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District 3

Jeff Schmidt

HLC did not receive a responses from Jeff Schmidt. Learn more about Jeff at https://jeffmenlopark.com/

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District 5

Greg Conlon

HLC did not receive a responses from Jeff Schmidt. Learn more about Jeff by emailing him at, conlonpg@msn.com.

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 Jennifer Wise

Q1: Are you a realtor, renter, landlord, home owner, and/or housing developer?

A: Renter

Q2: What is your position on market-rate housing and why do you hold that position? 

A: I would like to see new buildings include affordable housing, that being said, I understand that 100% affordable housing may not be realistic. If including market-rate housing in new construction is what it takes to build high-quality affordable housing that fits the characteristic of the neighborhood, then I would accept that compromise.

Q3: What policies do you support to increase production of housing at all levels of affordability? 

A: – increase workforce, educator, and senior housing using city-owned or city-leased land, as well as faith-based organizations’ land through allocation of funds for new and rehabbed affordable housing.

Following the housing element to ensure more housing is built, including affordable housing. Incentivizing affordable housing for developers. Building affordable housing near transit. Optimizing land use.

Q4: What policies in your housing element do you want to prioritize implementing? (You can see a list of HLC’s priority housing element policies for all cities HERE)

A: I am proud of Menlo Park’s housing element, and support many of the priorities including: making affordable housing a priority for Menlo Park; organizational effectiveness (partnering with local non-profits and research groups to make sure we are not duplicating efforts and building the best housing we can, for example climate friendly housing).

Q5: What do you want to see built on Menlo Park’s city-owned parking lots downtown? 

A: Mixed-use buildings with parking or retail on the bottom, and housing on upper floors would be fantastic for downtown Menlo Park, and would go a long way in bringing new life to the downtown. Because the downtown lots are City-owned, this would go a long way in ensuring the housing can be as affordable as possible.

Q6: If elected, what policies, if any, would you support to strengthen just cause for eviction protections?

A: Its my understanding the law protects renters from eviction without just cause (“just cause” including failure to pay rent, violation of lease terms, criminal activity, among other issues). As this is a topic I’m not overly familiar with, I am very open to hearing about issues arising in Menlo Park to learn more.

Q7: Many tenants have reported harassment and fear retaliation by their landlords because of reporting habitability violations. If elected, how will you respond to this issue?

A: I would encourage tenants to reach out to legal aid and other nonprofits to seek more immediate help. Unfortunately this is not a topic I’m overly familiar with from the Menlo Park City standpoint, so I will need to educate myself to see how the City can provide further assistance.

Q8: What do you believe are meaningful solutions to addressing encampments while protecting the safety and dignity of our unhoused population?  

A: This is a state-wide issue that will take working together with other cities and pooling resources to ensure we are doing the best we can. I know other cities have seen success with shelters, so directing folks struggling with housing to as many resources as we can is the first step.

Q9: Do you support protecting and increasing funding for rental assistance? How will you ensure this funding is adequate to meet the needs of renters? 

A: I support protecting and increasing (where possible) Menlo Park’s housing assistance program.

Q10: What is your position on Prop 5?

A: Yes on Prop 5, as it aims to allow communities build more affordable housing.

Q11: What is your position on Prop 33? 

A: Still gathering information, will report back.

Q12: What are recent state laws related to housing, if any, that you support and why?

A: N/A

Learn more about Jennifer at https://www.jennifermenlopark.com/.

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