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Letter: Conflict today on Willows traffic, but not in 2008

Now you see her. Now you don't.

Two Menlo Park City Council members recently removed themselves from voting on the city's spectacularly unpopular Willows Traffic Plan, since they live within 2,500 feet of some of the plan's traffic-diversion features. The resulting potential impact on their property values caused them to have financial interests in the project, leading appropriately to their recusals.

Too bad that one of them, council member Kelly Fergusson, didn't exhibit similar reservations in 2008, when she enthusiastically voted for the city to spend $120,000 on the plan that produced this conflict of interest for her. She even voted to include in the plan, contrary to established city policy, exactly the kinds of street features that created the conflict.

The potential impact on Willows properties, including hers, was certainly predictable, since a 2,500-foot radius from her home includes almost the entire Willows neighborhood. No doubt, she will argue that her 2008 actions were technically legal, but that will miss the point of the questionable ethics of her behavior.

You see, in 2008, when Fergusson was running for re-election to council, traffic activists in the Willows needed to be appeased with an expensive study. By 2011, the topic had become a political hot potato to be avoided.

Ms. Fergusson's Houdini-like appearance and subsequent disappearance in this drama make perfect sense ... for a political opportunist.

Frank Tucker, Politzer Drive, Menlo Park

Posted by concerned citizen, a resident of the Menlo Park: The Willows neighborhood, on Jun 14, 2011 at 1:57 pm

This is for anybody who lives, drives, walks, runs in the willows neighborhood. There is a WHITE 1996-2002 CLK convertible style Mercedes that roams the willows and frankly uses the streets as his racetrack. He has been spotted flying down central avenue back and forth and will do anything to avoid capture. He is a 30-40 year old man and when I got the chance to question him after he had gotten stuck in a traffic jam, he seemed extremely intoxicated. I want anybody to be on the lookout and to call the police if you witness him doing anything illegal on our safe, family-friendly streets.

Posted by looking on, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2011 at 3:50 am

As a former supporter of Fergusson, her actions just reflect what has become obvious , that she should resign. Her political career is certainly finished. She is all about self promotion. Time she goes.

Why doesn't Mr. Tucker put some force behind his statements. Where are Duboc and Winkler. Why don't they start a recall effort.

Present council is pathetic. The Downtown / El Camino plan is in shambles, with legal as well as very unpopular changes now coming to the fore.

Next month,City Manger Rojas starts his "double dipping" , drawing down retirement benefits while stay on and getting a salary, not to mention using the City as his personal bank. Shameful, and this Council goes along with all of this.