Dear members of the Menlo City Council,
Thank you for conducting the GAS BAN public comment meeting on Zoom yesterday evening (August 31, 2021 @5pm).
I want to re-state my comments because you mentioned that the “sound volume" of my comments was quite low and you might not have heard what I said.
First, I want you all to know that Menlo Park is a wonderful place to live. My comments are in support of our city and our way of life.
I did not realize that the Council had previously passed an ORDINANCE that imposes a GAS BAN on all new construction!
Please let me know if the existing Gas Bas Ordinance was submitted to the public for review and comment. I did not see or hear about it.
My belief is that the existing Gas Ban on new construction is subject to re-consideration because it was not adequately submitted for public discussion.
Please consider placing the Existing "Gas Ban on new construction" on the Ballot for re-consideration by the public; and any further Gas Ban ordinances must be placed on a Ballot for Public approval also.
Ordinance Changes that have a “Political” aspect to them (Such as Environmentally Based Issues) should be openly discussed and approved by the people who are affected by them (Let the residents decide at the ballot box).
Freedom is a hard concept to define, but if we are unbiased, we can detect infringements on our freedom.
There are 'BALANCES" that help us decide when we are losing our freedom, and being improperly controlled by policy makers who have gone “TOO FAR”.
The Environment MUST be protected. We can see what has happened in CHINA (and elsewhere) when the government "DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH”.
BUT, WHAT IS “GOING TOO FAR” in Menlo park?
1) A Gas Ban on all new construction IS GOING TOO FAR.
2) A Goal to remove 95% of Gas from Menlo Park IS GOING TOO FAR.
3) “CUTTING OFF GAS SUPPLIED TO MENLO PARK” IS GOING TOO FAR.
The ZOOM meeting on 8/31/2021 presented research from entities that ”SUPPORT THE BAN”, but there was NO research from the “OPPOSITE VIEW”.
The way in which we protect the environment is still a topic for HONEST DEBATE. it is NOT “Settled”.
PG&E has formally warned ALL its customers that there will probably be disruption to our electric power.
The ONLY alternative is GAS Powered Generators. Cutting off gas is NOT RESPONSIBLE.
The GAS BAN is not an ordinance that should be decided by a small group of politicians.
The essence of all my comments: Please put the existing GAS BAN Ordinance, and all future GAS BAN ordinances, on the BALLOT.
Thank you,
Michael DeMoss
Attorney
Menlo Park resident
