Category: Uncategorized

Menlo Together coordinating committee has endorsements for local and state measures that impact our vision and values.

Local Measures

YES on Menlo Park Measure CC

Menlo Park faces long term fiscal challenges due to loss of ongoing revenue from state and local sources.  To partially fill the gap, Measure CC will increase our Transient Occupancy Tax (the “hotel tax”) which will help the city sustain important public services.

YES on East Palo Alto Measure JJ

Measure JJ codifies the expressed intent of a 2.5% gross receipts tax on landlords doing business in EPA to direct funds towards housing, anti-displacement and anti-homelessness programs.  

YES on Palo Alto Measure D

Improve access to the Palo Alto transit hub to reduce bus travel time and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, including improvements to access from Menlo Park. Voter approval is required to redesignate a sliver of land currently designated as parkland.  Measure D is endorsed by partners at Palo Alto Forward and Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. More detailed analysis here.

State Ballot Propositions:

YES on Prop 4 to Prevent Wildfires, Provide Clean, Safe Drinking Water

The CA State Legislature asks voters to approve a $10 billion bond to invest in proven strategies to detect, prevent and reduce intensity and spread of fires in every region, upgrade our water infrastructure to protect us from droughts and water pollution, and protect our iconic forests, mountains, rivers and coast. 

YES on Prop 5 for Safe Affordable Communities

Prop 5 empowers local voters to approve bonds for affordable housing, critical public infrastructure, and emergency response in our communities with a 55% vote – if those bonds have strict accountability and oversight. Prop 5 shifts power about policy and spending priorities away from state government and into the hands of local voters and taxpayers. 

YES on State Proposition 6 to End Slavery

Prop 6 enhances public safety and prioritizes rehabilitation by prohibiting all forms of slavery in California, abolishing an exception allowing forced labor in prisons. Abolishing this exception supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of incarcerated people by allowing them to choose meaningful educational and rehabilitative programs over forced labor. 

NO on State Proposition 36 to Stop Prison Spending

Prop 36 reverses criminal justice reforms that reduce mass incarceration and promote rehabilitation. Prop 36 imposes stricter sentences for minor offenses such as drug possession and retail theft, cuts funding from mental health and rehabilitation programs that help ensure people getting out of jail or prison are less likely to offend, and uses that money to build and expand state prisons. New laws have already been passed for retail theft prosecution and fentanyl trafficking.

Endorsement recommendations are prepared by the Menlo Together active participants who work on our committees and events. To get more involved, sign up here.

On Tuesday, Menlo Park City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday evening August 27 focusing on one of the key policies of the city’s Housing Element – building affordable housing on city-owned parking lots downtown.   The meeting starts at 6pm and the study session will be near the start of the meeting.

Building deeply affordable homes on city-owned parking lots downtown has long been encouraged by Menlo Together and other housing supporters.  The central location is walking distance from many stores and public transportation. Using land owned by the city is a powerful strategy to enable more deeply affordable housing since there is no need to purchase the land. 

Based on a new feasibility study, city staff recommend a phased plan starting on lots 1, 2, and 3, on the northwest side of Santa Cruz.    

These lots could enable about 483 homes at the Specific Plan bonus level of development, and potentially more using other available incentives.  

One question will be how to continue convenient access to downtown while using parking lot space for housing. The city is already conducting a parking management study to assess parking utilization, and strategies to manage parking and improve access.  In one nearby example, the City of Palo Alto established a Transportation Management Association serving its downtown areas, which successfully shifted well over 200 low-income service workers from car commuting and deferred the need to build a parking garage.

Letters from Together and partners at Housing Leadership Council recommend:

• Providing the highest number of homes using the available incentives in city and state law, at deep levels of affordability
• Evaluating downtown parking needs and access strategies, using a current parking management study to plan to maintain convenient downtown access
• Focusing community amenities on increasing affordability and helping residents drive less with bike parking, public transit support and car share infrastructure.

Here’s how to share your thoughts:

• Send your own letter to city.council@menlopark.gov
• Attend the meeting in person, on Tuesday, August 27 6pm, at City Council Chambers, 751 Laurel Street and make a public comment. 
• Dial-in by zoom or phone and comment. 
  • Zoom Link: Zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 832 1285 7140
  • Dial-in: (669) 900-6833  Meeting ID: 832 1285 7140 Press *9 to raise hand to speak 
• In your comments, share your personal thoughts about affordable housing on downtown parking lots, including stories from your life and community, and how this benefits the city, plus some points listed above and in the letters.

