Opinion: The West Hollywood Mayor’s Bark Is Worse Than His Bite

As a long time planning commissioner and a parent, I have witnessed a considerable amount of barking from different members of the community. In response, I have learned to work hard at placing proposals, circumstances and remarks in their proper context before acting or responding. That is why comments made by the Mayor of West Hollywood during a recent Council meeting related to the Phase II of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan were little more than business as usual.

This is not to excuse the Mayor for such unfortunate remarks, nor is this to make little of the hurt many parents felt in the perceived betrayal that a civic leader displayed. The truth of the matter is that this kind of exchange is fairly ordinary when the city is considering the merits and impacts of any policy or significant project. Each of us tends to get so caught up in his or her own priorities and agendas that we forget that they may compete with others’ needs and concerns. As a result, we say and do things with unnecessary hyperbole and engage in a discourse that is neither constructive nor productive.

The specifics of the remarks about children in the West Hollywood do not bear repeating, but some background on the discussion might provide a better understanding into planning, politics and civic engagement. Not only did the Mayor poorly frame his comments in describing a segment of our population, but he based such remarks on incorrect data. Further he chose to pit those with children against those without (especially those that are “pet guardians”) instead of playing mediator between two constituent groups that were not obviously at odds.

That said, his point of view should not be entirely dismissed. Does this mean I agree with his view? Well of course not. I view situations through the lens of a parent whereas he cannot. Does the fact that he doesn’t have children absolve the Mayor for his point of view? Perhaps. The Mayor (as with any politician) cannot act in an informed manner on what he does not fully understand or experience firsthand.

Another point to take into consideration is that a headline or pull quote (or even the article itself for that matter) as published in the Los Angeles Times does not tell the whole story. If you were at the meeting or viewed the streaming video, the rest of the City Council did not subscribe to the Mayor’s comments. Even the Mayor had a sort of mea culpa moment as he attempted to take the sting out of his word choice by repeating them later in a different context and in a sarcastic manner. In the end, no decision was made that would alter our children’s continued enjoyment of the park. It is also worth mentioning that at least two parents (with school-aged kids) serve on the West Hollywood Park Steering Committee.

Of course parents have been deservedly outraged by a civic leader who is supposed to represent ALL in the community. But the onus is ultimately on all of us parents. It is not enough to simply use these amenities or services. Each of us needs to make an effort to be at the table to better inform and shape the discussion about them. All too often, time constraints and schedule conflicts are used as excuses. Yet I have noticed that many parents don’t think twice about getting highly involved (and sometimes too much so) in our children’s school while rarely concerning themselves when a policy or proposal has an impact on our neighborhood and potentially our children. Case in point is the recent West Hollywood Park Steering Committee meeting where I urged attendance by a particular group of parents. You probably can guess how many of those parents attended. That’s right — not one. It was practically the same for a recent discussion and decision concerning the installation of a cell tower in proximity to an elementary school or a bar’s proposal for a patio that would open out onto West Hollywood Park.

While I have been a member for nearly 12 years sitting on two different city commissions and a member of several standing civic committees, I am certainly not suggesting such involvement is necessary to be civically aware and involved. However, I do advocate that anyone concerned about a particular community issue at least make an effort to raise his or her voice at a public meeting on the matter. Otherwise, someone else’s expressed priorities or concerns will easily take the spotlight. Remember that many different constituencies are staking out their territory on any given issue, so it is incumbent that you are one of them. It should be further noted that the city typically offers numerous opportunities to “speak out” on any given public process.

In order for your community leaders to render sound and equitable decisions, it is essential that ALL perspectives be heard and considered. So instead of barking back, may I suggest approaching the Mayor or any civic leader to enlighten him or her and make sure your priorities and concerns are considered. This is what real civic engagement is all about.

Marc Yeber, design and planning principal at CONT-X Studio, is a member of the City of West Hollywood’s Planning Commission and the father of seven-year-old Tyler.