Menlo Park mayor paints vibrant future for city

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How much private business is transacted on these "city" trips?

Used to be that our council members were people committed to serving the city. Seems as though council members in 2015 are more concerned with self-promotion and globetrotting.

What was wrong with the old way of holding such an event in the council chambers, with cookies and beverages?

I expect the city to pinch pennies when it comes to shows like this presentation. My taxes should support city services, not show-off spectacles.

Of course she would pick the most upscale site in Menlo Park for her self-aggrandizing report. I've learned the hard way that you cannot trust anything she says to be the truth.

@followthemoney, unless you have some evidence that Councilmembers have used City money to travel and promote their own personal business, or used city money to the benefit of their family members, your "questions" are tantamount to libel. But of course if you had such evidence you wouldn't be asking the questions, you would be presenting it. So your comments are nothing more than the same old side snarky side swiping that occurs on town forum...only this time you have raised the bar by indirectly alleging crimes have been committed, just in the context of questions.. It's disgusting that something so twisted can be asserted from the signing of three friendship agreements.

Why would I want to live anywhere else she asks? Well, not by my choice, but by the huge rent increases I have been getting, I am looking for a new rental NOT in Menlo Park. That also means looking for a new job, in spite of working at Stanford for 20 years, sadly. I'm heartbroken. My closest prospect is in Tracy, too much of a commute to come back to Stanford. I agree with the outrage of previous commenters that said Mayor Carlton having her function at Rosewood was a slap in our faces, and a waste of taxpayer money. If she came forward and said she paid for it herself, I will apologize for my latter comment, but I won't apologize for moving away, you have left me no options.

Dear Side Swipe: The newspapers have reported that taxpayer money was used for the mayor's event, that is why we are upset. If you can prove otherwise, be my guest. We have aright to voice our concerns that money is being wasted when a perfectly good place for the event sat empty at the town center.

I see you deleted my comment.

Let me try to rephrase the question. Who will choose the ten children who get to travel to Japan at public expense? Will the children of city council members be automatically excluded from consideration (as would be appropriate)?

Yes - everyone would like to live in our great city but, unfortunately, here is why they can't.
www.milliondollarshack.com

@penny_pincher asks, "What was wrong with the old way of holding such an event in the council chambers?"

Mayor Fergusson started this tradition (in council chambers) in 2007, and we assume Mayor Cohen did the same in 2008. The event was then held at the Stanford Park Hotel in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Mayor Mueller moved his event to a popup park in 2014. Including Mayor Carlton's event, the State of the City has been held at a hotel six times and in council chambers only twice.

Does anyone doubt if Kelly Fergusson had not resigned from being Mayor in 2010 while under investigation by the District Attorney's office, that she also would have held her state of the city at the Stanford Park Hotel in conjunction with the Golden Acorn Awards that year?

Give me a break.

Does anyone doubt if Andy Cohen had not been passed over by the City Council in favor of Rich Cline serving a second term as Mayor in 2010, after Kelly Fergusson resigned while under investigation by the District Attorney's office, that he also would have held his state of the city at the Stanford Park Hotel in conjunction with the Golden Acorn Awards that year?

Give me a break.

In 2009, the Almanac reported (Web Link that, "Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson delivered a similar speech when she took over as mayor in 2007, though Mr. Cohen did not give one in 2008." Andy Cohen never delivered a State of the City. Kelly Fergusson gave the first ever Menlo Park State of the City in 2007, and this was the only time it was delivered in council chambers.