Editing Monte Sereno, California (section)

== Notable events ==

===Christmas decorations===
A dispute between two neighbors over extravagant [[Christmas]] decorations gained Monte Sereno attention in national news. For years, Bonnie and [[Alan Aerts]] of Monte Sereno had showcased elaborate holiday displays in their front yard, costing as much as [[United States dollar|US$]]150,000. The displays attracted large masses of visitors, resulting in great traffic around the normally quiet [[cul-de-sac]] of four houses. Neighbors Le and Susan Nguyen protested, and, in late 2003, the city council voted 3-2 (Nesbet, Brodsky, Wright for; Garner, Baxter against) to pass an ordinance regarding "regulation of special events," <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074645/http://www.montesereno.org/details.php?type=agendas&id=88]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074658/http://www.montesereno.org/details.php?type=agendas&id=90]</ref> which would require permits for such displays. In 2004, on the first Christmas season for which the law was effective, the Aertses declined to apply for a permit, which would allow the Aertses' holiday display to be active only for 12 hours in a 72-hour period and would require a 30-day waiting period before a new 72-hour permit could be applied for. Instead, they erected a huge, 10-foot-tall [[Grinch]] on their lawn, who swayed from side while singing "[[You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch]]". The Grinch's outstretched arm pointed conspicuously at the home of the Nguyens.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6590930 Couple points Grinchly finger at neighbors]</ref>

The spectacle gained mention from the [[Associated Press]] and [[NPR]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060915023256/http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/lgwt/20041208/lgnews1.shtml]</ref> The Aertses and the Nguyens also appeared on [[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]], a late night talk show.

===City in Turmoil in 2019===
In February 2019, newly elected Council Member Shawn Leuthold successfully led an effort to change how Monte Sereno would select its mayor in the future, arguing that the City was violating the law in election years by choosing the Mayor for the next year, prior to the seating of the newly-elected council members.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2019, the Council went a step further and removed Mayor Curtis Rogers from his position as mayor, and then appointed the then-current Vice Mayor Rowena Turner as Mayor with Council Member Liz Lawler being appointed as Vice Mayor (with Council Members Turner, Lawler, and Leuthold voting for the changes and Council Members Javed Ellahie and Rogers voting against). Upon being removed as Mayor, Council Member Rogers resigned.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Emily |first1=Deruy |title=Mayor's ouster, sudden resignation, shakes up Monte Sereno |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/07/monte-sereno-council-ousts-mayor-despite-pushback-from-residents/ |website=The Mercury News |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> The Council appointed Daniel LaBouve to fill the vacancy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grace |first1=Hase |title=Santa Clara County DA Probes Claims of Voter Fraud Against Monte Sereno Councilwoman |url=https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/santa-clara-county-da-probes-claims-of-voter-fraud-against-monte-sereno-councilwoman/ |website=San Jose Inside |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> During the course of the remainder of the year, most of the City staff resigned, including the finance officer, city attorney, building official, city manager, and city clerk. The City staff also decided to unionize for the first time in Monte Sereno's 60-year history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}