To dig into the details, here is the meeting agenda and staff report, Menlo Together’s letter to city council, and the letter submitted by our partner, HLC (Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County).

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On June 18th the City Council held a study session on the Environmental Justice Element and Safety Element of the General Plan. Menlo Park is following a new state law requiring an Environmental Justice element of the city’s General Plan to create policies and investments to address our history of environmental injustice and to create the plan with leadership from communities impacted by environmental injustice.

During the study session, the Council provided vital feedback to the draft element that included: strengthening language and commitments to action, anti-displacement strategies to secure safe and stable housing for renters, access for residents to resources at the Belle Haven Community Campus, and improving indoor and outdoor air quality. Significantly, Council approved $1 million towards Environmental Justice implementation in the budget.

Next steps: 

• Project team will revise Environmental Justice and Safety Elements based on the feedback and prepare for an adoption hearing tentatively scheduled for Fall 2024
• What we’ll be looking for in the revised document:
  • Strengthened Language and Commitment – Emphasized accountability, prioritization, and accessibility in the action plan with clear timelines and metrics to achieve intended goals. 
  • Timely and actionable programs to advance the top three community priorities: safe, sanitary and stable housing, reducing pollution exposure and improving air quality, and access to high quality and affordable food
  • Consolidated Document – Consolidated version of the goals, policies, programs, timeline, and action items, all in one dual table that can also be accessed online will allow transparency and accountability. 
  • Elevated and accelerated Anti-Displacement Actions 
  • Strengthened programs and actions based on the top 3 community priorities that include providing safe, sanitary and stable homes, reducing pollution exposure and improving air quality, and promoting access to high quality and affordable food.  

Below is the full list of feedback that council provided on the draft Safety and EJ Element. 

Safety Element:

• Add a program to evaluate the earthquake risk of “soft story buildings” in which the residence is above an open parking garage,  Hold a study session on existing regulations around bio science lab space.  Connect sea level rise and climate change with the safety element using local Hazard mitigation plan data.
• Include business districts in disaster and emergency preparation plans
• Clarify property owner responsibility for soil remediation 
• Focus on specific updates now and plan for a broader update during the San Mateo County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update.

Environmental Justice Element: 

1. Strengthen Language and Commitment: 
   • Emphasize accountability, prioritization, and accessibility in the action plan with clear timelines and metrics.
   • Clarification on terms like “should” and “must” to balance commitment without over-committing. For example, the suggestion to add bathrooms to parks may not be feasible for every location.
2. Anti-Displacement Strategy:
   • Elevate legal counsel representation and tenant protections.
   • Incorporate community-based organizations in the work.
3. Concierge at Belle Haven Community Campus (BHCC):
   • Dedicated personnel located at BHCC to connect residents with city, county, state and federal assistance.
   • Support a satellite viewing at the BHCC and make public city meetings more accessible.
4. Consolidated Document:
   • Consolidated version of the goals, policies, programs, and action items, all in one dual table that will be accessible online.
5. Budgeting:
   • Support the use of the Bayfront mitigation Fund ($1 million) for initial EJ element action items.
6. Additional Items: 
   • Enhance access to healthcare, higher education, and Wi-Fi
   • Expand on indoor and outdoor air quality
   • Explore no-smoking policy in downtown 
   • Provide information on cooling centers and community resources for extreme heat

On Tuesday June 18, starting at 5:30pm, Menlo Park City Council hold a study session on an updated draft of the new Environmental Justice/Safety Element of the General Plan.  Menlo Park is following a new state law requiring an Environmental Justice element of the city’s General Plan to create policies and investments to address our history of environmental injustice and to create the plan with leadership from communities impacted by environmental injustice. The Belle Haven Empowered project of Menlo Together hosted an gathering last week to discuss Environmental Justice and the new draft plan. The meeting had a background of the history of environmental injustices in Menlo Park, the work that has been done over the last 2 and a half years to gather community feedback and community recommendations, and the process going forward. You can check out the video recording and presentation slides from the meeting.

And share your views to the City Council meeting to support an equitable and sustainable city The agenda is here. Physical locations City Council Chambers,  751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 Zoom  https://zoom.us/j/83212857140 Or submit written comments to city.council@menlopark.gov.

