Prop 1A is a disaster for cities along the peninsula. It is also a disaster for the State of California.

John Boyle, who seems to pride himself on fiscal responsibility, yet takes a yes on Prop 1A stand, really is without comprehension.

Prop 1A, a 10 billion dollar bond measure, that is going to cost the State $650 million per year in debt service, coming at a time when the State is in deep financial deficit just makes no sense.

John Boyle. a City council man, whose should know better than to propose that Menlo Park will benefit from the project coming through our community, still advocates for it.

Voters, at this time of year, please keep Mr. Boyle's position on this issue in mind. Should he seek a second term in 2 years, we can just put him on a train and ride him out of office. I certainly want council members to have the interests of Menlo Park, not the interests of the Chamber of Commerce, when they cast their votes on important issues.

Rick Ciardella, now running for council, a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, does not deserve your vote to sit on council. I take his position on Prop 1A as a litmus test and he certainly has not said NO to Prop 1A. He won't say no to any development project that will come before council either.

Don't vote for Rick..

Voting against HSR is short-sighted. HSR is good for California and is good for our community, which stands to benefit from it. Think of all of the people who protested making highway 280.

Rick supports HSR and therefore deserves our support.

There is a vocal minority that opposes HSR. I hope you don't wreck HSR for the rest of us.

A vocal minority? Millions of people who are worried about the state getting more and more in debt over a Jetsons fantasy.

Before you have your cake and eat it too, you should make sure you have enough money to pay for it. We don't.

Good try "I'm voting no" to include Rick Ciardella in this debate. You are absolutely, unequivocally wrong to include Rick in this discussion. He and John Boyle disagree with this issue. Rick has publically stated he does not support the issue, and this has been known for months. Please do not spread lies and untruths about Rick's opinion on this issue, or other development issues. His opinion regarding development is actually quite healthy and should be considered. He would be the ONLY one on council that has had many years of experience regarding open space decisions, and development decisions. At least he wants to keep things moving, and at least he wants SOMETHING done. His definition of development = Just do SOMETHING! Very different than this current bunch of "do nothings".

A "just do something" approach to development will likely result in a hodge podge of things and never result in the mix of businesses, housing, services, revenue and open space we want. Piecemeal approvals just for the sake of doing something prevents more thoughtful, more desirable, more comprehensive, more cohesive results.
This "just do something" approach is an abdication of responsibility for a city official, who must help us do the right thing for the long haul not just expedient things in the short term. As much as I would prefer to hasten the pace of the current planning process, I think it is the right approach. The entire current council supports this, and we should also, by participating.

Here's what Rick says re getting things done on El Camino(www.smartvoter.org/2008/11/04/ca/sm/vote/ciardella_r/philosophy.html):

>>> The continual investment renewal that has taken place in our residential neighborhoods should be the model we follow. Private land owners bring their proposals to the city engineers. If they conform to published codes and are not totally offensive the owner is allowed to invest and build. <<<

That is his "plan" for El Camino, but it is no different from today's MO. The problem has been that some developers have been pushing the envelope, and have chosen to ignore the existing codes and zoning as well as implicit design values.

Everyone on the council wants to fix up El Camino, but as the current members have articulated, that change must occur in a thoughtful, inclusive manner. The visioning process has moved along at a good pace, and I hope that if Rick is elected, he does not try to circumvent it.

"Do something" sounds like meaningless handwringing to me. The current council IS doing something, and I support their efforts. (Which may, unfortunately, be undermined by HSR.)

no on hsr writes
"
A vocal minority? Millions of people who are worried about the state getting more and more in debt over a Jetsons fantasy.

Before you have your cake and eat it too, you should make sure you have enough money to pay for it. We don't. "

Boy isn't this the truth!

We have a State budget which has covered over, not solved mind you, but covered over, $15 billion in deficit. Now a couple of weeks later, we learn that budget is going to be $3 Billion short. And then yesterday, the Governor announces, that the shortage is much bigger than 3 billion; new estimates 8 - 10 billion.

Build a rail system in this economy? We would have to be nuts.

I am getting so sick of seeing the exact same arguments and name-calling on all of these HSR threads. Is there anyone out there who's still undecided? Can we just vote and be done with it already?

Councilman John Boyle is more in touch with the community of Menlo Park than anyone on the city council. The city of Menlo Park voted in favor of Prop 1A 58%-42%. Precincts that sit right next to the tracks voted yes.

It's time to stop the assault on the high speed train, drop any current or planned lawsuits, and work with the California High Speed Rail to mitigate construction impacts.