Dear City Council Members,
In a short while you will continue deliberating Menlo Park’s climate action measures, today focused on the next steps in building electrification.
You are to be commended for the climate-neutrality-by-2030 goal as well as REACH codes requiring electrification and no methane gas usage (with a few exceptions) for new construction.
These are measures needed nationally and worldwide as part of the massive efforts required to address the climate emergency and restore a healthy climate for our children and grandchildren.
Menlo Park’s actions are far more than a drop in the bucket. Without communities taking the lead and innovating it is difficult for regional, state, and national governments to amass the support and experience needed for necessary measures. Dozens of California communities adopted REACH codes for new construction similar to the ones you enacted for Menlo Park.
The EQC’s recommendations are deeply thoughtful and address the array of challenges that will be faced across Menlo Park’s economic diversity as well as the variety of building types across residential and commercial usages.
The issues we face are complex, yet we must face them swiftly and decisively if we are to shorten the span of the climate emergency and restore a healthy climate for our children and grandchildren.
Please advise City staff to move forward with appropriate public education and engagement, as well as the necessary ordinances to implement these measures.
With gratitude for all of your courageous efforts,
Mitch Slomiak
26-year Menlo Park resident; former Environmental Quality Commissioner
_________________________________
Mitchel J. Slomiak
Vice Chair, Advisory Board
Menlo Spark
mslomiak@comcast.net
650-322-6349
[cid:7D0689A3-D988-4B2D-9B2D-550BAC41C835]
Achieving Climate Neutrality as a Community
