Teenagers with go bags are reaching families who think they’re already prepared
I read your Oct. 14 staff report on the Monte Sereno Youth Commission building go bags for every household in town, with Vice Chair Stella Zeidler and Secretary Corinne Chou focusing on defensible space, home safety and wildfire awareness.
I served with the USK, the Bavarian police unit for riots and large-scale public order, and today I work in executive protection as founder of MSB Protection, a licensed private patrol operator in California.
In residential protection we see the same gap in large homes: the plan exists, but nobody knows where the bag is when the power goes out. A packed bag by the door shortens the first ten minutes of an evacuation more than any device, and a few additions make it even stronger. Each go bag could include a checklist of what to grab on the way out: valuables, wallets and credit cards, copies of key documents, medications, and dogs and leashes.
Families should also agree on three things in advance. The first is a rally point, a meeting spot outside the house where everyone checks in. The second is vehicle staging, meaning which cars leave first and in which direction so the driveway doesn’t jam. The third is what we call a safe haven in high-net-worth protection: a designated place to evacuate to, whether that’s a relative’s home, a hotel or a friend across town.
Having young people lead this effort and get bags into every home is a smart way to reach families who think they are already prepared.
Thank you for giving the youth commission’s work real space.
Michael Braun
Founder, MSB Protection, Beverly Hills
Responding to Mayor Rob Moore
In “Mayor’s Message: Decades of beach traffic, and the path forward,” Mayor Moore writes, “I support our Transportation Commission’s proposal to give every Los Gatos High School student and staff member a free VTA pass.” That’s great, except there are a lot of Los Gatos residents in the Campbell Union High School District who can’t send their kids to Los Gatos High.
The Town Council needs to serve the needs of all students, not just those able to attend the high school that happens to bear the name of the town. In this case, the obvious fix would be to offer free VTA passes to all high school students and staff who live in Los Gatos.
Tom Herbert
Los Gatos
Four votes for an agenda, or four votes for the Town?
On Nov. 3, Los Gatos could hand four of five Council seats to one organization. Mayor Rob Moore recommends a ticket: himself, Steve Raspe and Jeff Suzuki, founder and permanent chair of the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition. Elect it, add Maria Ristow, and look who holds the seats: the Coalition’s founder; a Coalition member; a Council member the Coalition endorsed and who votes to fund it; and the Mayor’s handpicked running mate.
Three votes is a majority. Four is control: a bloc that can lose a member and still win never compromises. Three votes cost us 525 days without a Housing Element and 15 Builder’s Remedy projects until Mary Badame became mayor and fixed it in months. Four would run the Town through 2028.
The Coalition is entitled to its views. It is not entitled to four Council votes to pursue its agenda. What agenda? Take it at its word. Its bylaws call for “a smaller role for armed police officers.” Mr. Suzuki told a member its “explicit goal is to reallocate resources from the police department.” A hiring freeze? “We will entertain that.” That has a name: defund the police.
Mr. Suzuki set out to get “LGARC members into our local government” so commission seats “will be occupied by progressive anti-racists, allowing us to further our influence.” With four votes, every commission is theirs to fill.
The Coalition has been awarded $64,500 in Town grants but has not said who sits on its board. It reported $12,169 in officer and director compensation while calling itself all-volunteer, and has not said who was paid. With four votes, it will never have to. The question on Nov. 3: Who do you trust to vote for the Town, not an agenda?
Phil Koen
Los Gatos
Don’t vote for the incumbents
Rob Moore and Mary Bedame were members of the council that failed to enact a Housing Element in time to avoid Builder’s Remedy projects that are springing up all over town.
Do not vote for them. And, next time, vote out the remaining members of that council.
Elect responsible representatives.
Tim Gafney
Los Gatos
Approving projects supports Housing Element compliance
All six candidates for Los Gatos Town Council have ties to our Town, sharing their love for our community and its character. But some candidates’ actions may hurt our town nonetheless.
Housing is the most discussed issue in this election, and candidates have different approaches to our current housing obligations. When the Housing Element failed certification, the town lost some control by becoming subject to Builder’s Remedy development projects. The Town is now in compliance, but those projects remain in progress. If Los Gatos takes noncompliant actions, such as delaying Builder’s Remedy projects, our Housing Element certification could be revoked. This would expose the town to more projects as well as lawsuits and financial penalties. Our town’s character and finances are best served by remaining compliant and out of court.
Incumbent Mary Badame’s recent postcard characterized her as someone with “sound judgement, on the record.” It proudly states that Badame voted against our Town’s first and failed submission of the Housing Element, implying she was the sole voice of reason. The mailer neglects to mention that Badame did not help achieve certification. As Builder’s Remedy projects streamed into Los Gatos, Badame voted against every submission that brought Los Gatos closer to certification, including the one that achieved certification and stopped further Builder’s Remedy applications.
On the Planning Commission, Rob Stump voted against the mixed-use development across from LGHS on the grounds that it would negatively affect traffic, even though the traffic study verified there would be no impact. Despite the known risks of noncompliance with the state through excessive demands on Builder’s Remedy projects, Stump has raised issues and voted against projects. Stump’s history indicates that he is unwilling to make the necessary decisions to maintain compliance and avoid Builder’s Remedy.
We need forward-thinking pragmatists who are willing to make those decisions, like Jeff Suzuki and Rob Moore.
Kjirste Morrell
Los Gatos
Mother proud of budding photographer son
My 10-year-old son, Erik, is a passionate wildlife photographer from Los Gatos. He recently won first place in the 10 and Under category of the 2026 Australia Zoo Crikey! Magazine Photography Competition with his photograph of a black-chinned hummingbird sipping nectar. His winning photograph will be exhibited at Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia, and we’re planning to travel there to see it on display.
Erik absolutely loves birds, insects, and all things wildlife. One of his biggest hopes is that sharing his photography will inspire other kids to get outside, explore nature and develop their own love and appreciation for wildlife.
As an additional honor, his butterfly photograph was selected as a finalist for the Australia Zoo People’s Choice Award! Public voting is open this week through Oct. 24, and each person can vote once.
Cindy Tucey
To vote: australiazoo.com.au/photography-competition/peoples-choice-voting/
