Menlo Park picks legal battles

Thank you council! On behalf of all those who worked hard and voted for Measure L.

I want to add my thanks to the City Council.

When the citizens of Menlo Park organized to place Measure "L" on the ballot not all Council members showed enthusiasm for the effort. I respect that. Difference of opinion are encouraged in our democracy. But after more than sufficient citizens enthusiastically signed the ballot petition, you voted to place it on the ballot. Then, when the unions and their lawyers attempted to prevent the citizens' right to vote on it you expended time and treasure to defend those voting rights, and prevailed.

When the vote was confirmed you adopted Measure "L". Since then (Nov 2010) you have further recognized the will of the citizens by imposing a labor contract that contains a two tiered pension system that mimics that called for in Measure "L".

Now, you have to expend more time and treasure as the unions attempt to declare a privileged position that continues to transfer wealth from the citizens to their members, regardless of democratic process that has called for financial reason.

Thank you.

It's behavior like that being demonstrated by the AFSCME and SEIU unions that makes it easy to understand why the people of Wisconsin altered their laws surrounding public employees unions. Allowing union employees determine annually if they want to pay union dues will slow the never-ending steam of money that allows the "institutions" (not the members) of the unions and their lawyers to manufacture lawsuits intended to intimidate local governments and force them to spend precious funds.

Thank you for not being intimidated. This is important for Menlo Park. It is important for every city and town in California.

Dear City Council

First of all Thank You from ALL the citizens of Menlo Park for choosing to fight the Union Lawsuit. You have shown that the will of the people cannot be denied and we are forever grateful for your commitment.

It is of great concern that these Unions are trying to YET AGAIN foil what the citizens of Menlo Park have asked and voted for. I encourage you to end negotiations with AFSCME until this issue is settled. To simply impose a contract of YOUR choosing, and to let their members know that the citizens of Menlo Park are NOT happy with their representatives conduct and that we will NOT deal with them until they capitulate.

To negotiate with them while AFSCME is being TWO FACED is simply feeding their Union's coffers with the money to sue us. It's insulting and they need to understand that this conduct will not be TOLERATED.

Thanks
Roy Thiele-Sardina

May the City Council continue to do the peoples will. Thank you.

Measure L may be some of the people's will but it's still against the law.

Downtowner -

Actually, Measure L IS the law... for now. It's up to others (read: the Union) to challenge it. Eventually, a court will decide.

Even if a court decides it is unconstitutional, it is quite apparent that our politicians have gotten the message. And if they haven't, they will be replaced.