Dear Council members,
In January 2025, I spoke at a "standing room only" city council meeting to discuss "Declaring Our downtown parking lots as Surplus Land"; AND,
Leasing ( $1/ year for 55 years, is actually a GIFT ) the parking lots to a PRIVATE developer.
I asked for a show of hands: Most of the large crowd was opposed to the "Surplus Land" idea.
I then asked you, the city council:
"Why not close off the parking lots for at least 6 months, and see how it affects the businesses?"
City Councils response:
No response! Never happened!
As a commercial Real estate attorney, i have seen the irreversible damage done to businesses when their customers parking is disrupted for too long.
I also know that building a ramp and 345 apartments on the parking lots will take at least 3 years, and most likely 5 years.
That is: TOO LONG !
Before you go forward with declaring Our lots as "Surplus Land ",
Please do this:
Go downtown and Ask the 130+ downtown store owners who signed a petition opposing the plan: "Are your parking lots "Surplus Land?"
Walk downtown and see "YES on P" signs on most stores.
AND, there is NOT even One "NO on P" on any store fronts downtown.
Consider the 3,000+ of your constituents, your neighbors, who signed the "Yes on P" ballot petition !
In fact ask any 6th grader to define "Surplus Land" !
Its not the Downtown Parking Plazas!
That is why "Yes on P" is necessary NOW!
"YES on P" just stops 3 city council members "reckless decision" to declare our Downtown Parking Lots as "Surplus Land", AND Stops those 3 council members from "GIFTING" our parking lots, valued at $50+million dollars, to a PRIVATE developer, for $1.
"Yes on P" has no other purpose, or effect; and does NOT subject us to the Builders Remedy, or any of the other risks, so often claimed.
A "Rogue Cabal" of Sacramento legislators Re-Defining "Surplus Land", does NOT change the real meaning of "Our Parking Plazas", in Downtown Menlo Park.
At least 3 of you Council members, who are supposed to represent US taxpayers, have agreed to side with Sacramento legislators, instead of the Standing Room only, angry crowd of citizens, who still oppose this "idea".
There are better locations for affordable apartments.
I, regrettably, no longer trust my city councils judgment on this limited issue.
I will Vote "YES on P "
Thank you.
Michael DeMoss,
Resident of Menlo Park
Sent from my iPhone
