What happened in China?

"Ms. Keith said in an email that she did not sign any documents, and does not know if Mr. Haubert signed a document. "This was purely a ceremonial event," she said in an email."

This link is to a video of Kirsten Keith watching Haubert sign the document right in front of her:

www.cdht.gov.cn/spqtmt/147564.jhtml

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This is a troubling situation. I am disappointed to have Menlo Park used in this way. Is this nothing more than our city council member wanting a free trip to China? The timing is also disturbing being that our council had an important meeting during the time Ms. Keith was in China, a meeting about a large development proposed by Facebook. I believe this meeting was an all hands on deck meeting so that the council could decide if Facebook should build 10 more office buildings in Belle Haven.

Perhaps, we should allow Ms Keith this boondoggle as a perk for the 8 years she has been on the council. As the years pile on, Council members get more and more comfortable with the attention from developers. One last freebie. This is what happens at the end of their political careers. Menlo Park can do better.

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Unfortunately, traveling around the world on business of dubious value to our city has become a council habit. She is not the first current council member to cross the line, just the first to get caught.

Not so long ago, our council members were true volunteers who wanted to served their fellow residents. [Portion removed]

Time to vote them out.

Given her deceptive behavior in “Sign Gate” and now this, Kirsten Keith should resign. She is simply unable to give a straight answer. I don’t trust her.

Thank you, George Fisher, for your efforts to get the facts and deliver them to the MP public. The matter should be investigated. Keith's trip illustrates why MP needs an Ethics Commission Web Link to have Council Members' Statements of Economic Interests, Form 700, filings publicly available at the City's website (like San Francisco does). I would also like to see Council discuss the Sunshine Ordinance Web Link that Council Member Ray Mueller has tried to make a Council agenda topic since last year. I remember well the Council meeting last year where I first heard Mueller refer to his Sunshine Ordinance in frustration that then Mayor Keith would not place the item on a Council agenda. MP's Finance and Audit Committee meets this Friday @ 10 a.m. at the MP City Offices in the “Sharon Heights” Conference Room, 2nd Fl. I plan to attend to request that our council members completed Form 700s start to be publicly available via the City's website. Web Link

Here's the working link to general information about an Ethics Commission. Web Link and to Oakland's Ethics Commission. Web Link

I sympathize with Ms. Keith. I lived in China for a while and I think this is a simple case of misunderstanding and her Chinese Host may simply be trying to dignify or honor their guests.

It's hard to dispute pictures, video footage and the quotes from City management.

1. Kirsten Keith missed the City Council study session on the new Facebook development and instead went to China.

2. "Menlo Park City Manager Alex McIntyre told The Almanac that all he knew about the trip before it happened was that Ms. Keith was going on vacation with her daughter somewhere in Asia"

3. There are 2 closeup pictures of Kirsten Keith attending the ceremony wearing what appears to be her City of Menlo Park Mayor pin. She claims "If the name badge I had was three months old, it was an inadvertent mistake on my part."

4. There is video showing Mike Kasperzak making a presentation with Kirsten present.

5. There is video of the Mayor of Dublin and Mike Kasperzak and a Chinese man signing a document in front of Kirsten, and it says Silicon Valley City Group on the wall behind her.

6. There is a picture of the Mayor of Dublin shaking hands with Mike Kasperzak, and the Chinese Man with Kirsten standing next to them. It says Silicon Valley City Group on the wall behind her.

None of that information relies on translations. Those are the pictures, videos, and a quote from the City Manager.