In June 1984 it was “Cocktails for Cityhood,” an event designed to rally residents of the area known as West Hollywood around a campaign to incorporate that area as its own city.
Next Monday it will be “Celebrating Cityhood,” an event at V Wine Room to celebrate the collaboration of rent control advocates, LBGT rights activists and senior citizens that resulted in a vote to incorporate West Hollywood on Nov. 24, 1984.
The event is the idea of Joe Passmore, who grew up in Massachusetts and moved to West Hollywood 14 years ago.
Passmore’s inspiration? “My inspiration for “Celebrating Cityhood: 30 Years of West Hollywood” began almost two years ago, when I started researching my first novel – set during the year period leading up to the city’s incorporation in 1984. I wanted to tell the fictional stories of a group of friends against the real-life backdrop of a community in the midst of change. The fact that such diverse groups of residents were able to unite for a common goal is truly inspiring, and knowing that the 30th anniversary of West Hollywood’s incorporation was approaching made me realize that it was absolutely something to be celebrated.”
The event will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. at V Wine Room, which is at 903 Westbourne Dr. just north of Santa Monica. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online. There also are several sponsor opportunities. For $150, a Silver sponsor level, a donor gets two tickets and a framed, limited-edition photo celebrating West Hollywood’s history. A Gold level sponsor, at $250, gets three tickets and a framed photo. And a Platinum sponsor, at $350, gets three tickets and a framed photo and is recognized on signs for the event.
All proceeds will go to Jewish Family Services’ SOVA Community Food and Resource Program, which provides free groceries and services to over 12,000 people of different ages, ethnicities and religions each month.
“The city has always been known for taking care of and giving back to its own, which is why I chose JFS’s SOVA Community Food and Resource Program to receive all proceeds from this event,” Passmore said. “The work they do for those less fortunate in West Hollywood is nothing short of incredible, and I’m proud to be supporting their efforts.”
As for Passmore, he’s not just celebrating West Hollywood’s incorporation, he’s celebrating the place he now calls home.
“When I moved to West Hollywood 14 years ago, what really struck me was the sense of community that I felt in such a short amount of time,” he said. “I spent my early 20s here, and definitely appreciated the nightlife and vibrant gay scene. What I always recognized, though, was that it was only a part of what West Hollywood had to offer. I chose to put down roots here because it reminded me of a different kind of ‘small town’ than the one in New England where I was raised.
“In West Hollywood you can have the peaceful, tree-lined streets – steps away from dynamic avenues and boulevards that provide everything from everyday conveniences to the best in entertainment and culture. And it’s all yours to explore on foot, if you choose. To me, that’s a reputation worth sharing.”
The City, backed by CES, was founded principally for renters (their rights and rent stabilization), seniors, gays and Jew’s. This, a well know fact, was the reason behind incorporation. How, I wonder, Alison were able to vote if you were born in 1970 and the City of West Hollywood was incorporated in 1984?
At least he recognizes that it wasn’t only the LGBT community that led to Cityhood. I keep hearing that it was. Too bad the ticket prices are so high. I was here before Cityhood and voted to make this a City, and I’m still here! Long live WeHo!