Los Gatos’ temperature hit 107 degrees as Mason, wearing a black coat and backpack, walked from his camp in the brush toward Highway 17. He started having heat-related symptoms and laid down, heaving. He didn’t want to die on the streets. Mason, who asked to only use his first name, made it back to the...
Los Gatos struggles to solve beach traffic jam
It’s the most infamous time of year for Los Gatos residents — peak beach traffic season exacerbated by a scorching Fourth of July. The West Valley town is still trying to figure out how to calm traffic down. The Los Gatos Town Council unanimously decided not to place a 1/8-cent general sales tax on the November ballot...
Los Gatos commits more funds for food, rent relief
Los Gatos seniors wait patiently to pick two food items, while eyeing tables piled with essentials such as meat and bread. Then it’s a free-for-all as roughly 70 participants load their arms and bags with groceries for the week. Janet Penney, 75 in June, sits down to chat with her friends and munch on banana...
Los Gatos officials approve sale tax ballot measure
Los Gatos’ sales tax could reach its limit after the November election if the majority of voters pass a revenue-generating measure intended to fund some of the town’s top issues. The Los Gatos Town Council voted 4-1 earlier this month to approve putting a 1/8-cent sales tax on the November ballot after reviewing positive community...
State signs off on Los Gatos housing plan
After months of contentious debate among residents and town officials, Los Gatos has received state approval to build nearly 2,000 homes more than a year past the deadline. Los Gatos received a letter from the state on Friday stating it met “statutory requirements.” This is the town’s sixth attempt at its housing element — a...
Housing development could loom over Los Gatos backyards
A quiet neighborhood just off bustling Los Gatos Boulevard could be forever changed if a massive housing project comes to fruition. Benedict Lane residents voiced concerns at a Los Gatos Town Council meeting earlier this month about the height of a proposed seven-story housing development that would abut against their backyards. The project is in the early...
Los Gatos eases pole requirement for developments
Los Gatos’ famous poles with orange netting and flags are a thing of the past on some development projects in town. The Los Gatos Town Council on Tuesday voted 3-2 to formalize revisions to its height pole and netting policy for developments. This follows state feedback saying the town must loosen constraints on housing developments...
Los Gatos inches toward more affordable housing
Los Gatos is one step closer to securing state approval for its housing plan, more than a year after the deadline and months of contention among town officials. The town submitted the latest draft of its housing element — a detailed planning document laying out how Los Gatos will accommodate more affordable and market-rate housing...
‘A step in the right direction’: Los Gatos places homeless residents in hotels
Ron Hilla has been homeless for about 11 years, and has seen so many of his friends die on the streets, he can’t count them all on his hands. The 65-year-old’s life fell apart when his health forced him to quit his more than 40-year career in construction, landing him on the Los Gatos Creek...