When people learned that the City was going to declare the downtown parking plazas to be “surplus land” for housing, there was an outpouring of dismay and disbelief.
Concerned residents and business owners wrote emails and overflowed the City Council chambers.
Community Voice
But despite the widespread concern, our city officials did not change course.
On something this important, and this permanent, the voice of the community must be heard. That is why our Citizens’ Initiative is necessary.
Overflowing January 4, 2025 Council Meeting, with many more outside.
The First Few Hundred Emails to Council (Once Word Got Out)
(Use the arrows to the side of the image to scroll through them.)
After our initiative qualified, there was another wave of emails. Roughly 400 residents sent the message below urging that our Citizens Initiative be adopted at the Nov. 4, 2025 Council meeting:
Subject: I trust the people of Menlo Park
Mayor Combs and City Council Members,
I support more affordable housing in Menlo Park. In the right locations, it will strengthen our community.
But our community is built around a shared downtown — and the downtown depends on the public parking plazas. Repurposing those plazas would be a once-in-a-generation decision with extreme consequences.
On this decision, I trust the people of Menlo Park to do what’s best for the town in which they live.
I therefore urge you to adopt the Downtown Parking Plazas Ordinance, giving residents the right to vote on the future of their downtown.
Thank you for your service in representing the people of Menlo Park.
NOTE: Instead of adopting ordinance outright, Council commissioned a $165,000 study by M-Group - the same consulting firm that managed the housing plan. After the study, Council voted unanimously to put our initiative on the November, 2026 ballot.
To send a public email to Council: city.council@menlopark.gov