From the Editor’s Desk: Why I Stepped Up and What Comes Next for WEHOonline

Dear Readers and Neighbors:

When Larry Block introduced me yesterday as the new Managing Editor, let’s just say that headline wasn’t on my bingo card.  But sometimes, the story leads you where you need to be.  I didn’t plan to take on this role.  However, like many of you, I read Larry’s story a couple of months back about how tough it had become to keep WEHOonline going on his own and felt a mix of concern and responsibility for our community.  For clarity, the Brian mentioned in his story was Brian Joseph, a former contributor.

I love our city.  As a resident for more than 25 years, I knew I couldn’t stand by while one of our local voices needed a hand.  Add Larry’s unwavering passion for West Hollywood, his genuine love for our community, and his knack for not taking “no” for an answer, and, well, here we are.

As managing editor, my goals are simple: continue to encourage civic engagement, foster community collaboration, and open the door wider for more of your voices.  I believe WEHOonline should be a place where you can tell your stories, raise your concerns, and help us celebrate the people,  businesses, and moments that help to make West Hollywood a world-class city.   Whether it’s about your block, your business, or your beliefs about how our city can do better, this space belongs to you as much as it does to us.

You’ll occasionally see my opinions in the mix, not because they matter more, but because honesty matters most.  Still, WEHOonline isn’t about what I think.  It’s about what all of us think, which is why we’ll strive to include competing sides of a story so readers can make up their own minds.  That’s what West Hollywood deserves.

Also, we’re not the LA Times.  We have limited resources, and oftentimes we’ll miss things.  I’m just a longtime resident, doing my part to help keep this publication alive and our community informed. There will be occasional typos, syntax lapses, and times when we get it wrong.  But we’ll always do our best to be fair, accurate, and accountable.  If you see something is off, tell us and we’ll correct it.  Your feedback keeps us sharp and honest.  

Speaking of feedback, I want to underscore WEHOonline’s policy moving forward: we will not support hateful or demeaning comments.  If you’re unhappy — even pissed off — fine, say so.  Don’t hold back; that we will support.  But, if your only contribution is to insult someone, that’s a hard pass.  We’re here to elevate the conversation, not drag it down.  Again, I encourage you to speak your mind, but we all need to do better.  And if you simply wanna vent venom, then by all means hit send.  We’ll be more than happy to read it.  Just don’t be surprised if you don’t see it posted. 

My interests are in truth, fairness, and helping to tell your stories, residents and businesses alike.  I believe we can support both.  We must.  There is no West Hollywood without its small businesses, and there is no WeHo without its diverse residents thriving, feeling safe, seen, and being heard.

Like most of you taking the time to read this, I care deeply about the direction of our city.  Full transparency, I’m not a fan of the Fountain Avenue redevelopment plan.  I’m all for wider sidewalks for our disabled residents and for bringing much-needed beautification to this drab corridor.  But cutting lanes and parking for bike paths and traffic calming?  Well intentioned, sure, but in my opinion, it misses the mark.  That said, it would be wrong for WEHOonline to only give voice to one perspective.  So please, keep sending your op-eds and “Dear WeHo” letters.  We’re listening.   More importantly, it’s our job to help ensure City Hall is listening to you too — from the people you elect to the staff working hard every day to keep WeHo running. 

To my colleagues at other local outlets: Paulo Murillo and Mike Pingel at WEHO Times; Alexander Rodriguez at the Los Angeles Blade; and others who continue to keep this city informed, thank you for doing the outstanding work you do.  I can now appreciate just how difficult this work is and I applaud you.  West Hollywood needs all of our voices, so to everyone reading this, thank you, and please keep supporting all of us who care about this city.

I also want to recognize WEHOville founder Hank Scott, whose original vision laid the foundation for WEHOonline.  Hank was a true visionary and a one hell of a journalist and publisher.  While I may never match his talents, I can carry forward his mantra of telling the truth without “fear or favor” as our guiding north star.

Finally, a sincere and heartfelt thank-you to Larry Block.  He’s managed to keep WEHOonline alive through sheer determination and dedication, often under extremely difficult circumstances and personal sacrifice.  Without his perseverance, there would be no WEHOonline today.  I stepped up because this publication — and what it represents to our community — matters too much to lose.  With your support, we can continue to make WEHOonline a real reflection of West Hollywood: direct, outspoken, creative, and true to its people.  Join us. Tell us your stories.  Keep us honest and help us grow stronger.  This is your platform, your voice, and your city.  Let’s make it count.

Cheers!
Brian Holt
Managing Editor
WEHOonline