real and distressing situation. Many felt confused, unsafe, and neglected due to the lack of communication and coordination.
Furthermore, the claim that everyone was safely evacuated does not align with the lived experience of this senior or of my mother-in-law. It is concerning that such discrepancies exist.
Emergencies will not wait for the City to implement a drill scheduled for late September. Immediate action and a review of current protocols are necessary.
I respectfully urge you to review this issue and implement stronger emergency communication and evacuation procedures to protect all individuals—especially our vulnerable senior population—in any future incidents.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Eduardo L. Hernandez
________________________________
From: Murphy, Justin I C
Sent: Friday, August 1, 2025 12:32 PM
Subject: RE: Continued Safety Concerns at Belle Haven Community Campus
Hi Eduardo,
Thank you for your emails.
The July 30 incident was a false alarm to the buildings security system that occurred when a contractor doing work on the roof inadvertently triggered the alarm. The contractor was changing an air conditioning filter, which is normal and regular maintenance required for any buildings operations. While it was not a drill, it was not an emergency situation. In an abundance of caution, staff proceeded to evacuate the building, and went room-to-room to inform those in attendance what to do. Staff also followed up with participants personally after the alarm was resolved to inform them of what happened, once we had more information.
We are working to schedule an emergency drill for all participants, and are targeting that to be scheduled for early to mid-September.
In regard to the electrical outlets referenced below, a project manager was onsite yesterday scoping out the work to replace/construct the outlets and install push buttons on some of the interior doors in the coming months.
I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of City Councilmembers Taylor and Wise in meeting with the seniors on May 9 and June 27. Staff is using the input from the June 27 meeting to help guide actions and subsequent updates for the seniors.
Sincerely,
Justin
[cid:CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Justin I. C. Murphy (he/him)
City Manager
City Hall
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6725
https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fmenlopark.gov&c=E,1,rdVSyobbcF9sIhCJ3VeKoIrF5f0f2XfIj5P_d_bjCrx73kNdzh5Be7zOOPhCcxTD476bbxI6JqxHIluXU6oCNXA5TVmu2kO4pH0SSMqoEpBz&typo=1
See https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.pronouns.org&c=E,1,Xod0ukRvhGbabQOAc6oXM8wcZVkjMSK_NbA82mbaCfLMXIPtBcazMKtWoJjOMbWJbTLAkhSyorTBpAfeVVd5IKJ330X5IvqbUh-Y_tWi3OQ,&typo=1 to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
From: Eduardo Lopez Hernandez
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:23 PM
Subject: Continued Safety Concerns at Belle Haven Community Campus
Dear Mr. Murphy,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing for the fourth time this week to express my deep and growing concern regarding the incident that occurred at the Belle Haven Community Campus on July 30, 2025. While many seniors believed the situation was part of an emergency drill, we have since learned it was, in fact, a real emergency caused by a repair issue within the building.
This miscommunication placed vulnerable individuals—including seniors and children—at serious risk. What happened was not a drill; it was a real threat to public safety, and it revealed serious shortcomings in the City’s emergency preparedness. Residents were neither properly notified nor evacuated, and many were left confused or unaware of the danger. This is unacceptable in a facility that primarily serves elderly and mobility-limited residents.
Adding to the concern is the fact that the Belle Haven Community Campus is barely a year old, yet it has already required frequent repairs—almost monthly. This pattern suggests poor planning, design, or oversight, and raises serious questions about the building’s long-term safety and suitability for the community it serves.
Despite repeated reassurances from Deputy City Manager Nicole "Nikki" Nagaya that the City prioritizes safety and resiliency, the events of July 30 tell a different story. Words and intentions must be matched by action, and right now, we are witnessing a troubling lack of urgency, transparency, and preparedness. We have submitted two petitions highlighting ongoing safety concerns—including repeated incidents where seniors have tripped over ground-level electrical outlets—yet City staff and Council have not responded with the seriousness these concerns deserve.
This continued inattention—despite our petitions, emails, and community outreach—raises painful questions. Is the lack of response due to the racial or economic makeup of this community? Is it due to incompetence? We do not claim to know the answer, but the outcome is clear: our community is being put at risk, and we cannot remain silent.
The residents of Belle Haven are not statistics—they are our parents, grandparents, children, neighbors, and friends. We will continue advocating on their behalf until meaningful, concrete steps are taken to make this facility truly safe and secure for all.
We urge you to treat this matter with the seriousness it demands, and to respond with action, not just words.
Sincerely,
Eduardo