On Tuesday, May 21, Menlo Park City Council responded favorably to an updated proposal for a mixed use development at the centrally located SRI site. The new proposal increases the number of homes from 450 to 800–in a location convenient to downtown, public transit, parks, and open space.

Affordability of these new homes will range from market-rate to rents that are affordable to people with extremely low incomes (lower than 30% of the median income in our area).  Overall, 31% of the homes will be rented at below market rate, and up to 154 will be affordable to people with extremely low, very low, and low incomes through partnership with a non-profit housing provider. 

There were dozens of public comments, in person and in writing, a large majority in support of the project including the additional homes overall and greater number of affordable homes.

City Council’s comments focused on interest in including affordable homes earlier in the timeline if possible, strengthening transportation demand management to reduce the share of driving, attention to the details of pedestrian and bicycle circulation and community spaces.

As next steps, the draft Environmental Impact Report will be published in June, the Planning Commission will review the EIR within a 45 day review period, and the City Council is expected to make a decision about the development this coming Winter. 

In addition to including more homes and deeper levels of affordability, the new design provides for 46 townhomes, adding to the diversity of housing types. The new design improves street safety for bicyclists and pedestrians by limiting how cars can access the development from Laurel.  Project amenities include walking and bike paths, open space, trees, and a dog park; for more information, see the project description and detailed plans at the city website.

The City of Menlo Park has rescheduled its Priority Setting Workshop to Saturday, March 12, starting at 5pm. The meeting will be held in person at City Hall and online via Zoom. 

Tuesday, March 12, starting at 5pm
In Person: City Council Chambers, 751 Laurel St., Menlo Park
Via Zoom: https://zoom.us/join – ID# 832 1285 7140

In the coming year there are important opportunities to turn the city’s plans into action.  

In recent years, Menlo Together has supported the city developing plans for affordable housing, environmental justice, and safe and sustainable transportation, to advance a vision of a city that is diverse, sustainable, and equitable.

Key opportunities for action in the coming year include:

• Implementing the Housing Element, including adding affordable housing on the city’s downtown parking lots, adjusting the guidelines so that affordable housing serves the needs of more low-income residents, implementing tenant protections, and streamlining projects that meet city guidelines so needed housing is built faster
  
• Completing the city’s Environmental Justice and Safety Element and getting started on implementation, including hiring outreach workers to connect residents in underserved communities with resources and encourage participation in decisions; creating an urban forest master plan with a focus on increasing tree cover in underserved communities, and pursuing funding to implement the plan.

• Continue the Council priority to support citywide efforts to create a network of safe, accessible and appealing pedestrian and bicycle facilities, by implementing the city’s Transportation Master Plan, with special priority on investments in underserved communities
  
• Pursue economic development of local services for the Bayfront area that were called for years ago in the Connect Menlo Plan enabling people to live, work, play and shop in the area.  The city should prioritize implementation of local services in the Bayfront that has been lagging. 

Menlo Together submitted a letter to Council with these recommendations.

What do you think?   Come join the workshop on March 12 to share your input on what Menlo Park should prioritize for the 2024-25 fiscal year.  Or send your thoughts by email to city.council@menlopark.gov

On December 20, the Menlo Park’s Housing Element – ​​a state-required plan to allow 3,000 homes at different levels of affordability and affirmatively further fair housing across the community – was conditionally approved by the State pending some minor edits.

The state approval follows closely after the recent major milestone when City Council approved zoning to legalize more housing, especially affordable housing on city-owned parking lots downtown, as well as more housing in mixed-income developments across the city. Importantly, the housing sites in the new plan are outside of District 1 (the Bayfront area that includes the Belle Haven neighborhood), which has accommodated a disproportionate share of development in recent years.

This “upzoning” is a major step forward, advancing the vision that Menlo Together started with in 2018: To support “a city that is integrated and diverse, multi-generational, and environmentally sustainable. We envision an accessible and inviting downtown Menlo Park, with housing at all affordability levels, much less solo driving, and with pedestrian and bike-friendly spaces.”

The City Council made the decision after receiving petitions from over 150 residents, including personal stories from people young and old. A few examples of the comments that City Council heard:

A young man who was visibly distraught about the personal impact of the affordable housing crisis: “As rents have soared over the last 10 years, I’ve seen more and more of my friends being priced out of the area.” 

An older gentleman–a 5th generation Bay Area native–said that his apartment has some serious problems, but he puts up with it because he can’t afford to move. Once he retires, he won’t be able to afford to stay in the area, and he doesn’t know what he will do.

