Mayor Pro Tempore John M. Erickson is eagerly preparing to start his term as West Hollywood’s next mayor, a milestone moment for the city leader who began his public service as an intern for the City Council he will soon be presiding over.
Erickson will be installed as mayor at a special ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at the start of City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting in Council Chambers at the West Hollywood Library. Councilmember Chelsea Byers will be installed as the city’s Vice Mayor during the ceremony as well.
West Hollywood’s next mayor grew up in Wisconsin, graduating from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies. He received his Ph.D. in American Religious History from Claremont Graduate University and a Dual-Master’s Degree from Claremont Graduate University.
Erickson came to West Hollywood in 2010 after being selected for the City Hall internship. He went on to become Council Deputy for former Mayor Abbe Land and later served as a City Hall staff member. After leaving City Hall, Erickson served as a Legislative Representative at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) and is currently the Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, and Marketing at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. He was elected to City Council in 2020.
Erickson spoke with WEHOonline about his upcoming term as mayor and how he’s feeling ahead of the installation.
If you could go back in time and tell your 10-year-old self he was going to be mayor of WeHo one day, what would his reaction be?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this question lately and that 10-year-old boy that volunteered with his Grandmother at the local food pantry ensuring our community was fed and taken care of.
West Hollywood is special place for so many: whether you’re an LGBTQ individual looking for a safe haven, a longtime renter wanting to keep their home, a small business owner who has an idea and a dream, or perhaps a gay kid from Ripon, WI.
I sit back and think of that young 10-year old boy riding his bike to his grandma’s house or to the local library and dreaming of big things and if I could, I’d go back and tell him to keep dreaming and to never forget where he comes from.
What are your feelings ahead of the big day? Excited? Nervous?
I’m very honored. I still remember my first day as a City Council intern and sitting in then former Mayor and Councilmember Abbe Land’s office and working on staff reports that then would lead to my tenure in the city, serving as a city hall employee, advisory board member and planning commissioner, to then a Councilmember and now Mayor.
I’m honored to work with each of my colleagues and look forward to continually ensuring that we all work together to address the most pressing issues facing the city. While we all may not agree on certain issues, we all love this city very much, and do get along (quite well, regardless of what people may think).
Who is swearing you in?
My niece Emma will be swearing me in, and she’ll be flanked by my other niece and nephews.
Details about the inauguration? What will the vibe be like?
The vibe will be very community focused. I wanted to center it around people that make our community special. The first event I ever did as a City Council Intern was the grand opening of the West Hollywood Library. Libraries are very special and sacred to me, and the West Hollywood Library is not only the jewel in the LA County Library system but also to our community at-large. That is why I chose it to be the location that after the Council meeting, where we’ll all be gathering. They’ll be some refreshments from an amazing West Hollywood business and other treats for the community to come together and enjoy our incredible city (alongside some amazing beats by DJ Asha).
Have you written a speech? What are some topics you plan to touch on?
I have written a speech. I plan to discuss why I love West Hollywood, what makes us special, my hopes for the coming year, and the challenges that we, and many other cities, have before us: homelessness, affordable housing, accessibility, better and long overdue infrastructure improvements, and getting back to basics (streets, trees, sidewalks, and public safety). I’ve been personally inspired by the lessons in Matthew 13:45-46, or better known as the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.
What are your first goals and priorities as mayor?
We have a lot of big items before us as a Council and City this year. Ensuring we run effective, transparent, and fair meetings will be a main priority all year long.
Alongside this, it’s the continued work we must due to improve our transportation infrastructure which benefits everyone: bikers, drivers, people with accessibility issues, everyone. The city should have done this 30+ years ago and didn’t, and now we’re working to make our streets safer (and better) for everyone that wants to use them. Homelessness is always top of mind and ensuring that we’re doing all that we can at the federal, statewide, and county levels to ensure people get the care at all levels that they need. Supporting our business community and workers are critical to a healthy economy as well as we continue to come out of COVID-19 and commercial rents are skyrocketing and landlords are looking to cash in on their inability to collect rents for years.
