Housing
Affordable housing, on our terms
I support a balanced and proactive approach to affordable housing. We must ensure that new housing developments in Los Gatos meet our needs, while meeting regional and state obligations.
The issue at hand
It is no secret that Los Gatos is an expensive place to live. Paying for rent or buying a home in Los Gatos is out of reach for many people I grew up with here, and they’ve left our community as a result. We know that many of the kids currently in our schools will not be able to move back to Los Gatos as adults, even if they have a well-paying job. This is what it means to live in a housing crisis. This is a problem.
My view is simple: if you work in Los Gatos, you should be able to afford to live in Los Gatos. Teachers, firefighters, librarians, health care workers - so many of the people who provide the most essential services to our community are effectively priced out of our neighborhoods.
What can be done to help?
As your councilmember, I will commit to:
Save Los Gatos hundreds of thousands of dollars by making strides to stay in compliance with our Housing Element, creating a path for affordable housing in our community while avoiding unpopular Builder’s Remedy applications.
Ensure that only the most trustworthy and appropriate developers are given the opportunity to build in Los Gatos.
Initiate proactive deliberations about developing and re-developing town land to increase our housing stock and affordability.
Balancing development and community needs
I know how contentious housing issues are in our community. After all, I helped to lead the most recent community effort to pass the Housing Element. I recognize that not every plan ought to be approved. As councilmember, I will work to ensure development projects are vetted to keep affordability and long-term community planning in mind.
