Dear City Council Members --
I am a long-time resident of Menlo Park and have been involved in local climate action dating back to City Council’s original commitment in 2006 and the ensuing Menlo Park Green Ribbon Citizens’ Committee recommendations. I served on the Environmental Quality Commission for 8 years and worked on recommendations for the City’s initial 27%-by-2020 greenhouse gas reduction target and related Climate Action Plan. I was delighted and grateful for your groundbreaking commitment last year for a climate neutral Menlo Park by 2030.
Yet, I am chagrined to learn that Staff is recommending that the upcoming climate action initiatives that have been approved by City Council be removed from the City’s list of priority actions for the coming year.
Now is the time to get out front in implementing the specific climate-smart programs to help attract businesses, save residents money, and address the systemic inequities in housing and transportation across our community.
In the same week that General Motors committed to phasing out the internal combustion engine in all of the vehicles it produces in just 15 years, it would be a shame for Menlo Park to step away from the leadership and progress it has been making on climate and committed to over the next 10 years.
One of the city priorities identified in the staff report -- the SAFER Bay Project -- is an extremely costly effort to protect infrastructure from the devastation of climate pollution-caused sea level rise. It will be a shame and a failure if the city does not take advantage of the economic opportunities in the transition to a clean energy economy only to have the share of city priorities and resources devoted to protecting ourselves from the ravages of climate change grow and grow in the coming years.
I applaud your leadership on the City Council for forceful statements and strong goals on climate. Please don't miss the opportunity to reap the benefits of acting on those goals. Prioritize durable community health and prosperity by supporting our city staff in making important progress on climate solutions this year.
Sincerely,
Mitch Slomiak
