A group of dissatisfied residents and business owners along with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce have launched a coalition called WEHO for the People to raise the awareness among voters about the need for change in the City Council election this fall.
Keith Kaplan, a long-time resident, property owner and realtor, initiated WEHO for the People “because the policies advanced by the majority of the City Council have ignored West Hollywood residents and businesses alike, both of whom now are deeply concerned with public and economic safety,” he said.
The WEHO for the People coalition is calling on residents, small business owners and concerned citizens to tell city leaders they need to serve the people and community they were elected to serve.
The coalition will meet for the first time at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 9, at La Boheme Restaurant, 8400 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood.
Residents and business owners will share their grave concerns with the aggressive, anti-community policies. WEHO for the People issued this statement ahead of the event:
“The City Council has created policies that make the City much more expensive for residents and visitors by driving up labor costs for all businesses during a time when the nation is experiencing unprecedented inflation following two years of hardship during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, out-of-touch City policies are threatening WEHO’s public safety. The Council voted to defund law enforcement and reduce the L.A. County’s Sheriff’s Department despite a 137% increase in violent crime.
A recent survey conducted by the Pandemic Recovery Coalition found that West Hollywood residents and businesses say they are not safe and that City policies are threatening WEHO’s public safety. Local residents and business owners are increasingly fearful of facing retail theft and violent personal attacks.”
This has been a long time coming. Weho residents are frustrated with the crime, homelessness and lawlessness in our city. I can’t help but suspect that the police de-funding, in a city dominated by LGBT+ people, is homophobic at its heart. Weho residents need to fight back against ideologically motivated outside forces.
The laws of economics are apolitical. There are hundreds of years of study and theory. They are what they are. Politicians, unfortunately, have not studied economics or math but political science and law. The people get to decide what they want and thus get the government they deserve. Generally, it is only when the elected politicians make life so unbearable that they are thrown out of office. Is it unbearable yet? The decision will be reached by November.
These are elected leaders by the community. If you don’t like your elected representatives move out! I hear Texas loves California’s.
What do you expect from Liberals? You get what you vote for! What is there not to understand?
When I start seeing real estate hucksters getting involved in local politics, I always know that graft and corruption will follow. It’s been a Southern California staple since the Huntington days!
This…THIS…is the very reason I love Keith Kaplan.
Who pays you?
The quality of Keith Kaplan’s business and every other person in real estate drr Dr lends in sound governance.
The quality of Keith Kaplan’s business and every other person in real estate depends on sound governance.
A bunch of racist white people on here claiming business is “suffering” in West Hollywood. Lol. If your not black, brown or indigenous….your tears are fake.
Pulling the race card at a time like this shows where you are at! Just remember that when you point the finger at someone else, you always have 3 fingers pointing back at yourself!
Lindsey Horvath will finally be history in two months! But, we still have the dreadful and revolting Sepi Shyne and her new buddy John Erickson. They must be politically destroyed during the next two years! The only way to really make them suffer is a “citizen action” class action suit against them and West Hollywood for a breach of public trust. Make them suffer in court for what they have done to Boy’s Town!!!
Bravo!
You are always threatening a class action law suit but what have you done about it?
Can’t wait to see that white chick go.
And who will be paying for the attorneys to defend them? That’s right, the City. You think anyone would run for office and not want to be sure they have some kind of protection? No. Don’t forget the Jeff Prang fiasco. The City will suffer financially, and, to be fair, they were voted in. A recall makes more sense.
Thank you WeHoville for the article … it is my understanding this organization reaches across all WeHo neighborhoods to have a One Voice coalition. The Focus is for residents and business leaders to have a credible voice that will be influential to the WeHo City Council. Those involved want the best for WeHo’s future.
YES! The people fight back! It’s about time that the people of this city stand.up!
Thank you for this. Sepi Shyne and John Erickson will hopefully be muzzled after the election. Their immature and bizarre beliefs have been a curse on the residents and businesses of West Hollywood.
I voted for John Heilman in the last election–and would do so again–but he is tainted by his relationships with Horvath and Erickson and their ilk.
Even he realizes that you can bring up baby but it doesn’t guarantee that baby will have the same intelligence and common sense that you do. We need Heilman.
Thats unfortunate to hear, how depressing. I thought there was hope with him, but if he’s associated with Horvath, I wouldnt be able to vote for him. He is also not very responsive to emails and addressing concerns.
Heilman, Meister and Duran.
One can unfortunately be known for the company they keep. However, John Heilman may have been unfortunately snowed by Erickson and on the other hand Shyne is a slick insidious operator.
John would be well served to clean house and step up to the highest ethical standards to help straighten out the mess Weho has become. He could put in his Adam Kinsinger hat and follow some of Liz Cheney’s pointers. This sentiment from an independent voice.