Hello City Council,
Im unable to attend the meeting this evening (I have a 9-month-old now and
my evenings are quite busy) but I want to reiterate my support for the
downtown housing proposals. Particularly I want to urge the city not to put
the burden of financing parking onto affordable housing developers, since
modernizing downtown parking is an effort that will benefit everyone who
drives (and walks, and bikes) in Menlo Park. I parked in one of the Oak
Grove lots last weekend (to visit the Fire Station Museum and talk to
retired Captain Tom Carter) and I was struck by how uneven the ground is.
I wanted to note that Ive been canvassing with the No on P team, and Ive
found that voters who are opposed to building housing downtown often voice
a sentiment along the lines of "Whats the rush?" When I hear this, I tell
them that the city is already behind in complying with the housing element,
and that we risk getting sued, but I think this urgency is lost on a lot of
the people who are advocating against the project. We dont get to do
nothing for ever, even if doing nothing would be the most comfortable
option. Im grateful to the City Council for pushing forward with this and
for keeping all of our best interests in mind, and Im excited about the
potential for more people to live downtown and contribute to our community.
Thanks,
Emma
