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vol . 2, no. 41 : june 14-20, 2023 : losgatan.com
longhorns cheer p12 : hotel lyndon p14 : upcoming events p15 : ny times crossword puzzle p17 Jonathan Natividad
COUNCIL RESPONDS TO STATE CALLING MONTE SERENO ‘SEGREGATED’
Los Gatos High School celebrates its graduates
Meeting follows rejection of city’s Housing Element
Drew Penner, Reporter
After a winter that included an atmospheric river natural disaster, Los Gatos High School’s Class of 2023 was dispatched into the wider world in a June 9 ceremony held outdoors in pleasant conditions. The event, broadcast live on public access station KCAT, gave student speakers the chance to reflect on their academic journey and fire peers up for the days ahead. In his address, Omid Akhbari said students had been forced to overcome plenty of obstacles in the pursuit of greatness. “We stand here at a high school noted for knowledge, in a city noted for progress,
Drew Penner, Reporter
Monte Sereno turned to granny flats—also known as accessory dwelling units—as a way to satisfy affordable housing mandates, adopting its draft Housing Element in the nick of time, at the end of January. But with California’s Department of Housing and Community Development partly rejecting this approach, March 31, saying Monte Sereno needs to allow multifamily units in its borders to overcome a legacy of segregation, current and former elected officials expressed their frustration and confusion at Council on June 6. Former Mayor Shawn Leuthold, speaking during public comment, was frustrated the housing authority will only allow the City to count 160 toward the 223 (193 plus a 15% buffer) it’s required to plan for. “How do we say, ‘No,’ and appeal?” he said. “They cannot be the certifying body.” Monte Sereno is now moving toward incentivizing lot splits permitted under the new SB9 law, but Council members weren’t interested in following ➝ Council, 6
STUDENTS SEND CLASS OF 2023 OFF WITH SOME INSPIRING WORDS
➝ Class, 5
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WE DID IT Los Gatos High School graduate Keira Dodd is all smiles after walking down the steps during the school’s June 9 ceremony. For more photos, turn to page 8.
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