Los Altos District 2 residents gathered informally at Grant Park on Thursday, Sept. 24, for an evening of community outreach and conversation.
According to the event flyer, the gathering was intended to provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about Measure D and meet several candidates, including Jason Lin, who is running for Fremont Union High School District trustee; Lynette Lee Eng, a candidate for Los Altos City Council District 2; and David Poll, who is running for the Los Altos School District Board.
Poll was not in attendance, while Lin was represented by a campaign representative. Lee Eng was there and spent time talking with neighbors and supporters.
The gathering also included one of the leaders of the Yes on Measure D campaign. At one point, she approached me and, in a roundabout way, asked me to leave because I was there representing the Town Crier and would not be fair. Come on, please, I am here to tell their story.
There was also a disagreement involving a couple who attended the gathering carrying No on Measure D signs. The couple was told they could not stand in what was described as a reserved public space for the meeting. That interaction raised an obvious question: If the event was advertised as an opportunity to learn more about Measure D, shouldn’t residents on both sides of the issue be able to attend and participate in a public park?
For me, one of the highlights of the evening was meeting Lynette Lee Eng for the first time. Since I live in District 2, I was particularly interested in talking with her about the upcoming City Council race.
I asked Ms. Eng why she had not attended the community center meeting featuring Mr. Lang and Ms. van Deursen on the same evening. She explained that if the meeting had been held in District 2, she would have attended.
I thought that was a terrific idea. Perhaps the candidates and residents should consider holding more community meetings right here in District 2, where neighbors can ask questions and hear directly from the people seeking to represent them.
I stayed and chatted with Ms. Eng for a while longer. She was gracious, engaging and willing to talk with residents, and I look forward to continuing the conversation with her.
Community gatherings like this can be valuable when they provide residents with an opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and make their own decisions. Hopefully, future meetings will welcome everyone who wants to participate – regardless of which side of an issue they support.
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