An immigrant woman who moved to Menlo Park from New York City is stressed about having to find a new home near her job because of a landlord renovation/move-in. She’s having a harder time finding housing in Menlo Park than the entirety of her time spent in New York City. 

More homes, including deeply affordable homes in centrally located areas near transit will provide more people with opportunities to live with easy access to jobs, schools, and services. 

Of course, people live in homes, not in zoning documents.   It will require the collective encouragement of community members to ensure that homes including deeply affordable homes–get built.  And it will take more encouragement to ensure that the city updates its Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing policy so  that homes are affordable to more people, and that tenant protections are strengthened so the city protects more residents from being displaced. 

Thanks to everyone who spoke up at community and City Council meetings to help achieve this milestone. Your ongoing participation is vital to ensuring that Menlo Together’s vision becomes reality.

Join friends and allies to hear from Just Action co-authors Richard Rothstein and daughter Leah Rothstein about the sequel to the powerful Color of Law , a book that uncovered the hidden history of segregation.

Just Action discusses what we can do to challenge the segregation enacted under The Color of Law and help remedy the profoundly unjust policies and conditions in our community and more broadly.

Thursday, October 26, 7 – 9pm
Congressional Church of San Mateo, 225 Tilton Ave, San Mateo
Register now to hear Richard and Leah Rothstein in San Mateo on Oct. 26

Just Action Book Club – October 22

In anticipation of the big Just Action event in San Mateo, we will be partnering with our friends at Palo Alto Forward for a small book club gathering to discuss what we’re learning from the book and actions to take. To get the most from this interactive discussion, it will be helpful to have read/skimmed the book ahead of time, or to listen to one of the many book tour interviews with Leah and/or Richard Rothstein.

Sunday, October 22, 11:30-1pm
RSVP here or drop by Cafe Zoe, 1929 Menalto Ave, Menlo Park

On Saturday, October 21st, between 3pm – 5pm, drop by Cafe Zöe to celebrate and learn.  Meet community members interested in environmental justice, local history and education, housing, safe and sustainable transportation, and hear a short presentation about Menlo Together initiatives.

The Neighborhood Pizza Guy and Cafe Zöe will provide refreshments. Kids are welcome!  RSVP here!

This evening, June 20 starting at 6pm, Menlo Park will hold its first study session with the City Council and Planning Commission introducing the Environmental Justice/Safety Element and previewing its process toward refining the documents and making decisions. The agenda for the meeting is here.

Why is tonight’s meeting so important?

For the first time, Menlo Park is preparing this Environmental Justice Element of the City’s General Plan with the aim to create policies and programs that address long-standing inequities in our city. At the same time, they will update its Safety Element to reduce existing and future hazards due to the impacts of climate change.

Climate Resilient Communities, with the help of many community groups including Belle Haven Empowered and Menlo Together, worked for over 15 months to survey Belle Haven residents and determine a key list of recommendations for this plan.

What can you do to support our community members?

Right after the City Council introduces their Environmental Justice/Safety Element during the council meeting, we urge you to deliver a public comment to the city council (virtually or in-person) about what you want to see happen in our city to make it more equitable and sustainable.

If you or someone you know would prefer to deliver this comment in Spanish, they must go to the Belle Haven Library and deliver their comment there; there will be translation services available at the library.

Learning more – last week’s Community Gathering

Last Friday, Menlo Together held a Community Gathering to provide background about the history of environmental injustice in Menlo Park, the engagement over the last 15 months to gather feedback and recommendations from impacted community members in Belle Haven, and the process for the city to complete the EJ element

To learn more, check out the presentation and Zoom recording from last Friday’s gathering

Some talking points you can draw on

• Listen to Belle Haven residents – amplify the voice of the community impacted by environmental injustice
• Support the key priorities identified by the community. These include: protecting renters, growing the tree canopy, investing in infrastructure to facilitate safe walking and bicycling, and protecting residents from heat and sea level rise
• Encourage the City to set timelines and follow through, including funding for implementation

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If you cannot attend the meeting, email your public comment by 4pm today to city.council@menlopark.gov

To attend the meeting virtually:

Zoom.us/join – Meeting ID 890 3919 2702
Access the meeting real-time via telephone at:
(669) 900-6833 Meeting ID 890 3919 2702
Press *9 to raise hand to speak

Now is the time for action because together, we can make meaningful change to help our city become more equitable and sustainable!