To the City Council: I have lived in Menlo Park for over 25 years. I shop locally several times a week. Recently, I have visited several local communities to see how Menlo Park stacks up against what I perceive as similar small-town values to our City (San Carlos, Burlingame, and Los Altos).
One of the huge benefits of living in such a community as ours is the ability to park directly behind the stores. It makes shopping both pleasant and efficient. I never park on North Santa Cruz Avenue. I will not be able to support a downtown where parking is blocks away, and I am tasked with carrying packages. Certainly, such a more remote parking design discriminates against the elderly and disabled.
I cannot determine how many of the current businesses will remain financially successful if such a non-friendly merchant/customer parking approach is implemented.
To visit a city where the huge parking issues have a definite impact on small businesses, one only needs to try to do business in Redwood City. To park anywhere close to a specific store is truly a gamble. I no longer shop in RWC’s downtown.
I believe that this decision is too important not to allow all Menlo Park citizens to express their opinion on the future of their downtown. I vote for a referendum.
Thank you for listening.
Jenny
Jennifer de St Georges
Jenny@jdsg.com
650.644.5722 (cell)
104 Sand Hill Circle
Menlo Park, CA 94025