On a personal level, my continued support for our recovery and sober community is top of mind and how we upgrade the Log Cabin and other facilities around the community. Last, but not least, the arts. We have a robust art program that serves many and ensuring the success of the Coast Playhouse and other initiatives, such as grants, poetry, installations, and much more for years to come will be important for the city’s creative longevity.
The City’s budget is healthy and strong and as everyone can see: we not only recovered from the budget deficit that COVID-19 caused but also this past budget cycle, we even had a surplus. I speak with municipals leaders from all over the county, state, and county and they wish they were West Hollywood in 2024, and I think we should be grateful for that. If you go outside our imaginative borders, you cannot get your local Councilperson to even call you back, let alone a staff member, and here in West Hollywood our greatest strength is our connectivity and the sheer fact that people can call me (and anyone of us) at any time of the day and we’ll help. My goal is to be even more accessible to the public because that is the promise of living in West Hollywood: you see your Councilmember, or Mayor, at the grocery store or out watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, and you know you can go up and say hi and work out whatever problems you may have.
That continued fiscal strength, alongside a renewed vigor to look at how the city invests more in our rainy-day funds for future emergencies, are critical steps to ensure that the city is successful in 2024 and for decades to come.
Best piece of advice on becoming a mayor you’ve received thus far?
“Grace goes both ways.”
I would like to see a more transparent government, not at just the “meetings”, but I find it interesting that he stated it that way.
Fair should also mean more community involvement to which some members, including John, were against.
But I wish John great luck.
I’ve been professionally impacted by Erickson’s unethical behavior (and am exploring a lawsuit), but I sincerely envy your diplomatic attitude.
I have nothing against John but how do degrees in woman’s studies and religion prepare one for running a city? I honestly cannot think of two more worthless degrees in college. Where are the people with business degrees who can help create jobs and make sure we are putting in place policies to help our city grow and prosper? So far all I see are policies aimed at protecting the Unite union and far left extremists.
Mr. Erickson, please explain exactly what the Pearl of Great Price parable means to you and what connection does it or will it have to your position.
thanks for the comment section, but I will wait until January 16 and deliver my comments in the council chambers, up close and personal. I think that’s the best way.
I agree with Jess and Mark. Public safety MUST improve with additional deputies on foot and on bikes. The ridiculous minimum wage and benefits package must be eliminated. It is decimating ALL business in the city, harming the residents and our economy and, in return, it’s costing us a fortune to live, shop and do business here.
He used the phrase, “nuts & bolts” a few times. Is that a euphemism?
I would love for him to stop pushing a radical agenda back by the union and start doing the bidding of the people that live in this city that he’s supposed to represent, that put him in his seat. Good luck to him and to us, the residents of this city.
Thank you. I couldn’t agree more. I’m very afraid of what this man will do to our vulnerable city.
You seem ignorant to how modern politics work. It’s not your fault. You’ve been watching CNN.
You’ve been watching too much Fox
Perhaps I am thrilled and delighted by the “radical” agenda.
Fuddie duddies the lot of you.
I would love to have known how Mayor Erickson plans on addressing the divide in the city.
Wishing the new incoming mayor well!
Glad to live past the Sepi era. She was the worst mayor of all time.
This is the truth, she has been , up until now, the absolute worst. John will be good major, and we will get a breather for a year, until Sepi takes second place to Byers.
I know things were bad, but they’re about to get a lot worse.
I have no faith in the ability of John Erickson to behave in the ethical, honest manner I would expect from an elected official. His views and actions run counter to the welfare of most of the residents of West Hollywood. I’m afraid of what’s to come.
Perhaps you are right but John’s decisions on a policy issue are separate from the way he may approach leadership as Mayor. It’s been a divisive year and he is earnest enough to try to turn the page and bridge the divide.
John’s strategy is transparent, blow smoke up the ass of his would be detractors to keep them quiet. And if that doesn’t work: abuse his power to have them fired, ostracized, and humiliated. A snake might shed his exterior skin once in a while… hopefully enough people have discernment to not be fooled by his cloven tongue.
Wow you guys are so cynical. Give the guy a chance before for go full Karen.
Refreshing!
