@LOSGATAN
VOL . 5 , NO. 16 : DECEMBER 17-23 , 2025 : LOSGATAN.COM
CAFE EXPRESSES GRATITUDE P4 : FESTIVE NUMU P8 : MAYOR MOORE SWORN-IN P11 : POLICE BLOTTER P13 Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan
DID LOS GATOS’ HOUSING ELEMENT SUDDENLY FALL OUT OF COMPLIANCE? Developer renews claim Town continues to take “illegal actions” to block new housing Drew Penner, Editor
The developer behind the 119unit, 13-story “Capri Fruitstand” proposal for 14288 Capri Dr.—which includes 24 units of affordable housing—has renewed its legal claim that the Town of Los Gatos has been taking illegal steps to block residential development in this corner of Silicon Valley. In Los Gatos LLC’s “second amended petition” filed Dec. 5 in Santa Clara County Superior Court, the Fullerton-based plaintiff says, not only is the Town blatantly disregarding State housing directives to rip development rights from their “Builder’s Remedy” project, but also—following a recent court decision—Los Gatos’ entire Housing Element is likely invalid. “The California Court of Appeals just ruled that another city’s (Redondo Beach) Housing Element is non-compliant because of the use of zoning ‘overlays’ to fulfill its Regional Housing Needs Allocations,” the plaintiff ’s lawyers wrote, referring to New Commune DTLA LLC v. City of Redondo Beach. “The Town of Los Gatos used the same method of zoning ‘overlays’ as Redondo Beach in its Housing Element.” The latest stage in the Los Gatos LLC lawsuit comes as the leadership on Council swings back from former-mayor Matthew Hudes, who fought many of the Housing Element provisions demanded by the ➝ Lawsuit, 6
JOY & OPTIMISM Voices were lifted in hope and unity at Sunday's menorah lighting signifying the start of the eight days of Hanukkah.
COMMUNITY CELEBRATES HANUKKAH ON MAIN A show of local solidarity in the face of antisemitism in Australia Dinah Cotton, Contributor
The “Hanukkah on Main” gathering at sundown on Main Street, Sunday, for the ceremonial lighting of the menorah, was a peaceful event. The first candle was lit, representing divine light and the miracle of Hanukkah. The menorah symbolizes
Jewish identity, history and core beliefs. The news of the unprovoked deadly attack of others celebrating “Hanukkah by the Sea” at Bondi Beach, Australia, was acknowledged and hung in the air. On Sunday, an unprovoked attack killed 15 people in the suburb of Sydney. These individuals were also celebrating the start of Hanukkah. According to Australian authorities, a father, aged 50, and a son, aged 24, fired high-powered firearms into the crowd. Krissy Barrett, the federal police com-
missioner, said on Tuesday it was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.” The father was shot dead at the scene, and the son was being treated in a hospital at press time. And while it had happened on the opposite side of the globe, the Bondi Beach terrorist attack was noted at the Los Gatos event. “This Hanukkah, we rededicate ourselves to the work of ensuring a safer world for our young people, for our Jewish ➝ Hanukkah, 10
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