Hello City Council,
For this years priority setting meeting, we need to prioritize on the most
pressing issues facing the Menlo Park community and our most
vulnerable neighbors. This list is based off of community discussions at
Belle Haven CBO events and neighborhood gatherings.
To that end, please focus on the following issues with urgency:
1) Take immediate steps to implement the Anti-displacement strategy that
was identified as the most pressing concern in our Environmental Justice
and Housing Element plans.
2) Implement recommendations 1 through 10 presented by the food systems ad
hoc subcommittee as part of Environmental Justice Element implementation.
Food prices are quickly rising and food insecurity is already impacting
residents throughout Menlo Park, particularly in the Belle Haven
neighborhood. The recommendations include a fresh food voucher, a farmers
market, and investment in a community garden.
3) As our Environmental Justice Element requires, please take actions that
ensure equal access to public facilities. The residents believe that Belle
Haven pool should be publicly owned and operated, with community events,
programming and hours that meet the needs of working people, and is free or
heavily discounted for Belle Haven seniors. The seniors want more classes
and the Belle Haven residents want better communication about the pool
hours and programs via the Menlo.gov website.
Our environmental justice element is the strongest representation of our
communities needs and priorities, please do everything you can to continue
implementing the changes identified through that community-led effort.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best,
Meredith Rohr
Belle Haven Resident
