Menlo Park Council Race Menlo Park Council Race (October 27, 2004)

Fergusson, Cohen for housing reform

Editor:

Robert Anderson is right (Almanac, Oct. 20): Half of Menlo Park's lots ("standard lots") are subjected to a rules-only ordinance. And a shame it is too.

Not coincidentally, standard lots are precisely where the monster-house issue first arose a decade ago. Since neighbors have never had input or notification, speculative developers have been unfettered by any restrictions and have been bound by "rules only."

Consequently, our rules-only ordinance has allowed houses that invade privacy, block sunlight, and destroy the charm of established neighborhoods. Today's ordinance has indeed failed standard lots. Rules-based Ordinance 926 was worse: in fact our senior planner agreed that 926 could pave the way for bigger houses.

To blame Kelly Fergusson for the McMansions under construction is the epitome of hypocrisy: In 2002 Council members Lee Duboc, Nicholas Jellins and Mickie Winkler (Robert Anderson's wife) rescinded the ordinance (915) that the previous City Council had just passed. Those rules, though imperfect, favored neighbors over speculative developers. The responsibility for any monster home built since 2002 undeniably lies at the feet of the council majority. Candidates Lorie Sinnott and Mike Lambert favor eliminating neighborhood input from areas ranging from residential development to traffic considerations. By contrast, candidates Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen believe that change needs to enhance, not destroy, the livability of Menlo Park, and they refuse to take residents out of the equation. That is why they deserve our vote on November 2.

Catherine McMillan
San Mateo Drive, Menlo Park

Council lacks transparent governance

Editor:

For two years, the Menlo Park City Council majority has practiced stealth governance. It has broached major issues and issued directives to staff in "study sessions that many residents are unaware of, where no minutes are recorded and videotaping is notavailable.

Only candidates Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen have made a commitment to open government. They will spotlight issues coming up for public debate and will ensure that residents have an opportunity to engage in informed debate. My vote is for a transparent political process. Help me elect Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen for City Council.

Lisa Shumway
Harvard Avenue, Menlo Park

Better to endorse Cohen for council

Editor:

You blew it endorsing City Council candidate Lorie Sinnott while overlooking retired judge Andy Cohen.

It is a matter of public record that Ms. Sinnott lives at one end of downtown, runs a business with her husband at the other end, and has a financial interest in a commercial building in between, near Trader Joe's.

How can she possibly participate impartially in decisions about downtown parking structures, revitalization efforts, and even grade separations when she has so many conflicts of interest?

According to California law, the Fair Political Practices Act, she must disclose such interests, and she has. However, it also requires that she disqualify herself from participating in or attempting to influence a governmental decision if it is likely that the outcome of the decision will have an important impact on her economic interests.

We need public officials who will serve Menlo Park with the highest integrity and objectivity, not serve their own financial interests. Andy Cohen has my vote.

Diane Walter
Mills Court, Menlo Park

Hope for city politics

Editor:

I attended a neighborhood coffee for Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen and came away feeling that there's hope for city politics.

Instead of the divisive code words like "supermajority" and "rules-based," they talked about increasing citizen inclusion in the city decision-making process, restoring the checks and balances inherent in our commission-based city government and providing a forum for discussion, where people can be heard and respectfully disagree as a part of the process.

Kelly Fergusson's advocacy in her Willows neighborhood and in her city-wide drive to inform and include citizens in major decisions regarding residential zoning is well known. Andy's background as a judge bespeaks the value he places on seeing both sides of an issue, finding common ground where possible, and looking at the big picture in his role as decision-maker. I urge Menlo Park voters to reclaim their voice in the political process and vote for both Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen on November 2. I plan to do so.

Nancy Hosay
Linfield Place, Menlo Park

Diversity of views needed on council

Editor:

The current City Council majority of Nicholas Jellins, Mickie Winkler and Lee Duboc has controlled nearly all legislation in the community; reduced citizen participation by creating policies in back rooms and failed to notify residents of sweeping changes in city ordinances.