You can expect ethical behavior from a politician, but you will probably be sorely disappointed. It’s what you want. What you should expect from a communist is hatred and destruction.
I’ll never forget how John gleefully goaded on the removal of unvaccinated people from employment, education, public life, and isolated us from the communities we fought so hard to build. His hateful and stigmatizing rhetoric from the dais and on his official platforms online was an abuse of power intended to humiliate ostracize people based on their personal health choices. And three years later on, with lawsuits mounting across the country, disturbing data destroying the safe and effective narrative about the experimental injections, thousands of deaths of despair from isolation and discrimination, and countless vaccine injuries.. John continues to deny… Read more »
Oh, how sooomany people do rightly belong in jail over all this!
Too many, unfortunately. Our institutions are facing a crisis of credibility like never seen in modern history. I believe that most regular people were just following the best advice they had available to them; when early interventions were suppressed and information conflicting with the official narrative was suppressed, it’s hard to blame them. But our leaders are held to a different standard; they are obligated to avoid the reactionary tribalism that always emerges in a crisis. The historical moment came, and they failed to display true leadership or principles. As they tuck their tail between their legs, and attempt to… Read more »
“Crimes against humanity”. That does say it all. And given human nature, the same thing would happen again right now i.e. nothing learned.
“in violation of the Nuremberg code and eternal spiritual law.”
I just have to laugh. You really have lost it. (Probably from being around so many alt-right extremists over the past few years)
The first principle of the Nuremberg code and medical ethics is voluntary informed consent without coercion. Nobody receiving the experimental injections marketed as COVID vaccines received the necessary information to make an informed decision: that’s why pfizer attempted to hide their own preliminary data for 75 years showing an absence of sterilizing immunity. As for coercion, being forced to participate in a drug trial under threat of losing one’s job, education, or ability to engage in public life is clear, egregious coercion. I know it’s hard to accept the depths of malfeasance and corruption in our regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical… Read more »
“But instead of focusing your anger at those who tried to warn others”
You’re the one who sounds angry. I’m laughing at you. It’s hilarious to me.
None of what you said is true. No one was forced to participate in a drug trial.
“The tide has turned and people have finally woken up”
You might be worse than Qanon people. You’re no based in reality and it’s sad actually.
Where are the alt-right extremists? Are they in Plummer Park? Or perhaps holding secret meetings at TomTom? Are they in the room with you right now?
Just look up Shiva Bagheri.
Glad I could help you out!
Unvaccinated people have no place in society. Covid vaccines are proven to be effective, and masks are much more than likely to help stop the spread. These are facts, not up for discussion. It’s not “hysteria” that millions of people are dead, who didn’t have to die. I recall the period when 99% of people that were hospitalized with Covid were UNvaccinated cretins. Stop spreading misinformation. I’m not a fan of much of Erickson, but he can’t be worse than Sepi, so I am willing to give him a chance. Let’s see what he does in the first one or… Read more »
You are speaking about 80% of the population who declined to get the latest bivalent booster. After 4 months the shots provide nearly zero benefit. Now the majority are the cretins you speak of.
This is the type of dehumanizing language that we have been facing for nearly four years, egged on by public officials like Erickson and even Biden. Who had the courage to stand up against the censorship, hatred and State-sanctioned violence? In this town, I can count them on one hand. And God bless them for it.
I was first in line to get the last booster. A few months later I tested positive for covid with virtually no symptoms. 36 hours after I tested positive, I tested negative. Science, facts and truth matter. Stop spreading misinformation.
8 shots in and you still catch Covid… what a miraculous “vaccine”!
Here it is, the usual anti vax rant from the far right wackos.
Without addressing any of my points, which are factual, you dismiss me as a far right wacko. A far right wacko who fughts for homeless people’s dignity; protected sex workers victimized by Ed Buck; founded a local harm reduction coalition; fights against surveillance tech; advocated for community gardens; pushed for accountability for abusive Weho sheriff exploiting immigrant massage workers; pushed back on censorship of those critical of Zionist war crimes; and has a long history of transgender safety advocacy and spent ten years of organizing with a socialist political party here in LA. It’s fine if you don’t know my… Read more »