Unfortunately sounds like this is his hope of a stepping stone to state and fed politics. If that's the case his interests won't lie with MP needs but with his political career needs.

@whatever, no Federal, State or even County elected official has ever come through Menlo Park City Council. This is why Menlo park gets the worst deal when it comes to Federal, State and County funding for parks, housing or transportation infrastructure. Short of some horrific scandal with the Democratic nominee, the GOP candidate in these races has no chance. Fortunately for Yang, the city council race is non-partisan. In this article, Yang addresses real issues that face the city. Other candidates should take note and be prepared to talk about real issues.

"Unfortunately sounds like this is his hope of a stepping stone to state and fed politics. If that's the case his interests won't lie with MP needs but with his political career needs."

As we've learned from Kirsten Keith.

@Interesting, regarding, "stepping stone to state and fed politics," you mean Otaku, not Keith, right?

Why do some people impugn the reasons why people run for council. This cynical view implies that the only reason they are running is that they view it as a stepping stone for higher office. Yes, occasionally some do. But for what reason? Some do it because they want the higher office. Others do it because of political pressure from the minority party to do so because having an unchallenged partisan seat (i.e., State Assembly or State Senate) would be embarrassing.

So, why don't we listen to what Mr. Chang proposes to do for his neighborhood and city before casting aspersions on his character and questioning his motives.

@Council_Watcher is right. Yang has proposed real solutions to real issues facing the region.

Council Watcher
And who is Mr. Chang?

If Yang wanted to be secretive, he he could easily cover his tracks on Twitter.

• twitter:com/combsdrew Web Link Account suspended

• twitter:com/VoteCecilia4M Web Link Account private

correction

• twitter:com/VoteCecilia4MP Web Link Account protected

Open Book
Cecilia's Twitter campaign acct is not protected. It doesn't exist as it was closed after the election. Perhaps you need to be a bit more Open to accuracy.

Kierstin Keith previously ran for county supervisor spot while on MP council. ——- and LOST.

Time for new candidates.

@Paying_attention, you are referring to a 2012 primary. Keith was re-elected in 2014, so the voters have already decided that.

In the 2014 city council race, one of the candidates had not registered to vote until after being appointed to a city commission... sad.

Menlo Park voters prefer a candidate with core values and a solid voting record.

What is George Yang's attendance record on volunteer boards, committees and commissions? My impression is that he is a very busy man and misses quite a few meetings due to time constraints. If so, will that continue if he is elected to the city council? I would hope not, as a 5 member City Council works best when everyone is in attendance.

@Observer, Yang is the only current candidate in District 1 to ever apply to or be appointed to a Menlo Park commission or committee.

Ever heard of

1- Carolyn Clarke

2- Cecelia Taylor

3- Pamela Jones, and

4- Billy Rae White

to name just a few !

@Observer, yes Carolyn Clarke and Billy Ray White served on city commissions, Billy Ray served as mayor of Menlo Park three times, but both are not current candidates. To our knowledge, Pam Jones is not a candidate and her daughter Cecilia has never applied to a Menlo Park commission or committee.

"I would hope not, as a 5 member City Council works best when everyone is in attendance."

Exactly: That's why Keith and Carlton's junkets are problematic and do a disservice to the public.

@Pay_more_attention, please name a single vote where attendance affected the outcome.

@Pay_more_attention, incorrectly referres to junkets. If an elected official is paid to make a speech, and the city pays nothing, this is not reportable, and is not a junket. Menlo Park residents are free to act as if this somehow affects then, but showing an impact on the city is a real streach.

More to chew on regarding Keith’s junkets and tenure in office.

Web Link

Web Link

Web Link

@whatever writes, "Cecilia's Twitter campaign acct is not protected. It doesn't exist as it was closed after the election."

Her account exists here: Web Link

Yo Open Book
I went to the first link you listed in you comment for Cecilia. That one is caput. Thanks for the corrected link..

Residents that want to stay up-to-date on these candidates and campaigns should follow them on Twitter.

It looks like the D1 candidates are still getting their website setup or are showing information from a previous election.

George Yang
twitter:com/georgeyang2018 Web Link
www:georgeyang2018:com https://www.georgeyang2018.com

Cecilia Taylor
twitter:com/votececilia4mp Web Link
www:taylor4menlopark:com http://www.taylor4menlopark.com

campaign websites mean little in district elections that are the size of menlo park's districts.

