Dear Mayor and Menlo council members,
I have been a thirty-year resident of downtown Mountain View. My family has enjoyed and promoted the small business
downtown atmosphere at Castro in Mountain View, at University Avenue in Palo Alto, and also at Los Altos and Redwood City.
I am sorry to state that I am completely turned off by the ambience, rules and practices of so-called downtown Menlo Park, if you
can even call it a downtown since there is nobody around. In comparison to Mountain View and Palo Alto, Menlo is known as a
not-so-diverse sleepy little town that does little to promote local businesses to residents and visitors. Today, I fully
understood the reasons.
I was celebrating my recovery from major cancer surgery at Mademoiselle Colette on Santa Cruz Avenue, when I received a parking
ticket because I went a few minutes over the 90 minute parking limit, and when there were easily ten empty spaces around. Where
are the parking meters and signs for visitors? The psychological experience of receiving a parking ticket after celebrating a
recovery from major surgery totally dampened my spirits. I am not returning to Menlo or recommending the town to my friends and
colleagues. Later, I wasn't surprised to hear that Mademoiselle Colette is unprofitable in Menlo Park and therefore opening a
bigger and more welcoming location in Redwood City, as well as another spot in Palo Alto.
During the past thirty years, I have never once received a parking ticket for simply going over a few minutes on Castro or
University Avenue or Los Altos Main Street. Those townships understand the commonsense of keeping their businesses competitive,
and street life thriving. Menlo is mainly interested in money, affluence, and gouging visitors and even its own residents for a
few measly parking fines at every opportunity it can get. This is disgraceful.
If you're not already aware, the City of Menlo Park has two pathetic stars on Yelp. I am attaching many Yelp reviews which echo my
experience, to wake you up from your stupor. It is ironic that a Mountain View resident would have to raise something so obvious
to the great minds of Menlo Park. In any case, I feel compelled to contribute my honest review to Yelp, as well as to publicize
your "gouging" parking practices to all media outlets.
You ruined my day and my celebration, and I am expecting a $45 parking ticket refund to my address below.Please contact me for
further information or clarification.
regardsPurnima Gauthron562 Pettis AvenueMountain ViewCA 94041
Phone: 650 968-1078Email: purnima.gauthron@gmail.com [purnima.gauthron@gmail.com]_____Yelp reviews
https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-of-menlo-park-menlo-park-2 [https://www.yelp.com/biz/city-of-menlo-park-menlo-park-2]
I was given a parking ticket for $45 for parking on the street near Cafe Barone simple because my license plate sticker wasn't
current. The parasite meter maid surely saw that my plates were paid up and current. I had simply failed to put the sticker on (it
was in my glove box). I take full responsibility for my failure. And I think it is fair to charge someone $20-$25 once they prove
their plates were valid. Instead, I was rejected and then charged the higher fee for taking too long to pay the original amount.
I danced like a Russian Bear and jumped through the required hoops on the website to appeal. To think they can reject you and then
hike up the fee during the process is ludicrous. So at the end of the day I paid $90 for not placing the sticker on the plate but
otherwise following all of the rules.
▒▒▒▒▒ you city of MP.
____One more person here complaining about the need to buy a $150 permit to park on my own street. All reasons for this ordinance
as listed on the website are silly. What possible overnight congestion could this eliminate? Who would stash their car here
overnight and hitchhike to East Palo Alto? Are they concerned about the looming threat of a fleet of dilapidated vehicles? And how
does paid street parking affect street sweeping? The car is parked there, whether it has the permit or not. I don't believe anyone
gets rid of their car to avoid the ordinance. It's just a revenue generator for an already affluent city.
Just another reason for low income people like myself to flee elsewhere and leave the city to the Tesla driving well-to-do types
who almost exclusively populate it. Is it any wonder why the local businesses are hurting for employees?
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The parking situation here is a scam. I work in downtown MP 1 or 2 days a week. We don't have a parking lot, and there are none
nearby. There is plenty of public parking available, but it is all limited to 2 hours max. And there is a swarm of parking
attendants who blanket downtown all day long. So, I've gotten used to leaving my office every 2 hours to move my car.
This is a huge annoyance, but I've mostly adapted. Mostly. Last year I got a ticket because I was parked for 2 hours and 4
minutes. Annoying, but understandable. But then I got a ticket because the back of my car extended slightly past the back of an
undersized parking space. And, I got a ticket for violating the 2 hour limit, even though I am absolutely certain that I had moved
my car during the time listed on the ticket.
I contested the last 2 summonses, providing evidence in support of my claim, and lost both times with no explanation.
I understand that parking can be a scarce commodity, and that there should be restrictions. In San Francisco, it makes perfect
sense. But MP's parking policy--2 hours everywhere, enforced with extreme strictness--is clearly intended to generate revenue for
a sleepy town that is already extremely affluent. At the very least, it contributes to this town's generally uptight and snooty
vibe.
___
Lived here for eight months. The reason I am writing a review is because I received a parking ticket for $55 for the crime of
parking in front of my own house. No warning, just walked outside to find a ticket on my windshield!
Menlo Park is out of control in it's parking enforcement. There aren't any no parking signs anywhere on my street! It's just a
sleepy upscale residential neighborhood.
When you receive a ticket for parking in front of your own house after dark something is very very wrong.
____
The parking situation in this city is asinine. Cretinous. Inane. I received a ticket for parking overnight in a residential
neighborhood, when in fact I was parked on private property. I contested my citation and provided photographic proof of my
lawfulness, and was denied. Knowing the city's history, no part of me expects to be treated justly, but I'm requesting a hearing
anyways. Down with the affluent bubble that is the City of Menlo Park.
____
This ridiculous city cannot even provide complimentary parking for its downtown MP employees. Having to move your car every 2
hours on a daily basis makes absolutely no sense. Furthermore, if you do get a parking ticket, do not pay online or over the
phone, bc they will charge you an additional $3.95 for "processing fee." Take all of your professional/personal business elsewhere
-- this downtown isn't anything special anyways, unless of course, you have to come here to work.
___
This city of Menlo Park department is the worst. They have been blocking development. They have neglected critical streets with no
sidewalks for kids. City planning is pathetic and is the department of no and self preservation.
Downtown Menlo Park is a disaster with no traffic lights or decent crosswalks. Can't imagine this could be the heart of Silicon
Valley
Parking enforcement is out of control randomly issuing tickets for the most irrelevant stuff. They have horrible parking spaces
and very poor planning. The entire city administration needs to be changed. Pathetic and incompetent.
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I don't give the City of Menlo Park high ratings, particularly the government of Menlo Park - oh sure the location is wonderful
and all, but the biggest claim to fame for Menlo Park is that it is next door to Palo Alto - what I really object to is how such a
small town has so few amenities to offer has so many taxes and fees to endure. I have my business here and my residence here - I
play plenty of taxes and fees - will these parcel taxes EVER end. Given the deepening financial crisis, and the fact that many of
the greatest expenditures, such as pension-fund payments and health care for public employees, cannot legally be reduced we are
seeing additional attempts to increase revenues by raising taxes and fees. Any city's greatest source of revenue usually comes in
the form of fees from licenses, permits, and parking tickets and so now on top of the excessive property taxes the parking meter
guys and gals are out in full force. This month alone I have gotten 4 tickets for being as little as 8 minutes over. And when I
contested them saying I was a Menlo Park resident and that I should be cut a little slack it was like was directly taking money
out of their precious pension. One "customer service" woman, lovely Susan Eldred listened to my contesting with as much such
empathy as Count Dracula had for HIS victims. My question is who ever hired that woman to do customer service - were they drunk
that day!!
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