Have some thoughts about your city you’d like to share with readers? E-mail submissions to brandon@wehoville.com.
To the editor:
I am contacting you out of a concern over the actions of The City of West Hollywood, which seeks to implement a number of new digital signs along the commercial corridor of Sunset Boulevard (also known as the Sunset Strip).
Certain installations of these digital signs have already caused an undue amount of invasive light pollution into adjacent residential neighborhoods.
I am speaking specifically of the recent installation of the Netflix digital sign atop the building located on the north east corner of Sunset Boulevard and Sherborne Drive.
I have sent a written complaint to the City of West Hollywood about two months ago concerning reflected glare shining from the Netflix sign onto the facade of 8730 Sunset Boulevard building (Sunset Towers), located across Sunset Boulevard from the Netflix signage (see attached photos). To date, the City has done nothing to mitigate this condition.
Additionally, we are opposing the planning initiative seeking approvals for the installation of a massive, 8-story digital sign on the north facing facade of Sunset Towers (see attached WEHO Notice). This installation, if approved, would unfairly burden residents to the north, having a direct line of sight to the facade, with invasive and intolerable light pollution.
Presently, the planning commission initiative for this matter has been continued to February 17, 2022.
I have lived in the same location for nearly 40 years, and have become increasingly alarmed at the cavalier manner in which elected leaders of the City of West Hollywood have trodden over its residents, with the undeterred object of satisfying the commercial interests of the few. Concerning a number of ongoing development activities located in our immediate vicinity, we the residents have received no notification, and I cite the Netflix signage already mentioned, as well as a new digital sign just to the west on Sunset Boulevard, and a massive expansion to an office building adjacent to the Netflix sign location, on Sherborne Drive.
Your thoughts and advisories regarding these concerns would be most welcome. I am wondering if there exists any political watchdog organization which might lend itself to addressing these issues?
With best regards,
Barry Z. Scott
I’d be surprised if preservationists approve of advertising being attached to the historic Sunset Tower Hotel. Colonel Klink, who ultimately saved this building from demolition, is surely rolling over in his grave (despite being cremated and his ashes scattered at sea)
Let’s go, Brandon! Thanks for answering community requests, Brandon.
Brandon won.
isn’t the problem that north of sunset boulevard is not city of west hollywood, but unincorporated la county? this has been a consistent problem since cityhood with projects on weho land blocking the views of homeowners in the hills who do not vote in weho. kindly correct me if i am wrong but kindly. thanks.
When I search the West Hollywood boundaries map, those businesses on Sunset certainly look they’re part of Weho.
The “Light Trespass” from this poorly thought out re-envisioning of the Sunset Strip is a class action suit waiting to happen. Folks from LA in the Hollywood Hills north of the strip as well as Weho residents south of from Doheny to Crescent Heights have all been at risk. Armed with information and backing from the Sierra Club and other notable organizations could fortify the action. This was a poorly thought money grab orchestrated by what specific individual we don’t know but it was quickly sold to get the ball rolling without much vetting. The owners of the eventually dedicated… Read more »
Thank you Barry for your voice on this situation and well said. When the city was conducting hearings about zoning for these new billboards, the structure was to be unique. Example: A creative billboard structure in the shape of an Iphone at 8471 Sunset and each of the 10 -new billboard structure to be unique in shape, too. This has not happened. We ended up with the same rectacular shape. Not only are they too bright, these are dangerous distraction for drivers, and not to mention the crosswalks on Sunset which DO NOT HAVE lights or Yield lighting. Each city… Read more »
Contact the local TV news that’s what I did: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/04/16/west-hollywood-billboard-sunset-strip/
You’re awesome. Very smart, respectful activism that actually works. Thank you for looking out for your community for so many years.
I would hope that the Sierra Club, Audbon Society or other environmental groups could look into this issue. Frankly the City should consider consulting with environmental groups and have them make recommendations. When we adopted the Sunset Specific Plan we wanted to encourage billboards to foster development but it has come at the cost of loss of architectural integrity.
That Sargon Dental digital billboard across from Tocaya is ridiculously bright. I won’t sit outside there if I have to face it.
The billboards are out of control and no thought is given to the endless color and light saturation residents experience both night and day. It’s all about monies for the City of West Hollywood.
There is an additional issue here though, there is no response from the city and no way a resident can get timely interaction and resolution due to city hall being closed. This hide under COVID must stop. And council meetings must have reopen to the public.
As Omicron recedes in the next few weeks hopefully we will see in person Council meetings.
The system works best when there is real interaction between the public and the Council.
The dynamic of the Zoom meetings does really not replicate in person public meetings.
Like massive demonstrations in front calling for the removal of Shyne, Ericsson and Horvath.