Menlo Park renters invited to organize Menlo Park renters invited to organize (June 29, 2005)

Menlo Park resident Elizabeth Lasensky plans to start an organization that will advocate for fellow residential tenants in the city.

She invites renters to a meeting of what she's calling the Menlo Park Renters Association at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, in the auditorium at the Little House activity center, 800 Middle Ave. in Menlo Park.

Ms. Lasensky, who has lived in a Menlo Park apartment for 14 years, said she has been planning the association for about a month.

Although membership so far is made up of Ms. Lasensky alone, she said that others have expressed interest. "There will be a lot of people on board," she predicted.

Besides lobbying in behalf of renters, Ms. Lasensky said she hopes the organization can increase a sense of community among tenants, encourage their participation in community service activities, and provide ongoing voter registration.

"I believe that renters need a voice, and in order to have a real voice, they need to be collective," she said.

Residents can sign up for an e-mail list at menloparkrenters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. For more information, call Ms. Lasensky at 799-6468.

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