Three Menlo council candidates file papers

Calling Chuck Bernstein a "community activist" seems charitable. Has he done anything other than send cranky emails and complain under public comment? Like volunteer for a commission, or even speak about anything in a positive way?

Chuck Bernstein has served on a number of community task forces, such as Budget Advisory Committee, Child Care task force, Residential Review task force. He has provided energetic creative ideas.

Labels, I'm glad you asked that question.

I served on the Residential Review Task Force which dealt with the problems of residential development from 2000 to 2001. I served on the city's Child Care Task Force in 2003. I was a member of the city's Budget Advisory Committee from 2005 to 2006.

Unofficially, I co-founded the "Citizen Patrol," an anti-crime and anti-drug unit in the Willows and coordinated all patrols from 1991 to 1993 that led (okay, indirectly!) to the elimination of criminal blight in the Willows. As a member of the California Special Education Commission, I lobbied the Education Department in Sacramento to facilitate the transfer of the schools in the Willows from the Ravenswood School District to the Menlo Park School District.

I prepared the plan that, after a tortuous route, was adopted by the city council to remodel the old police station into a new child care center that ended up saving the city between $3 million and $5 million. I was in charge of the signature gathering in public places that obtained the majority of signatures necessary to place the pension reform initiative on the November ballot.

Professionally, I have created three large child care centers and two private schools that serve over 500 families, thereby creating 130 full-time jobs. Prior to that, I was a business consultant and wrote the original business plans for Gymboree and Banana Republic. I was one of three founding executives (the business manager) of TheatreWorks, now a nationally recognized theater group, and served as its business leader for 10 years.

I'm not sure that "community activist" is the appropriate label either. But as to the question of whether I have ever done anything positive, I think the facts speak for themselves.

"Cranky" is another matter. Your opinion is up to you, Labels!

How about identifying yourself so that we can talk? I would be interested in knowing what it is that you want.

--Chuck Bernstein
444 Oak Court, Menlo Park
chuck4council@ymail.com

"I served on the city's Child Care Task Force in 2003."

I'd keep that quiet if I were you, Chuck - not your finest moment.

Are you union?

Can someone please educate Hank that there is time for him to pull papers and qualify? Hank, your opinion aside, I will take any person who had the guts to run over someone who just pithers along and bad mouths people he views as his "opponents"...

...someone who just pithers along and bad mouths people he views as his "opponents"...

Sounds remarkably autobiographical, truth.

OMG, here we go again ! One more p-----g match, he said, she said, they said, he didn't, she didn't, they didn't ! Can we keep this
objective people? Whether we like or dislike our current local council, at least they take the time to try to better the city, whether they do a good job or not is in material, but at least they are committed to improvement.

Hey Hank, your running for City Council is a great idea. it's easy to throw stones when you do not have the guts to volunteer for the job yourself. Come out of hiding and run!

MenloVoter:

please stop using my handle. I had it first.

Sorry, Menlo Voter. I did not realize the name was taken as it was accepted by Town Square.

Monday at 5:15, Kirsten Keith, (planning commissioner) took out papers to run for City Council.

Getting more and more interesting by the day.

I just wait for the day Hank or Morris finally run for office and stop trying to get their fingers on the wheel of our city through proxies.

Truth,

At least Hank Lawrence served as a Menlo Park Transportation Commissioner, is active in Menlo Park City Employee Pension reform, an supported increased funding for the Las Lomitas School District. What public service have you performed on behalf on Menlo Park?

{Portion deleted. Please refrain from attacking other posters.]

If Chuck Bernstein was in charge of the signature-gathering for the Pension Reform issue on the ballot, as he claims, then why wasn't he the one individual singled out in the lawsuit?

Chuck Bernstein was definitely responsible for gathering signatures for the Pension Reform Ballot Initiative. He has been integral to the strategy and organization to accomplish the amazing feat of getting 3100 signatures in such a short time. We couldn't have done it without him.

He has always been a voice of reason with regard to fiscal responsibility in Menlo Park. And was VERY vocal against raising pensions in 2007. You all need to see the attached video from 2007 when he was the ONLY voice against increasing the pensions, which we all know today was a HUGE (read $$$) mistake.

http://ccin.menlopark.org:81/archive3/0245.html

Roy Thiele-Sardiña
Co-Chairman - Citizens for Responsible Pension Reform

Roy,
If you are so important, why weren't YOU named in the lawsuit?

Roy wasn't named bacuse Ned filed the petition.

Sounds like Ned is our hero and that he should be the one taking out papers.