The City of West Hollywood will swear in Lauren Meister as Mayor and Sepi Shyne as Mayor Pro Tempore during the City of West Hollywood’s annual City Council Reorganization and Installation meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, September 20, 2021. In order to safeguard health and safety, the meeting will take place by Virtual Teleconference. The regular meeting of the West Hollywood City Council will immediately follow the ceremony.
Community members may view the posted City Council meeting agenda at www.weho.org/councilagendas. For members of the public wishing to provide public comment on agenda items, details are available on the meeting agenda. Viewers may livestream the meeting by visiting the City’s website at www.weho.org/wehotv. The City Council meeting will also be made available for viewing City’s WeHoTV YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv; on streaming services by searching for “WeHoTV” on AndroidTV, AppleTV, FireTV, and Roku; and through broadcast on Spectrum channel 10 within the City of West Hollywood.
After nearly two decades as a neighborhood advocate, Lauren Meister was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015 and re-elected for her second term on March 5, 2019.
Lauren Meister became involved with the City of West Hollywood as a neighborhood watch captain, took the LASD Community Emergency Response Team “CERT” training, and attended the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Community Academy. She went on to lead the largest neighborhood association in the city, representing residents on issues such as public safety, traffic circulation, parking and development.
Among her priorities:
- Initiating and supporting policies to save our affordable housing stock and local neighborhood serving businesses,
- Prioritizing public safety, social services, and housing production to reflect the needs of our community,
- Preserving our city’s rich history and unique character,
- Protecting parks and green space,
- Advocating for safe mobility options and fair parking policies.
Read more about Lauren Meister here: www.weho.org/city-government/city-council/councilmembers/councilmember-lauren-meister.
Sepi Shyne made history in November 2020 when she was elected to the West Hollywood City Council. She became the first out LGBTQ Iranian elected anywhere globally and locally became the first woman of color elected to West Hollywood’s City Council. Her election also ushered in West Hollywood’s first female-majority City Council. Her priorities include advocating for affordable housing, protecting renters and social service programs, social justice, small business revival, and bringing the people’s voices to City Hall.
She received her Bachelor of Science from San Jose State University with a double concentration in Accounting and Management Information Systems and a Minor in Drama with an emphasis in Directing. She received her Juris Doctorate with a specialization certificate in litigation from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. Read more about Sepi Shyne at: www.weho.org/city-government/city-council/councilmembers/councilmember-sepi-shyne.
Congratulations Mayor Meister & Mayor Pro-Tempore Shyne.
I’m sure that among Lauren’s priorities is Animal Welfare. That is very important.
Congrats Mayor Meister! Let’s put back UNITY in our WeHo community.
Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shynes overly long, self serving speech upon confirmation this evening was simple inappropriate, topping it off with going around the bend with statements about ethics.
Totally agree. Also, the description about her states she is a “woman of color”. She states she is Iranian and Iranians, like many middle easterners are considered caucasian. So although her desire is to be the “first” of many things, it’s disingenuous for her to portray herself as something she is not.
Interesting. If a black person born and raised in the USA calls themselves African American it’s accepted, but an Iranian born in Iran calls herself person of color she’s not allowed and has to be considered white? The Hypocrisy and ignorance of you people. You’re just racist.
So by your logic, should she not call herself an Iranian American? After all we are all “people of color,” no person is actually “white”or “caucasian.” To call me “white” or “Caucasian” is racist in itself. My skin is not “white” or “caucasian.”
Most Iranians are not caucasian. Please stop spreading lies.
She is a woman of color. Criticize her all you want, but you can’t take that away from her.
Persians have always been considered Caucasians. The US in their census records do so as well. I can’t speak for the “little brown girl” story of Ms. Shyne, perhaps it was a ploy to get votes from “people of color”. Is that is so it is beyond reprehensible.
From its inception, the U.S. census has done far more than just take population counts—it has served repeatedly as a tool to name, disenfranchise, and even root out ethnic “undesirables” as recently as the 1940s. Get educated and stop being a racist.
Please take up your complaint with the US Census Bureau. History speaks to the origins of the Persians. You appear poorly educated as most of your knee jerk comments reveal.
This is not my definition…this is the census definition. The census specific definition is “White – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.”
Will someone, or perhaps Ms. Shyne, please explain the evolution from Sepi Ghafouri to Sepi Shyne?
http://www.sepilaw.com/about
Is she running from the law?
Making that potential supposition is unfounded.
How glorious to watch the elegance of Mayor Meister’s we, we, we speech against Shyne’s me, me, me glorification of me comments. Shyne was gaudy, while Meister was humble and forward thinking. It was also comforting to watch the tastefully understated installation of a mayor devoted to public service contrasted with last year’s tacky display of self promotion clearly designed as an entree to the enigma’s announcement of her run for county supervisor.
Congratulations to The Peoples’ Mayor!
Congrats Mayor. Help keep Weho safe.
I’m not sure how I feel about a know NIMBY becoming our Mayor. We wish her well but we’ll be watching her ….. closely. We are tired of the old arguments and nostalgia about new developments. We need new forward thinking developments and how she votes on these from here on will be closely watched by many residents who feel the same. We are tired of the NIMBYS, Tired of Crime especially Melrose area, tired of homelessness and the extreme protection offered them by our city. We need a mayor who works for us and not the usual status quo.… Read more »
Please speak for yourself Mr. Don S. and please don’t embellish your comments to make them appear as though they are speaking for “We”.
Wait for 24 hours before kissing up
Greeneyedguy ruins every thread with his Trump obsession.
LOL now you’re mentioning me when I haven’t even commented yet?
Living rent free in your head I guess…
Congratulations to Mayor Meister.
If you are reading this, Lauren, there’s a woman who has been walking up and down Santa Monica Blvd. for at least two days grabbing every woman she passes by the breasts and buttocks. I saw her assault four people on Saturday at La Cienga and she chased me down the street. The police were called and came about 10 minutes later, but did not arrest her. The same woman tried to assault me at Starbucks yesterday. The police came but did not arrest her. She is nearly 6 feet tall. Has short cropped hair and is wearing a black… Read more »
I will alert the Sheriffs, Block by Block, and our public safety and social services staff. Feel free to email me at lmeister@weho.org or my cell is 310-801-9839. – lauren
Mayor Meister, will you protect us from the tyrants at City Hall, too?
Sign the petition to recall John Erickson NOW!
Go to tinyurl.com/FreeWeho
[or click username for link]
If this happens to anyone you need to insist that the Sheriff arrests the assailant. If they refuse get a badge number for any deputies involved and report the incident to our Captain, Ed Ramirez, the City Council and the Pubic Safety Commission. If you were chased and assaulted it is mind boggling that the Sheriff did not arrest this person. I know the Sheriff may only be able to hold her a few hours but when mentally ill people are terrorizing residents and visitors they need to be taken off the streets. I am sorry you were victimized but… Read more »
This scenario falls under a sexual battery only, which is a misdemeanor. The alleged victim would in fact have to place the suspect under arrest and sign the booking paperwork as “arresting officer.” The Sheriff (or Police Officer if LAPD area) would transport, book the suspect and write the report only. Under CA law, a peace officer CANNOT place a suspect under arrest for this described incident.
I definitely saw this person, assaulting everyone as she walked down Santa Monica. The cops actually stopped while she was harassing someone at Tender Greens and told her to keep moving or she’d be arrested. She kept moving. The cops jumped back in their cars and followed her down the street, probably to tell her to keep moving again. It’s sad. I complained about another individual to the city and they recommended that I walk to the other side of the street to deescalate any potential issues (of me being harassed). That was the response. We’ve had enough of the… Read more »