FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 4, 2025

Media Contact:  Zack Deutsch-Gross, Executive Director, Transform, [email protected], 415.637.0101

The 2026 citizens’ ballot initiative is a nakedly NIMBY attempt to prioritize parking over people  

A citizens’ initiative to block affordable housing on three city-owned parking lots in Menlo Park has now qualified for the November 2026 ballot. The City of Menlo Park had planned for at least 345 affordable homes on the site, but, if the initiative passes, it would be forced to run a citywide ballot measure before it could sell the land or “permanently diminish the availability, access, or convenience of parking”—a prerequisite to building affordable housing on the site. 

“Replacing empty parking lots with affordable housing is a no-brainer, especially in Menlo Park, where there are already great Caltrain, Samtrans, and free shuttle options,” says Transform’s Executive Director Zack Deutsch-Gross. “Transform strongly opposes this retrograde measure that places more value on car storage that sits empty much of the time than badly-needed homes for families.”

The measure would prohibit Menlo Park from selling, leasing, donating, disposing of, or conveying city-owned downtown parking lots without approval by a majority of voters. This would delay and possibly derail the city’s plan to build affordable housing on the sites. 

“San Mateo’s problems of displacement, homelessness, and long commutes will get worse if voters approve this measure,” said Transform’s Housing and Parking Policy Manager Julia Gerasimenko. “Not only will it take us further from our housing goals, but it will undercut transit investments and hurt local businesses in the long run.” 

The measure would also require that if the city intends to make any physical alterations to the downtown parking lots that would permanently diminish the availability, access, or convenience of parking, then the city must submit to the voters a subsequent ballot measure seeking authority to make such alterations prior to implementation. The measure further disallows any actions “which would diminish the availability, access or convenience of public parking for Downtown customers, workers and visitors.”

Parking is never free. It takes up precious civic space that could be devoted to other uses, such as more affordable housing to alleviate the critical shortage of affordable units throughout California and particularly on the Peninsula. Almost one-third of downtown Menlo Park is already dedicated to off-street parking. Residents and business owners pay for this overabundance of parking spots through higher rents, higher retail prices, and missed opportunities to build affordable housing or green space.  

Transform’s report, Parking Revolution/Housing Solution, showed how excess parking capacity generates higher vehicle ownership, traffic, and pollution, and reduces incentives for more affordable transportation modes. The Menlo Park initiative is a regressive and short-sighted attempt to lock the city into outmoded and disproven land use priorities, keeping the downtown core from becoming the vibrant, people-centered space it has the potential to be.

In addition to the parking and transit costs, the measure could make Menlo Park miss its housing development target, which is required by state law. If successful, it could create a new playbook for blocking affordable homes across California. Transform is committed to opposing this measure, which endangers Menlo Park and the entire Bay Area’s housing and transportation needs.

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Transform works to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos. We envision vibrant neighborhoods, transformed by excellent, sustainable mobility options and affordable housing, where those historically impacted by racist disinvestment now have power and voice.