@websites, each Menlo Park district is larger than several small towns and cities in San Mateo County: Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley, Brisbane and Colma. Publishing a campaign website will let Yang tell his story... and be spared from the Almanac trolls.

Yang has produced an interesting plan to improve regional traffic flow. If Yang were to publish that information to a website, there could be meaningful discussion about it on Facebook and Twitter. The snarky discussion here has not yet touched on Yang's proposal. This Almanac article opens by throwing shade at Yang for being a Christian and for his choice to proudly express his second amendment rights. Bradshaw could have instead highlighted the bio from his current Twitter page, "Father, Husband, Businessman, Technology Professional, Homeowner, Advocate for Public Safety, Equality, Education and Safe Routes to School." Individual Almanac readers may not agree with all of Yang's views, but at least he put them out there for everyone to see.

A few of the exchanges refer to the broader topic of ethics. The April 18, 2018 Almanac editorial "Questions surround councilwoman's trip to China" raised reasonable concerns, asked reasonable questions and gave a reasonable recommendation related to a more explicit travel policy.Web Link I would also like Council to discuss establishing an ethics ordinance, and ethics commission and more extensive ethics training for Council, Staff and those serving on our local commissions and committees. Based on what's been in the news lately, and what others have alluded too in various Town Square posts, MP Council needs to address this matter -- and soon.

The FPPC has laws Web Link that directly pertain to accepting financial gifts and a transparency portal where (among other items) one can search for a Form 700. Web Link The Public Service Ethics Laws document Web Link is also helpful.

@Lynne_Bramlett, Making ethics training more accessible is a great idea, but forming an ethics commission for a city the size of Menlo Park may not be the best use of city resources. You must also know that when elected officials are paid for travel to make a speech, this is not a gift and is not reportable. This information was previously published in the appropriate article.

This article is about George Yang running for council. If the only issue Menlo Park residents care about is the city travel policy, George is clearly out of touch. George proposed that traffic, development and housing are the key issues that council must address.

Pay Attention -- I raise the issue of ethics in response to some comments made in this particular forum and because I would like those running for elected office to also discuss their stand on the topic of ethics reform. The problem also goes well beyond just a need for a tightened MP travel policy.

Just like we need to solutions to traffic and other problems, we also need ethics reform in MP. The League of Women Voters considers ethics, transparency, accountability and community engagement the cornerstones of good government. California law establishes only minimal ethical standards and the enforcement mechanism seems to consist of filing a complaint with the FPPC. Web Link

MP needs ethics reform to better ensure that public officials, staff and volunteers serving on local committees and commissions are held to high standards. We need to be able to trust that our public officials are making decisions to serve the public's interests. However, I see the first step as a Council appointed resident-led ethics task force to lead the process and to make recommendations. Web Link

Regarding an ethics commission, many small towns have established one and some cities have also joined with others to establish regional ethics bodies. An ethics commission could also save MP money in the long run. An Illinois study found that corruption costs taxpayers more than $1,300 per person. Web Link The Columbia Law School report, “Fighting Small Town Corruption” Web Link makes the point that “small municipalities have been the subject of numerous corruption scandals.” Instituting more accountability at the local level, through an ethics code, training and enforcement is the foundation of their recommendations.

@Lynne_Bramlett, the end result is that the comments on every article turn into your rant about ethics. Your points may be valid, but you are still spamming town square. People will start to ignore every post you make becasure we've already read to same content.

Open book, your incivility and hyperbole are startling. I guess my comments about the need for increased ethics in Menlo Park are hitting a nerve. Too bad you don't use your real name, but instead hide behind your "open book" anonymous post.

[Post removed; civil comments are welcome, but don't disparage other posters.]

@Lynne_Bramlett, I don't take issue with your point of view. I have read
your posts and followed the links. The issue is that you post the same information over and over again. I'm also not telling readers to skip over your posts, I'm just explaining to you how people respond to spam; they learn to ignore it.

If your post has nothing to do with the atricle, one sentence with a link to a story about corruption may be a more effective way to get your message across.

Open book
In a sense you've been suggesting Lynne is a schill for promoting ethics the same as you being a schill for Yang. Follow your own advice to Lynne, just give a link to Yang's site and leave us be.