Why is Menlo Park so opposed to receiving funds necessary to maintain some of their crumbling buildings? Would they rather pay for it themselves? It's extremely generous of Mr Arrillaga (who doesn't even live in Menlo Park) to pay for another cities' library. Have you ever heard the saying 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'?

Here's how it works.

The city says "it will cost $60mm to rebuild a library and we only have $30mm"

Rich developer scopes out project, decides he can do it for $25mm, steps up and offers to "donate" $30mm. City gives him their $30mm (funded by our MP tax dollars, by the way) and he builds the thing for $25mm, thus making a $5 profit AND putting his name on the building. So a building on public property that is supposed to be open to the public now looks like a private club belonging to a rich family.

If he wants to do this for Stanford or another private school, fine. That's how they roll. But it's hugely inappropriate for a city to accept these "gifts" that have strings attached. I remember when people wanted to name a baseball diamond after a former parks & recs commission chair, the city initially balked, despite his many non-monetary contributions to the community, because he hadn't been dead five years. Of course, he wasn't rich, and the city apparently has no problem breaking their own rules if the $$$ is enough. Sad.

Nobody wants to look a "gift horse in the mouth!" However, it's troubling that this gift of $20-25 million has reoriented the City's priorities in pretty significant ways. Agree, the City Council must create policies on accepting "gifts." Mr. Arrillaga is very generous for sure, but it is unfortunate that his gift didn't help the Belle Haven! That said, thank you Mr. Arrillaga.

When I first heard about the donation I had mixed feelings... First, I like the current library - it has a nice, comfortable design and seems large enough, especially since so many people are now reading e-books. Also, the library will most likely shut down during the reconstruction project, which could take a couple of years. I also thought that Mr. Arrillaga's donation would cover the cost of the entire project, so it would be silly not to accept his generous gift.

Then I read in the above article that a new library was never a priority for Menlo Park, and that Mr. Arrillaga's unexpected donation will cover about half the project and the remaining $20 million will need to come from the city. The $20 million from the city was slated for other projects but will now be needed for Arrillaga's library - a new library that was never a priority. I think the City of Menlo Park should use its 20 million for other projects, such as the Belle Haven library.

And lastly, there already is SO much construction taking place in the neighborhood near the library. Eric Schmidt's three story office building with underground parking is currently underway on Alma Lane, and won't be completed for another year or so. Then there's the Derry (sp?) project on Oak Grove. Also, Caltrain is in the process of electrifying the train tracks. It's so much noise for the local residents. One more building under construction is just too much. I think waiting at least ten years for a new library won't be a hardship for anyone.

I agree that this gift is potentially inappropriate if it changes the priorities, timing and funding for other projects that are more needed by the community.

It's called selling out.

The library we have was just partially renovated and is fairly nice.

One consequence I really don't like is the repeated suggestion that Facebook should put up a similar amount for a full service library in Belle Haven, as if such construction should depend on rich private donors rather than on the public responsibilities of the city government.

"With the city's acceptance of the gift, the decision on setting priorities for library services in Menlo Park was, in effect, made by a wealthy private citizen."

Wrong - the decision on setting priorities for library services in Menlo Park was made by the Council, not by the donor.

Would it be wrong to suspect that Mr. A's contributions to public facilities in the Civic Center might have something to do with softening up the community regarding the Stanford development just across the tracks?

It's about increasing staff.