This week I met a friend for a hearty and delicious breakfast at J Café (the new name of Jason's Café), between Oak Grove and Glenwood on El Camino Real. You can see my incredibly decadent meal of eggs, hash browns and pancakes below (and yes, I ate just about everything). It's great to have this tasty restaurant reopen in our community.
It's also exciting to see new eateries starting to open at Springline, including Canteen which has two storefronts, a coffee shop that opened in November along the same strip as J's Café on El Camino Real, and a restaurant/bar that features wine, spirits and small plates that just opened on Oak Grove (see write-up about it in InMenlo here). How do we keep these restaurants and bars, and attract more? We spend our money at them. Please join me in supporting our Menlo Park businesses and shopping (and eating) local.
Another way for Menlo Park to attract and retain retail and restaurants is to enable additional housing to be built so that more people will support and frequent these establishments. Another benefit of adding more housing at all income levels is so that the people we need to work in these stores and cafes have a place to live in our community and businesses have a labor pool from which to hire.
Tuesday (January 31st) night's special City Council meeting is to consider the adoption of the state-mandated Housing Element which requires Menlo Park (and all cities in California) to accommodate a significant amount of residential growth over the next 8 years. While the Housing Element is a regulatory requirement, it is also an opportunity for our community to prosper and evolve as we embrace the future. More people = more vibrancy (more yummy food!).
Have a great week.
Warmly,
Special Meeting to Consider Adoption of the Housing Element
Tuesday, January 31st at 6pm
As a reminder, I have several newsletters and videos about the Menlo Park Housing Element that I created over the past 1 1/2 years, to help residents understand more about the process, what trade-offs are considered, what the consequences are if Menlo Park doesn't comply with State law, and other information. Those can be found below:
Below are some additional items that may be of interest.
City Council Community Funding Grant Subcommittee Meeting
Monday, January 30th at 2pm
Every year the City puts aside money (no more than 1.7% of general fund property tax) for the Community Funding Grant Program. Funded programs must respond to a verified community need as defined by City Council Policy CC-01-1996 and include:
Those living with disabilities
Emergency assistance and low income support
Seniors
Youth
Local nonprofit agencies whose programs respond to the human service needs of Menlo Park residents are encourage to seek funding and all recipients of financial assistance grants enter into a contractual agreement with the City detailing the specific objectives to be accomplished as a result of the grant.
Affordable Housing Opportunity in Menlo Park
Waitlist Opens Monday, January 30th and Closes Friday, February 17th
MidPen Housing is near completion of a redeveloped affordable housing development in District 1 on Willow Road called Gateway Rising. The development will include 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, and applications for a lottery will start being accepted on Monday, January 30th (tomorrow). To be considered, applications must be received by Friday, February 17th at 5pm. Note that community income restrictions and preferences apply, and that demand for the apartments will likely far exceed supply.
For more information, visit MidPen Housing's webpage on this project here or check out a one-page flier here.
Menlo Park Black Liberation Month Celebration
Saturday, February 11th from 12 to 3pm
On February 11th from noon until 3pm at the Belle Haven Branch Library (413 Ivy Drive, Menlo Park) join neighbors in celebrating the past, present, and future of Black Americans on this day of education, cultural remembrance and the presentation of the Youth Poster Exhibition. Come help pay respect to local heroes of the Belle Haven and nearby communities. Hear inspiring words of strength, triumph and resilience. Enjoy live music and food. The day will conclude with a children’s storytelling show at 2 p.m.
All elementary, middle and high school students who live in or attend school in Menlo Park are invited to submit a poster to be included in the Black History Month Youth Poster Exhibition.
Cal Water Scholarship Program - Up to $10,000 for College
Deadline to Apply is March 30th
Cal Water just opened the application period for its 10th annual College Scholarship Program. The scholarship is open to any student who resides in one of Cal Water's service areas. A total of $80,000 is available in scholarship awards, including four $10,000 grand-prize scholarships, with additional scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.
Eligible applicants must plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate study program at an accredited college, university, or vocational-technical school for the 2023-24 academic year. Scholarships will be awarded based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need. Deadline to apply is March 30th at 11:59pm.