The three have hand-picked Lorie Sinnott and Michael Lambert, whose platforms are in lockstep with their own pro-development agenda and are unlikely to be independent participants.

Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen do not derive their income from major development projects, as do their opponents, Lorie Sinnott and Mike Lambert. Their presence on the council will ensure that there will be a diversity of viewpoints.

Donnasue Jacobi
Haight Street, Menlo Park

Conspiracy fantasies hatch for elections

Editor:

I can always tell when it is City Council election season in Menlo Park when I hear the "evil developer" conspiracy theory getting tossed around.

This time, candidates Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen are promoting it. Ms Fergusson, in particular, got an early start on this smear campaign in the literature for her zoning referendum drive where she branded anyone with the remotest connection to the real estate or building trades as part of a conspiracy to destroy our city.

As Election Day nears, her supporters now paint even family members of the "conspirators" with this same brush. They use this tactic because it's far easier to create fear of a nebulous, "enemy outsider" than to formulate constructive plans for the city. In the 2002 City Council election, the voters soundly rejected the candidates who espoused this same philosophy, and they should do so again this November. Candidates Michael Lambert and Lorie Sinnott reject this divisiveness. They know how to balance the competing interests of property owners and neighborhoods, embrace fiscal responsibility, and care deeply about the quality of life in the city in which they grew up. Voters should reject the politics of demonization and instead elect Michael Lambert and Lorie Sinnott to City Council. Frank Tucker
Politzer Drive, Menlo Park

Fergusson supports local business

Editor:

Michelle Harbottle's letter in last week's Almanac contains misinformation that smears the good name and work of her neighbor, City Council candidate Kelly Fergusson.

It is unfortunate that Ms. Harbottle fails to reveal that she has a controversial project currently under review by the Planning Commission, regarding which Ms. Fergusson's City Council race opponent Lorie Sinnott will be voting.

Regardless of motive, Ms. Harbottle wrongly accuses Fergusson of responsibility for the one-year use permit granted to a neighborhood cafÈ. The cafÈ's owner did not show up to help explain his plans so neighborhood concerns about use and potential traffic could be addressed appropriately by the Planning Commission. Rather than deny the project, a short term was granted, by a 5-0 vote. With her home located nearby, Kelly Fergusson appropriately had recused herself from the commission deliberations.

Ms. Harbottle also ignores that Willows neighborhood business owners are visibly supporting Ms. Fergusson, who cares passionately about their success.

Finally, it is disingenuous for Ms. Harbottle to try to smear Ms. Fergusson with responsibility for the general business downturn that affects all Peninsula cities and the technology sector. Having worked with Kelly Fergusson on the Planning Commission, I know she works creatively and conscientiously to make sure Menlo Park remains a desirable home for both residents and businesses.

Patti Fry
Wallea Drive, Menlo Park

A concern on commission appointments

Editor:

I have watched with dismay as the Menlo Park City Council majority of Lee Duboc, Mickie Winkler and Nicholas Jellins has eviscerated our commissions or stacked them with people who mirror the majority's point of view.

This year, one Parks and Recreation and all seven Arts commissioners resigned in protest over various actions of the council majority. Some of them had been ardent supporters of the majority but, in the end, were outraged by their high-handedness. In addition, in a break with tradition, two Planning Commissioners were not reappointed to their volunteer posts, presumably for failing to be sufficiently development-friendly. Lorie Sinnott and Mike Lambert have been endorsed by the council majority. Can we expect more of the same behavior from these two candidates? Will Menlo Park's fate be left to commissioners who espouse only one point of view? Kelly Fergusson and Andy Cohen have spoken out against this questionable behavior. They have pledged to listen to a range of viewpoints and to treat our commissioners with the respect they deserve. I urge you to vote for Kelly and Andy on November 2.

Erika Bailey
Oak Knoll Lane, Menlo Park

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