I am a resident of Menlo Park and strongly support more affordable housing development in downtown.
This is important to me because I want to live in a neighborhood that is accessible to people of all income levels, with my 3 kids in schools with families from mixed income levels, and with a vibrant walkable downtown with stores that stay open past 8 pm and with greater density of people. Supporting affordable housing is one important piece of this vision.
The current economy of the Peninsula is broken. Our neighborhoods are only available to the 0.1%. Our average home price in Menlo Park is nearing $4M. We have essentially built ourselves a gated community, where the gates are not visible but invisible and insurmountable. This is not sustainable and ensures a fragile future for ALL of us without urgent action from policy-makers.
Its not just about ensuring housing for teachers, janitors, restaurant workers, small business owners, artists, etc - although that is important. It is about improving the quality of life for ALL of us.
I support all of the points in the letter from the Housing Leadership Council.
Please do not give in to the very small but very vocal opponents of this proposal. Ask them what fears are driving their opposition. Is it parking? This is a solvable problem. Is it traffic? Greater density usually leads to less traffic and greater walkability. If its fear of "the other," lets air that in public and unpack why that shouldnt drive housing policy.
Lastly, lets not let 10 years of bureaucracy kill these ideas. Be bold and be brave.
Marie Brown
1065 Lassen Dr.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
