Tomorrow’s effort to raise money to support Kirk Doffing and raise awareness about assaults and robberies in West Hollywood has run into a series of obstacles.
Jackie Geisinger told WEHOville that the 1 p.m. rally in West Hollywood Park, followed by a Boystown bar crawl, is still on. But city officials have told her she cannot raise money by taking donations in exchange for t-shirts at the park or by taking donations in exchange for wristbands that will give rally participants a discount at area bars and restaurants.
Geisinger is the sister of Kirk Doffing, whose brutal beating last year on Memorial Day weekend behind Rage bar left him with a severely damaged brain. Doffing has been in the hospital or in a rehabilitation center since then, and is slowly recovering some of his ability to walk and talk. The L.A. Sheriff’s Department has been unable to identify the attackers. The attack sparked outrage in West Hollywood, which has seen incidents of nighttime robbery and attacks continue on the west end of Santa Monica Boulevard. Geisinger has launched an online petition urging the West Hollywood City Council to install public safety cameras in the nightlife area.
Geisinger, who lives in the small town of Hastings, Minn., where Doffing was born, put on a successful event there that raised tens of thousands of dollars to help pay for Doffing’s medical care and to pay for members of his family to travel to Los Angeles and work with Doffing on his rehabilitation. Geisinger also launched a donation campaign on GoFundMe that has raised a relatively modest $15,000 of its $50,000 goal. That campaign can be found online.
Geisinger said that three of the bars on tomorrow afternoon’s bar crawl — Micky’s, Motherlode and Trunks — have told her that she can solicit donations for the t-shirts there. However Geisinger said he is likely to steer people to The Block Party on Santa Monica Boulevard at Larrabee, which has the shirts available for purchase to support the Doffing fund.
Geisinger said The Abbey still plans to host a silent auction for the event but declined to let her sell t-shirts or wristbands there or on the sidewalk outside, saying that would violate city law which bars any exchange of products or services for dollars on city property or streets.
Geisinger, despite the last minute problems, has maintained enthusiasm about tomorrow’s event, which is dubbed KirkStrong. But, she said, ‘the laws of the city are so ancient…. however, I’m an outsider. I am not here to break one rule and put any business in jeopardy. “
It’s is beyond amazing how inactive & negligent this city is in addressing & actually improving safety conditions in the city in numerous ways. Not only is the city not creative, it’s behind the times. Cameras are an important fact of life in this modern age, they are not an invasion of privacy. These attacks & beatings seem to be taking place in the same general area, even in front of the sheriff’s station, so it’s just common sense that cameras should already have been installed & signs posted accordingly. Apparently there isn’t enough of a sheriff’s presence anywhere to… Read more »
It is time to admit we have a problem; clearly young men who are perceived to be gay are being targeted in a manner that no longer appears to be random. Security cameras are a given in London and we need to seriously look at this option despite historic opposition from certain City Council members. But we also need to ask more from the Sheriff’s Department. Community members like Ruth Williams have been complaining about the need for better lighting along Santa Monica for years. Obviously we just can’t wait around for the next person to be victimized. We need… Read more »
These gay bashings are looking more like a ‘serial’ type of attack. Same person/group doing these attacks. Are there any video monitoring cameras set up outside these bars. If there were some set up from two blocks it would not only assist but detour any attacks. It would help identify the sicko who us doing this. They need to be caught. Before another attack
What could be more visible than our new Captain Holly Perez to meet and greet the neighborhood during this event along with the entire City Council?
i guess only bacon wrapped hot dogs with buckets of sludge water for sanitation are ok to sell on weho streets, , not items to help someone who was brutally beaten here. ANY NEWS ON FINDING THE PERPS FOR THIS CASE YET?
This is so messed up. I’ve given money to dog charities in the park, bought a beer at Gay Pride in the park, the jewelry guy sells his wares on the sidewalk on SMB, the hot dog carts are out on SMB selling during Halloween but the city won’t allow this??? This is after the city, and more specifically, the City Council, failed this young man and many people by not taking proactive measures for their safety in this popular business district.
Why not have Mayor Meister step up and clear the logistical red tape for Ms. Geisinger,
After all four recent incidents including the tragic one involving Mr. Doffing were highlighted on Channel 5 last evening, soon to reach a broader spectrum.
Could WeHo institute a major effort involving uniformed and ununiformed deputies in addition to surveillance cameras? Piece meal efforts do not spare lives and will quickly degrade WeHo’s tourist destination image in addition to safe and happy residential neighborhoods. This is imperative.