Dear Mayor Combs and Members of the City Council,
My name is Eduardo L. Hernandez, and I have been a resident of Menlo Park’s District 1 for over 25 years.
Belle Haven residents continue to face significant disparities in city services and community engagement compared to other neighborhoods such as West Menlo Park. Earlier this year, City Manager Justin Murphy committed to holding at least a couple of City Council meetings at the Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC) or via Zoom from BHCC to improve accessibility. However, to date, only one such meeting has taken place.
Belle Haven deserves diverse and accessible programming at BHCC, comparable to what is offered at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Seniors in our community have submitted two petitions regarding their senior center, but Mr. Murphy’s responses have been slow, with minimal communication. Due to ongoing access issues and restrictions on classes at the senior center, several seniors asked me to request a meeting with Mr. Murphy on their behalf. They feel he will not agree to meet with them directly due to their age and because they are residents of District 1.
We appreciate Mr. Murphy’s years of service to the City of Menlo Park. However, if his contract is renewed, we believe it is essential that he demonstrate a stronger commitment to equity across all neighborhoods.
I respectfully urge the City Council to require that he:
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Provide equitable services to all neighborhoods.
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Hold regular in-person and virtual meetings at BHCC to ensure genuine community engagement.
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Expand diverse programming at BHCC to meet the needs of all residents.
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Respond promptly and engage directly with seniors and other community members.
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Uphold transparency and accountability in all matters affecting the public.
Our seniors—and the broader Belle Haven community—deserve respect, fairness, and meaningful action. Thank you for your time, attention, and continued commitment to serving all residents of Menlo Park.
Sincerely,
Eduardo L. Hernandez
Menlo Park Resident
