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It’s Election Season and the races are heating up – as they should be. There could not have been a better time for wine walking, beer tasting and checking out the season’s sights and sounds in our downtown than last Saturday. Thanks to all who participated in our Fall 2022 Wine and Beer Walk. Thanks to our wineries, breweries, the merchants and restaurants, our musicians, and our sponsors - and of course thank you to all of you for purchasing tickets and coming down with your adventurous smiles. It means so much to us that you support our events.
To keep this Town charming and vibrant, it takes engagement, commitment, good governance and dollars. There lies the reason this upcoming election is vitally important.
"The voting booth joint is a great leveler: the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day" - David Byrne
KNOW YOUR VOTE. The Chamber held a Town Council Candidate Forum on Thursday October 6th. If you did not catch it live that evening – you can watch it here. Our moderators, Jim Foley, President of the Chamber Board and Brian Bernasconi, also a Board member, asked the candidates some tough questions. As the Chamber we listened intently to the answers and how their style and opinions will affect our local businesses and the economy in Los Gatos. The slate of candidates is impressive and all show strong leadership. It takes a lot to put yourself out there to run for office these days so they all have my vote for simply stepping up and trying. The least the rest of us can do is let them know they matter and vote.
While filling in those ovals on your ballot, be sure to mark YES on Measure J. While a Chamber typically does not support rate increases or tax hikes for businesses - this one makes sense. The flat fee for a business license has not been touched in 30 years and the tax rate desperately needed some modernizing. It is not extreme. It is fair and equitable and we polled many or our member businesses and they know they too have to do their part to help with the Town’s General Budget. So again, I encourage you to Vote YES on Measure J.
We have been building back our focus on our members and would really like to connect with each and every one of you. Please do not hesitate to call me or stop by anytime. I know many of you have questions about the General Plan 2040 and the proposed housing numbers. Just know it is complicated and there are no easy solutions. But we do have a Town staff and 5 sitting Council members who care about this community and are doing there best to figure it out for all of us. They all strive to keep the character of Los Gatos, but we also must be open to growth and evolution.
Remember to vote! As George Carlin said "If you don't vote, you lose the right to complain".
Catherine Somers
Executive Director
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