March 2026 Newsletter

City Council Sets 2026 Priorities

At the City Council Priority-Setting Workshop on March 21, the council set its 2026 priorities: safe routes, climate action, housing, downtown vibrancy, and public safety. This list marks a shift from the previous one, notably by removing emergency preparedness and adding public safety. During the discussion, I advocated for the addition of public safety to the list both as a reflection of the heightened concerns about home robberies and as a mechanism to best focus the city on efforts to address those concerns. There was some discussion during the session that since public safety is a core function, it should not be considered for inclusion as a priority.

Climate Action

During the broader discussion, I also argued for removing climate action as a city priority. This wasn't because I don’t support the underlying programs, but rather because many of the city's climate initiatives have reached a significant level of maturity. In my view, the fact that these efforts have matured and been a priority for several years now presents an opportunity to shift our focus to more pressing, novel, and nascent efforts.

Council Gives Direction on Slow Streets Program

At its March 10 meeting, the City Council provided direction for the Slow Streets Program. This program is the long-awaited replacement for the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP), which had been largely suspended since the pandemic. The NTMP previously offered a formal process for residents to propose projects, primarily traffic calming initiatives. One of the last NTMP projects involved installing traffic calming measures on Marmona Avenue and surrounding streets in the Willows. Now, the over 30 projects that have been proposed will be assessed under the new Slow Streets Program framework.

Points System Proposed

As part of the transition to the Slow Streets Program, staff proposed a points system to analyze and rank both existing NTMP legacy projects and future resident proposals. While I generally support this effort, I raised an objection because the proposal did not allow the City Council to play a meaningful role in these decisions. Although I appreciate the staff's work, this points system, in my opinion, overlays a quantitative gloss on what are fundamentally policy decisions. The outcome is that staff would be making decisions that I believe belong to the City Council.

Support for City-wide Distribution of Programs

I was pleased that a majority of my colleagues supported my proposal that staff ensure projects approved through this program are distributed across all five council districts. Ensuring projects are inclusive of a cross-section of city neighborhoods will be a key factor in the long-term viability and community-wide support for this program.

Flood Park Construction Update

This spring, the multi-year renovation of Flood Park will hit a major milestone with the opening of a new all-abilities playground. This exciting addition joins recent improvements like a pump track, a new basketball court, a youth soccer field, and updated picnic areas. You can stay updated on the project's progress and learn more at this website.

Donation Opportunity

As part of this project, there's also a chance to help fund the final touches and personalize a commemorative paver on-site. Details about this program are available on the San Mateo County Parks Foundation's website.

Menlo Park - Atherton First Community Ramadan Iftar Dinner

On March 12, I had the pleasure of joining community members and fellow elected officials at the First Annual Menlo Park-Atherton Ramadan Iftar Dinner. I was truly grateful to have played a small part in supporting and encouraging the local families who organized this wonderful event.

This memorable evening, which included a presentation by local children, brought to mind a city council discussion from a few years ago regarding community events. At that time, some council members suggested the city should step back from community events that might be perceived as rooted in a single tradition. I argued that instead of withdrawing, we should actively seek ways to support and encourage the celebration of events and traditions that reflect the vibrant spectrum of the Menlo Park community. In many ways, the Iftar dinner was a beautiful realization of that vision.

District 2 Office Hours, Egg Hunt and 2026 City Council Elections

• Community Office Hours - Join me every Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Neighborhood Pizza Guy/Café Zoë in the Willows neighborhood. Drop by to share your thoughts on city matters, ask questions, or just say hello. Appointments aren't necessary, but feel free to message or email me beforehand if you plan to attend. Please note: there will be no office hours on April 4

• Annual Egg Hunt and Community Festival - The city's annual Egg Hunt and Community Festival is scheduled for April 4 at Burgess Park. The event promises a petting zoo, photos with the "big bunny," children's crafts, and the Menlo Park Fire Fun Zone. You can learn more and register for the event here.

• 2026 City Council Elections - The 2026 City Council elections will include Districts 1, 2 (which I currently represent), and 4. Recently, I've received several inquiries about whether I plan to seek re-election. As I've often said, serving the Menlo Park City Council has been a truly humbling experience. My commitment to the residents of District 2 and all of Menlo Park remains as strong as ever. But I have not yet made a final decision regarding re-election. My family and I plan to make a final decision during Spring Break next month, and I will share that decision soon after.