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Nearly half a million dollars has been raised in November’s ballot measure over whether Menlo Park should have housing on its downtown city-owned parking lots.
Menlo Park’s Measure P would bar the city from selling or otherwise changing its downtown parking lots without voter approval. The measure would apply to all eight city-owned lots downtown, including three for which the city has received housing development proposals.
With almost two months before the Nov. 3 elections, opponents of the measure have revealed deeper pockets, raising more than $272,000. The measure’s supporters are close behind, with more than $205,000 in their coffers two weeks before ballots go out. Thousands of dollars are listed as “nonmonetary,” which is when organizations or people donate goods or services in lieu of cash.
The measure was brought on by a signature-gathering campaign largely organized by downtown business and property owners, who argued that developing the parking lots would impair customers’ ability to access businesses and reduce foot traffic downtown. On the other hand, opponents to the measure say it would imperil future developments downtown when the city needs more affordable housing.
Top contributors to the “No on P” campaign include John M. Sobrato, chairman of the Sobrato Organization board, who donated $49,900; former OpenAI executive Robert McGrew, who donated $25,000; and local housing advocate Karen Grove, who donated $20,000 from the “Grove Action Fund.”
Grove, who is also a co-chair for the “No on P” campaign, said she’s proud of the campaign’s broad coalition supporters, from Sobrato, who donated in his personal capacity as an advocate for affordable housing, to dozens of donations of less than $100. She said the campaign’s lowest donation is $9.25.
“I can tell we have really, really deep support,” she said. “So many of us are really invested as donors, as investors, as volunteers, in defeating the measure and investing in the future of downtown.”
Grove also touted a handful of notable organizations that have endorsed and are financially supporting the measure, including the ACLU of Northern California, which donated $5,000, and Midpen Housing, whose $5,000 donation will be listed in a future filing. Some notable figures in Menlo Park politics also appeared in the campaign’s financial disclosure forms, such as former mayor and councilmember Jen Wolosin, who gave $250.
The Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County also donated about $20,150 worth of staff time, according to the committee’s nonmonetary contribution filings. The nonprofit’s politically active branch — Housing Leadership Action — is sponsoring the committee, and Executive Director Evelyn Stivers personally sent the campaign $250.
Alex Beltramo, a chair for the “Yes on P” campaign,” said he’s unsurprised that opponents are leading the fundraising race.
“With big developers on their side, we’ve never expected to raise more money than our opposition,” Beltramo said in an email. “What’s important is that we raise enough to communicate to all voters what Measure P is and why it’s so important.”
Beltramo and his family are among the campaign’s top donors, having donated a combined $3,759 and loaned the campaign $48,000. Alongside him is Richard Draeger and his family’s supermarket chain, which together have donated a combined $11,551 and loaned the campaign $39,000. Beltramo said they’re both proud to be top donors, and that loans give the campaign more flexibility in the future.
Other top donors include Mickles Property, which donated $50,000; James Boettcher, who donated $6,418 and Nadine Pfluger, who has donated $4,000.
A notable number of businesses and limited liability companies also donated to the “Yes on P” campaign. This includes Elf Realty Corp., which has donated $2,500; Baciocco Enterprises LLC, which has donated $2,000; and WTA Burgess LLC on behalf of Michelle Dillabough, which has donated $1,605. Marnie Foody, founder of the Downtown Menlo Fund revitalization nonprofit, also gave $1,303 to the campaign.
The next pre-election financial disclosure deadline is Sept. 24. Follow more coverage of this year’s elections here.
