Hi Betsy, I created an account on hiago.app with the intent to post a public message on this page but I do not see an option for me to do so. May you kindly post it for me, and reply confirming when this has been done? Thank you,
Dear Honorable Council Members,
My name is Emilio Flamenco. I hold a Masters in Urban Planning from Columbia University, am a certified Urban Planner (AICP #34367), and I teach middle and high school here in Menlo Park. Like many of my colleagues under age 35, there is a severe housing shortage impacting my ability to live near where I work. This housing crisis acutely affects not only teachers, but more distressingly, our sanitation workers, landscapers, housecleaners, maintenance workers, and dozens of other professionals needed to keep Menlo Park running efficiently. Many of these workers commute from hours away, in some cases from as far as the Central Valley. Construction of affordable housing in our backyard is the single most effective action that the residents of Menlo Park can take towards ending these sprawl inducing, pollution-generating traffic patterns.
Despite the worsening of our climate crisis, traffic, and housing shortage, many peninsula cities have continued keeping the drawbridge rolled up shut towards new neighbors, kicking the can down the road for other jurisdictions to build housing "elsewhere." There always seems to be an "elsewhere." Well, decades of saying "no" have finally caught up to the peninsula, and everyone reading this is already well informed of the state-imposed penalties that Menlo Park now faces should it continue saying "no" to new housing.
There are those reading those who support new housing in Menlo Park, but elsewhere. However, extensive study by the Planning Department has determined that the downtown site will be the least expensive option due the citys existing ownership of that land, plus considerations with regard to utility easements.With regard to traffic and parking -- as someone who takes Caltrain daily to Menlo Park, I can safely attest that the increase in train frequency thanks to electrification has yielded the dividends that we all hoped for. Density near transit is accepted as the rational development pattern across the entire globe. Many reading this have enjoyed the serenity of pedestrian-scaled urbanism in Europe and Asia. Why does the United States persist in its zealous prioritization of the automobile above the human being?
No doubt the conversations tonight will be difficult, but they are long overdue. We must listen and engage all stakeholders, especially the downtown business owners whose parking will be affected. I will be present tonight to lend my full-throated support for housing not only as a teacher, but also as a certified urban planner (APA ID: 370141 , AICP certification #34367) striving to endorse researched, best practice in real life.
Tonight is a rare opportunity for Menlo Park to shirk its reputation as an exclusionary, exclusive enclave and instead embrace the mantle of a champion for 21st century, forward-facing values. It is time to end the politics of "no," and embrace the politics of "yes."
On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 12:02 PM Emilio Flamenco > wrote:
Ok thank you for informing me.
On Fri, Jan 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM Nash, Betsy > wrote:
Hi Emilio,
You will be able to sign up to speak in-person at the meeting – see information on page 3 of the meeting agenda: https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/agendas-and-minutes/city-council/2025-meetings/20250114/20250114-city-council-regular-agenda.pdf
Development of new housing is agenda item H1. Here’s a link to the staff report: https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/agendas-and-minutes/city-council/2025-meetings/20250114/h1-20250114-cc-downtown-parking-plaza-sla.pdf
Best,
Betsy
[cid:CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Betsy Nash (she/her)
Vice Mayor
City Hall - 2nd Floor
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-380-3986
menlopark.gov>
See www.pronouns.org> to learn more about why I share my pronouns.
From: Emilio Flamenco >
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:35 AM
To: _CCIN >
Subject: Public comment at the 1/14 meeting
Hi there, I am interested in attending the Jan. 14th City Council meeting and am wondering if there is any opportunity for the public to step up and voice comments at the event. Specifically, with regard to the development of new housing.
Kindly let me know if there is anywhere I can sign up to do so, on that night. In-person, not virtual. I am already aware of this virtual message board.
Thank you,
Emilio Flamenco
