Dear Mayor Wolosin and City Councilmembers,
I am writing regarding item J1 for the May 9, 2023 Special Meeting in support of the Capital Improvement Plan budget put forth by staff.

I would like to lend my strong support to specific line items.

1) Elimination of fossil fuels from municipal operations
The city must provide EV chargers for the citys own fleet in order to meet our obligations under this CAP item.
Also key is replacement of aging gas equipment at the Burgess campus. This major source of Menlo Park emissions can and must be eliminated.

Our city can greatly reduce emissions, set an example, and educate the public, thus achieving 3 very important goals with each action.

2) Sea level rise resiliency planning
Obviously this is a complicated issue affecting multiple governments. Menlo Parks membership in OneShoreline is an important tool and should be funded.

3) Urban forestry planning
Trees provide many crucial services, including relief from punishing heat, a major equity issue in our city. We can improve the quality of life for many of our residents while also storing carbon and cleaning up the air.

I understand there is the potential for funding from PCE for some of the above efforts, and would like you to know I am also writing to PCE in support of those resources.


Nicole Kemeny

“But what we’re seeing now is Europe making an energy transition under the worst possible circumstances — sudden, unexpected and drastic — and handling it pretty well. This suggests that a gradual, planned green energy transition would be far easier than pessimists imagine." Krugman, NYT 4-7-23

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[https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1PNgQqzU8-SYKtGSWTzOradgsCqk1v3gr&revid=0B7X1Vdck3DBoQTRNTFBCYzk3eVlDejRCbXVBTE1YNnlYTWRvPQ]
Here lived Maurice Kemeny, born 1899.
He was deported in 1944 and ultimately murdered.
Stolperstein (Wikipedia)