Obviously the council as a body didn't "authorize" these steps, because it would have had to be done in a public meeting. If what Member says is true, it certainly has a whiff of impropriety. If Rojas was "instructed" to do what is claimed, who did the instructing? Or is this just a rumor started by someone who loves to get people riled up?

Corroborated by several insiders. I think we know who is behind this.

And the person behind this is ... ?

Could it be anyone other than our lovely mayor? Our city manager isn't going to take orders from just anyone, and I don't think the city attorney cares enough to make this his cause celebre.

Here is a related story: "Andy Duncan says dance studio is back on the table" Web Link

This is a bunch of (expletive)!

What can an ordinary person like myself, without any connections, do about this? This makes me disgusted. There seems to be no accountability.

Da Mayor forgot that summer re-runs are over, like her political career! Is she serious?? Just drive around town and look at the neglected infrastructure, pot holed streets, understaffed and overworked 911 dispatchers, lagging police morale. Sure, let's justify the maximum UTT Kelly, then give away half a million to the next dreamer. Get real! Let Crittenden drop the price $500K (he wouldn't do it if he thought his "new" office/retail plan would pencil out, and it won't or he wouldn't have give Duncan an extension), or let Kelly write the check from her personal account for the $500K delta (if it's real) , or pass the hat among "angel" investors, but don't waste taxpayers money and valuable staff time on your hair brained schemes. Kelly, time to pass the gavel to Cohen before you write your last chapter in Menlo civic affairs. About time you paid attention to the real issues facing the city.

Me thinks she stayed under too long in the "dunk" tank. 'course, it's what we have come to expect of a Slocum recruit. Boyle and the boys can hardly suppress their laughter, just itchin' for next November.

What I find most amazing about this smelly little situation is that Kelly didn't learn from seeing her three imperial colleagues go down in flames last November (OK, Jellins didn't run, but he knew better.) Unfortunately, she won't only take herself down, she's ensuring that the big-growth-is-beautiful folks will retake the council from the smarth-growthers.

Also, is anyone else questioning her methods? Isn't she orchestrating a scenario that her own council colleagues have shown zero support for? Sounds like the behind-the-scenes "management" of city staff that the Winkler-Duboc-Jellins team was so justifiably criticized for.

Can you think of a single developer project over the last several years that has not been shoved down Menlo Park’s throat? Can you think of a single developer project that has not provoked resident anger and action, Council confrontation, and conflicting letters to the editor? By now, many of us believe that Menlo Park's government is practicing the world’s oldest profession. No, I mean real estate. The Park Theatre also qualifies as one of those projects.

Yo, Martin, I am not seeing much support for this boondoggle. Just a few "but the building is so beautiful!" posts from people who are either buddies of Crittenden/Duncan or intemperate idealists who wouldn't cough up a penny for the cause themselves. (Note that there were similar rallying cries about "saving the building" after the University Ave Walgreen's was destroyed by fire last month.)

Crittenden has been bugging the city for a handout for his POS building for years. Now he has gotten Duncan to shill for him, but let's get real. Not enough l'Eau Du Temps in the world to perfume this pig.

John Boyle's laughter may be nervous laughter. He took a $1000 campaign contribution from Crittendon of the Park Theater last year. I hope he has the fortitude to say no in the face of that. Otherwise his credibility is flushed along with $500K.

Anyway, look for Kelly to run in a county supervisor primary in the spring against Rose Jacobs Gibson if she has any tangible aspirations.

If Boyle gives the grand back to the P(o)rk Theatre owner, then that leaves just $499K to go. His Vc buds can fund the rest(?). Anything to keep Kelly F. for Supervisor signs from "gracing" the Park marquee for all the gridlocked ECR drivers to see if Duncan gets away with this.

According to the city's website John Boyle took $2000 from Crittendon. (As did Winkler and Duboc).

Yet, during that bizarre Monday council meeting at which this matter was discussed, Boyle seemed to be the council member most opposed to the loan. Somehow I don't think he's the one we've got to worry about.