This story is unfolding in literally dozens of California cities and school districts. In every case, reporters and editorial writers present only two options -- at large elections, which are unfair to ethnic and other minorities, and single-member districts, under which council and board members represent plots of ground rather than people. But there is a third option, which offers fair representation to every sizable group in the community, including but not limited to ethnic minorities. That option is ranked choice voting (RCV) in multi-member districts. I encouraged concerned citizens in Menlo Park to contact the city of Santa Clara's charter review committee and city council, who are actively pursuing the RCV option. Also contact Californians for Electoral Reform (www.cfer.org) for more information.

Here is another piece of the puzzle.

“Facebook executives and a New York developer are hoping that their major development projects could get built years sooner than planned under last-minute legislation at the state Capitol.” San Diego Union Sept 7 2017

Web Link

Menlo Park will have district elections. Why should a council member from Sharon Heights care about Ravenswood schools or Dumbarton traffic? Why should a council member from Belle Haven care about Las Lomitas schools or Sand Hill Road traffic?

Why...

How about the fact it is part of the area they were elected to represent? By your logic why should the President care about anywhere but New York or Washington? Why should any member of congress care about anywhere outside of their state or district? If the type of people getting elected to any position only care about themselves and the neighborhood they live in then the problem lies with the people electing them as much as the politician.

While district elections would improve representation for Belle Haven, the mostly white City of Menlo Park management and senior-level staff needs more diversity. I've become convinced that the lack of diversity is a root-cause reason for why progress towards service equity in Belle Haven moves so slowly. The City should supply its ethnic/racial breakdown numbers and then fix what appears to be institutionalized racism in Menlo Park's City governing structures. Please see the article, "10 Ways to Practice Institutional Racism at your Non Profit" Web Link