Los Gatos, For Sale?

The town isn’t for sale but apparently the town’s general plan is.

The general plan is the policy of acceptable land uses in Los Gatos. The general plan is updated regularly to guide the growth and land development of the community, for both the current period and the long term. It is the foundation for establishing goals, purposes, zoning and activities allowed on each land parcel to provide compatibility and continuity to the town in general, as well as each individual neighborhood.

But now, an outside developer (outside of Los Gatos, anyway) wants something that the town won’t give them. This developer  wanted a large multi-building business development with buildings five stories each.  So what do they do when they can’t get what they want? They buy an amendment to the Los Gatos general plan. Amendments to the Los Gatos general plan aren’t for sale, you say? Think again. 

First, you need to find a Los Gatos resident willing to put forth a mind-numbing 330-page initiative. Why not LezLi Logan, a long time local school supporter, who just happens to be the best friend of someone on Carlyle Group’s payroll? Who better to rally the troops on an alleged school funding issue?

Next, hire a petition gathering service to obtain the required 1800 town signatures to support an initiative much too complex for most residents to understand. Use lies about losing Netflix, school funding and other misinformation to get people to sign.

Then, promote to the town a marketing campaign that they stand to lose Netflix (they’ve already signed a 10-year lease), that local schools will lose funding (they won’t), and that the traffic congestion caused by the estimated 5000 additional daily automobile trips onto Winchester Boulevard will be “mitigated” (it won’t).

Finally, force the town to have a special election (cost to the town – estimated at $300,000) based solely on this developer’s desire to get what they want.

So, who is this developer? The Carlyle Group, better known in town as “Los Gatos Business Park, LLC”

Carlyle Group is a multi-billion dollar, American-based, global asset management firm, specializing in private equity, based in Washington, D.C. The Carlyle Group operates in four business areas: private equity, real assets, market strategies, and fund of funds.

Carlyle's private equity business has been one of the largest investors in leveraged buyout transactions over the last decade, while its real estate business has actively acquired commercial real estate. As of December 31, 2012, Carlyle had $170 billion in assets under management across 113 funds and 67 fund of fund vehicles. The firm has more than 1,400 employees including 650 investment professionals, with offices in 33 countries globally. Carlyle has investments in over 200 companies and more than 250 real estate investments. Carlyle’s portfolio companies employ more than 650,000 people worldwide. Carlyle is also noted for its association with influential political figures.

So, will they be able to buy a Los Gatos General Plan amendment? Well, that is in the hands of the town voters. Will they get the 1800 signatures required to get the initiative and force the Town of Los Gatos to have to fund a special election for $300K? You can bet on it, since they got most of those signatures by misrepresenting what the signatures were actually for.

Can a developer buy an amendment to the Los Gatos general plan? Can the town voters be bought off by an out of town developer? Are their votes for sale? Are yours?

I hope not.