West Hollywood will host three in-person community meetings for residents and businesses to meet the city’s new Community Development Director, Nick Maricich, and the “Executive Team” in City Hall.
Maricich has a respected history of furthering urban planning in the Los Angeles region. In his most recent role, Maricich served as Principal City Planner overseeing functions of the Citywide Policy Planning Division for the City of Los Angeles. He also served for five years as the Director of Planning Policy and Development for former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Maricich’s hiring by the City of West Hollywood was the subject of a recent controversy — he was selected in a secretive process by a five-member panel that included a Jeff Seymour, a prominent lobbyist for developers. The revelation drew much scrutiny, compelling WeHo’s City Manager David Wilson to issue an apology over the matter during a city council meeting.
The City of West Hollywood’s Community Development Department — which works directly with lobbyists like Seymour and their developer clients — is responsible for managing the city’s urban environment and creating a livable community that balances the needs of residents, businesses, property owners and visitors. There are three divisions within the city’s Community Development Department that assist in creating and implementing the community’s vision: Current and Historic Preservation Planning; Long Range Planning; and Building and Safety.
The community meetings will provide Maricich and the top brass at City Hall with an intimate opportunity to promote the new director’s qualifications and vision to WeHo residents, as well as dispel any doubts or preconceived notions related to his hiring. The meetings are free to attend and open to the public; no advance RSVP is required. Attendees are encouragted to share ideas and provide feedback about all city departments and services, especially the Community Development Department. Meetings will take place, as follows:
- On Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 6 p.m. a Business-Focused Community Meeting will take place at West Hollywood City Hall in the Community Meeting Room, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard.
- On Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 1 p.m. a General Community Meeting will take place at the West Hollywood Aquatic & Recreation Center in the La Cienega Room, located at 8750 El Tovar Place.
- On Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 6 p.m., a Resident-Focused Community Meeting will take place at West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
For more information about the meetings, please contact Christine Safriet, Assistant to the City Manager, at (323) 848-6467 or at csafriet@weho.org.
Remember when many of us landed our first important jobs and the essay we needed to write describing how we were best for the position? Would like to see the one from Nick Maricich indicating what important issues he faces and what potential fresh outlooks he will bring to the city.
I think it is unfortunate that David Wilson’s tainted process resulted in a permanent asterisk on Nick Maricich’s tenure in his new position. I do not think that Mr. Maricich should resign; I think that Mr. Wilson should resign. Maricich should be afforded the opportunity to work under and be accountable to a city manager whose respect for process and ethics is unimpeachable. Wilson is not that city manager.
I would have to agree, a big failing resulting in two individuals wrong for their positions. Failing at ethics is rather tragic.
Yet again, the East side of WeHo is ignored. Why couldn’t one of these meetings be on the East side? Anyone at City Hall care to explain?
You make a reasonable point, and I think I can answer. The people who might develop something are wealthy people, and they prefer to have their little get-togethers so they can go to where they can walk to the more deluxe restaurants are post meeting. If they held a meeting at Plummer Park, their sole option might be Astro Burger. Also, there’s not much parking at Plummer Park, cause the silly geriatric fans of those old buildings there didn’t want to tear them down, and put in lots of underground parking and new modern buildings. It may not be the… Read more »
Try Harlow, the Formosa and Employees only. You are missing out. Truly.
What “deluxe” restaurants?
Perhaps you could call Melissa Crowder, the City Clerk and inquire as to the possibility that a meeting could be arranged to accommodate residents on the East side.
Despite how affable or qualified Mr. Maricich may be, the process appears to have been severely tainted. Having Mr. Seymour’s thumb on the scale is a gross impediment. While he may have been a a favorite of Garcetti these is no evidence that he s knowledgeable about the organics or evolution of West Hollywood and its inherent built values.
Is this the guy we should go to now to stop the stupid Fountain Ave project?
Poor guy. His appointment will forever be tainted.
He had nothing to do with the tainted interview process. He was probably as surprised as anyone else to see a lobbyist sitting in. The fact that the City Manger and past Community Development Director thought it was a good idea to have a lobbyist with several projects pending before the City says a lot more about what is wrong with City Hall. It is not a reflection on the professional integrity of Mr. Maricich. Perhaps the community outrage will actually make a positive impression on Mr. Maricich as he has now been placed on notice that the community is… Read more »
This city loves meetings! And conversations! Meanwhile it takes forever to get something done. I guess he has to go on this meet and greet tour to smooth over his questionable hiring.
I don’t know who he is or if he’s going to be just as bad as all the rest or not, but at least he’s cute. So at least there’s something to look at for once.
Yes, he’s “easy on the eyes”, and quite frankly, that’s as good a qualification as any for who gets hired lately. But as the saying goes, “beauty fades, dumb is forever”.
Please stop. You r shallow commentary is a gross degradation of the city and those that live here and care about it.
Nick Maricich should resign or be terminated. David Wilson’s process was rigged and bought by Jeff Seymour and his ilk. The corruption in the Shyne government is disgusting and rampant.
This job isn’t needed.