This article states, "Tax increases... often face a stiff fight for approval by residents tired of watching more and more money vanish from their wallets."

True, residents are tired of watching money vanish from their wallets, but the TOT will not tax residents. Also, those staying for extended visits (family visiting loved ones at Stanford) are exempt. Further, the "Statement of the Vote" shows that Menlo Park residents were in favor of the recent county TOT measure, although it failed county-wide. Finally, the consequences outlined by Elizabeth Brierly are total nonsense. Elizabeth Brierly is not resident of Menlo Park, or even San Mateo County. It is unclear that she has ever stayed in a hotel in Menlo Park.

It seems as if a prime solution to shortfalls in any government's budget is to tax -- at the federal level, state, and locally. Granted that the cost of operating increases, but it's hard for me to believe that government has really done ALL it can to shore up its financial stability.

An increase in the hotel tax -- the ultimate NIMBY pickpocket