GUEST OPINION: Chuck Kinney's departure: a sad day for Menlo Park GUEST OPINION: Chuck Kinney's departure: a sad day for Menlo Park (July 14, 2004)

This guest opinion was written by former Menlo Park City Council members Mary Jo Borak, Jack Morris and Steve Schmidt.

Chuck Kinney's impending retirement from the Menlo Park City Council comes as a major disappointment to all who know and respect this man. Not only will the city lose a conscientious and resourceful public servant at a critical time, but a leadership void is created by his departure.

Mr. Kinney supported programs and policies that brought broad benefits to the city: The safety of our water supply; the aesthetics of El Camino Real; the environmentally sound flood protections; the protection of the city's trees; the locally managed bus service for commuters, students and seniors; the open space protection at Bayfront Park; the approval of the Menlo-friendly redesign of the Sand Hill/ Alpine/Santa Cruz intersections; the 2002 residential design ordinance that favored residents over speculators and real estate agents; a healthy business climate; and a broad collaborative approach to problem solving. In addition, he ironically provided the third vote necessary to make Nicholas Jellins mayor in 2001.

The first act of the newly elected majority of Jellins, Winkler and Duboc was to deny Mr. Kinney his rightful turn as mayor in 2003. Seemingly intent on destroying all vestiges of the work of previous councils, they then in short order rescinded the residential design ordinance (Ord. 915), which was the product of over three years of intense community effort; derailed the construction of the Menlo Children's Center; terminated the final phase of the national award-winning El Camino tree-planting program, and sought the resignation of the entire Planning Commission. Their 2004-5 budget weakened community service support to the Belle Haven neighborhood and eliminated an employee who for 15 years had built and managed Menlo Park's exemplary shuttle service that now provides nearly 5,000 rides per month to seniors, the disabled, and students who have limited transportation options.

After Mayor Duboc requested a 10-fold increase in annual expenditures for street maintenance, $2 million was moved from the general fund reserve to pothole repair. Council member Winkler, in attacking the cost of the Menlo Children's Center project in January 2003, referred to the general fund reserve as the "emergency fund." Is this so great an emergency that the council will cut services for seniors, the disabled and children but spend $2 million on filling potholes during a budget crisis? The answer is a sad comment on the council's current priorities.

Council members Winkler, Duboc and Jellins will continue to exercise their private style of governance for the next two years. In fact, in order to strengthen their hold on the council, they have begun the campaign season early this year by endorsing Lorie Sinnott. Before voters embrace another candidate from the political action committee Menlo Park Matters, they should take a little time to contrast the record of Mr. Kinney with that of the current regime.

There is little doubt that Mr. Kinney's exemplary career of public service has been cut short by his colleagues' vindictive behavior and disdain for his ideas and programs. All their talk of ending divisiveness and restoring civility creates a fog behind which the council has exercised its private agenda. The absence of this honorable community leader will be a loss to the council and to the entire city.

Chuck, we'll miss you.

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