Why are the supporters of Measure M so unwilling to engage in an open dialogue?

Signs and slogans without an understanding of the actual impacts of Measure M will not produce an informed electorate.

Why are the supporters of Measure M so unwilling to engage in an open dialogue?

While the supporters of Measure M refuse to accept the invitation to have an open dialogue on the issues listed above one of them, a sitting Planning Commissioner Vince Bressler, has emailed the following statement:

"Therefore claims that measure M will:

Increase traffic
Require an election every time the council wants to act
Crowd schools
Open the door to unwanted development
Cause litigation
Impact the fire station

Are highly speculative and/or flat out wrong."

Let me take the claim with which I am most familiar - the impact of Measure M on the Fire District's plan to build a new fire station serving the downtown area:

There is no doubt that section 3.1 of Measure M freezes the boundaries of the Specific Plan area

"ECR SPECIFIC PLAN AREA DEFINED. When referring to the "ECR Specific Plan Area," this initiative measure is referring to the bounded area within the Vision Plan Area Map located at Page 2, Figure I, of the El Camino Real/Downtown Vision Plan, accepted by the Menlo Park City Council on July 15, 2008, which is attached as Exhibit 1 "

and therefore that section 4.1 requires a city wide vote to change the Specific Plan boundaries

"4.1.NO AMENDMENTS OR REPEAL WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL.

Except for as provided at Section 3.4.4 above regarding the City's ability to approve without voter ratification an amendment to the Specific Plan to accommodate development proposals that would call for an increase in the allowable number of residential units under the Specific Plan, the voter- adopted development standards and definitions set forth in Section 3, above, may be repealed or amended only by a majority vote of the electorate of the City of Menlo Park voting "YES" on a ballot measure proposing such repeal or amendment at a regular or special election. The entire text of the proposed definition or standard to be repealed, or the amendment proposed to any such definition or standard, shall be included in the sample ballot materials mailed to registered voters prior to any such election."


The existing Fire Station 6 on OakGrove is on a parcel that is INSIDE the Specific Plan area.
The adjacent parcel which fronts on Hoover is OUTSIDE the Specific Plan area.

In order to build a replacement station these parcels would need to be merged into a single parcel and that cannot be done if the two existing parcels remain one inside and one outside the Specific Plan area.

Bressler is wrong on this issue - and as a sitting Planning Commissioner he must know that. And I think is wrong on his other claims of what Measure M won't do.

The supporters of Measure M continually misrepresent what would be required by Measure M.

It is very telling that the supporters of Measure M never actually quote the language which supports their claims - because the language of Measure M does not support their claims.

Where are the supporters of Measure M?

Why won't they engage in an open dialogue?

What are they trying to hide?

Can't wait to see the debate.

This invitation has been posted for two weeks without a single Measure M supporter being willing to engage in an open debate - WHY?

This invitation has been posted for FOUR weeks without a single Measure M supporter being willing to engage in an open debate - WHY?

This invitation has been posted for over a month without a single Measure M supporter being willing to engage in an open debate - WHY?

@Peter

You will be waiting a long time for a response. as you've seen from all the televised/recorded forums....save menlo is LIGHT on what they will actually accomplish, and HEAVY on the accusations towards NO on M.

I guess, the endorsements from EVERYBODY for No on M - (ALL area newspapers, ALL Current Council Members (plus eight former Mayors/Council Members), ALL Current School Board Members (and EVERY endorsing ex-School Board member) , All but that ONE Curmudgeon Planning Commision Member, All but ONE Transportation Commission Members, Most Current Fire Board Members (except ONE anti-development member) and most of the ex-members, etc., etc., etc. )

And they have a handful of former curmudgeon council members and a couple (and I mean a couple) of ex-planning commissioners. That must be pretty disappointing after all the money and time they've spent.....

M is a Mistake
Vote NO on Measure M

Why are the Measure M supporters so unwilling to debate their initiative?

"Why are the Measure M supporters so unwilling to debate their initiative?"

Because most of them haven't even read it let alone understand what's in it. It's easier to drink the Lanza/Fry Koolaid than do any actual work. You know, they're supposed to be able to sleep through the DSP process then complain about it later.

Two days until the election and still no one from Measure M is willing to engage in an open dialogue.

Why?

[Portion deleted. Please avoid repetitive posts. Ask your questions once. If a poster doesn't choose to respond, that's the posters's choice.]

Less than 24 hours to go and after 4 weeks there is still no response from Save Menlo and the Measure M supporters?

Why are they hiding?

What are they hiding?

The Yes team has engaged in open dialogue with the opposition at the Sierra Club, at our last town hall, at any of the dozen neighborhood events attended by your team members, including the last one in Felton Gables with John Boyle representing your side and Mike Lanza representing ours.

As Menlo Park residents, this is a small town and when it comes to politics, we prefer live dialogue over internet/email wars.

"As Menlo Park residents, this is a small town and when it comes to politics, we prefer live dialogue over internet/email wars."

Perla, if that's the case why do you come here and only post sometimes? If you truly prefer a "live" dialogue why come here at all? Is it because your professional publicist tells you its a good idea?

I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer as you rarely do.