Youngest Mayor in Los Gatos History Tackles Housing Crisis and Generational Shift
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Los Gatos, California, is experiencing a new era of leadership with the appointment of 27-year-old Rob Moore as its youngest mayor in history. Unanimously voted into office on December 9th, Moore brings a fresh perspective to the town council, particularly regarding affordable housing, inclusivity, and community consensus.
Moore’s youth is a defining characteristic, as he is the only councilmember under the age of 60. “It absolutely impacts the way I see the world and the community,” Moore told San José Spotlight. He emphasizes his unique position as a renter in a town where approximately one-third of residents are also renters, giving him firsthand insight into the challenges of affordability.
Prioritizing Housing, Youth, and Community Wellbeing
As mayor, Moore has outlined a comprehensive agenda focused on several key areas. These include addressing the housing shortage, empowering youth and families, enhancing street safety and emergency preparedness, promoting environmental stewardship, and supporting local small businesses. His commitment extends beyond policy, aiming to create a welcoming environment for all residents. He is actively championing initiatives like a pride flag raising to demonstrate support for the LGBTQ+ community.
From Campus Activism to Local Leadership
Moore’s path to the mayor’s office began during his time at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, concentrating on public service and urban planning. While a student, he actively participated in the Cal Poly Democrats, leading a campaign to ban fracking in San Luis Obispo County. He further honed his political skills through internships with former Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, and through international vaccine advocacy work with the United Nations Foundation.
He realized the most impactful work happened at the local level. “I very quickly realized the further away I got from the local, the less of an impact I was having,” he explained. After graduating, he returned to Los Gatos, became deeply involved in the community, and ultimately decided to run for town council, winning his election in 2022. He currently serves as a policy aide for District 5 Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga.
Moore acknowledges the significant challenges in addressing Los Gatos’s housing affordability crisis. Despite the town’s appeal with its cottage-style homes, the high cost of living – with homes costing millions of dollars – creates a barrier for many. He sees potential in developments like the townhomes being built at the former Los Gatos Lodge site as a step towards increased affordability, recognizing the need to balance deed-restricted affordable housing, market-rate condos, and the preservation of existing affordable housing.
However, Moore is facing significant hurdles in the form of California’s “builder’s remedy” law. This provision allows developers to bypass local planning processes and zoning regulations under specific conditions, triggered when a city fails to meet state housing mandates – a situation Los Gatos currently finds itself in. “On housing proposals, a lot of our authority has been taken away by the state,” Moore stated. He cited the contentious North 40 Phase 1 development as an example, where the town’s attempts to impose reasonable conditions were overruled by the developer through legal action.
The North 40, a 44-acre mixed-use project built on the site of the area’s last privately-owned orchard, exemplifies this struggle. While the town successfully enforced a 35-foot height limit, the developer responded by constructing three-story townhomes with flat roofs instead of the originally envisioned mix of cottage-style homes and taller apartment buildings. Moore believes the town must strategically allocate its resources to challenge developments that significantly deviate from the town’s character.
A Collaborative Approach to Leadership
Vice Mayor Maria Ristow praised Moore’s innovative approach to outreach through social media and newsletters, as well as his efforts to build relationships with neighboring councils and higher levels of government. She highlighted his understanding of state housing laws, gained through his work with Assemblymember Pellerin, and his insight into the county budget, stemming from his role with Supervisor Abe-Koga.
Ristow also emphasized Moore’s respectful communication style, ensuring all councilmembers feel valued, even when disagreements arise. “He has a youthful energy and outlook, and he also reaches out to all age groups,” Ristow told San José Spotlight. “They may not agree with everything he does, but he is sincerely hardworking, and he doesn’t try to represent just one constituency.”
Moore’s vision centers on fostering a community that embraces both preservation and evolution. “A huge part of the character of Los Gatos is having people … that love the community, that want to keep the parts of it that are so special, while continuing to allow it to evolve,” he said. “If you don’t let new people move in, or people move back to Los Gatos who once lived here, you’re doing a lot to hurt the character of the community.”
