STEFANIE LAHART: How fear and abandonment can ruin a neighborhood — and why we need change

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West Hollywood is a city known for its vibrancy, inclusivity, and tight-knit neighborhoods. We take pride in our sense of community, where neighbors look out for one another, and everyone feels like they belong. But there’s a darker side to life here, one that many of us don’t talk about openly: the fear that comes when we feel abandoned by the very officials who are supposed to protect us and keep our neighborhoods safe.
 
 Last Thanksgiving, that fear became all too real for me and my neighbors on Sierra Bonita Avenue. A fire tore through a vacant property at 1030 N Sierra Bonita, a site that had long been a source of concern for everyone on our block. It wasn’t just an empty building; it was a symbol of neglect—both by the property’s owner and by the city. For months, we had raised alarms about the dangers of this abandoned structure, but our concerns were met with silence, bureaucratic delays, and inaction. 
 
The fire that night was a devastating reminder that, despite our best efforts, we were on our own. This wasn’t just a fire. It was a wake-up call about what happens when a community’s concerns go unheard and when city officials fail to take action until it’s too late. Fear can take root in any neighborhood when people feel helpless, when they believe that their voices don’t matter, and when they feel abandoned by those in power. And that fear, left unchecked, can ruin a neighborhood.
 
In the aftermath of the fire, I saw something change in my community. People who once felt safe in their homes now felt vulnerable. Neighbors who used to chat casually about their day now spoke in hushed tones about the increasing dangers they saw around them—dangers that no one in City Hall seemed to be addressing. The burned-out shell of the house at 1030 N Sierra Bonita became a constant, looming reminder of the city’s neglect. It felt like a warning to us all: if something as serious as this could happen without a proper response, what else might go wrong? Fear and feelings of abandonment don’t just affect individuals—they have a ripple effect throughout a community. 
 
When one neighbor feels unsafe, it spreads. When one street feels forgotten, the whole neighborhood begins to question its place in the city. And when people feel like their government isn’t listening, they start to lose faith in the system altogether. We deserve better than this. West Hollywood deserves leaders who are proactive, who listen to their constituents, and who act before a tragedy occurs—not after. The fire at 1030 N Sierra Bonita should never have happened. It wasn’t just a freak accident; it was the result of months of neglect and inaction. And it wasn’t just a property that burned—it was our trust in the city’s ability to protect us.
 
This is why I’m running for West Hollywood City Council. I’ve seen firsthand how fear and helplessness can erode a community, and I’m determined to make sure that no neighborhood in our city ever feels abandoned again. We need leaders who will take action when concerns are raised, who will prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, and who will work tirelessly to ensure that every corner of West Hollywood is treated with the respect and attention it deserves. 
 
But I can’t do it alone. Change doesn’t happen because of one person; it happens when a community comes together to demand it. We need to rally around a vision for West Hollywood that is built on accountability, transparency, and a commitment to proactive leadership. It’s time for us to reclaim our neighborhoods, to make sure that our voices are heard, and to hold our city officials accountable for the promises they make.
 
The 10 vacant properties in my neighborhood, all owned by the same developer, still sit unfinished and uncared for. They are a constant reminder of the work that needs to be done. But I refuse to accept that this is just the way things are. I believe in West Hollywood. I believe in the power of our community to bring about change. And I believe that together, we can build a city where fear has no place, where no one feels abandoned, and where every neighborhood is safe, vibrant, and valued. This campaign isn’t just about winning a seat on the City Council—it’s about making sure that what happened on Sierra Bonita never happens again. It’s about creating a city where every resident feels heard, every concern is addressed, and every neighborhood is treated with the care it deserves. West Hollywood is more than just a place to live; it’s a community worth fighting for. 
 
Let’s come together and demand the change we deserve. Let’s rebuild our trust in the system and create a West Hollywood where everyone can feel safe and proud of the place we call home. The time for change is now, and together, we can make it happen.
 
 
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Scott sigman
Scott sigman
1 month ago

It’s odd, in Malibu I lived through 5 FIRES, no neighbor beca friendlier in the neighborhoods only at Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue. Everything seemed separated for 27 mile by religion, politic, who lives on the beach, who lives in a motorhome, who lives with their horses, and then Pepperdine students. watching high school sports-the catholic sat one place, the Jews, Episcopalian etc all separated. See door not open at home. i am friendly with people I walk my dog with and another group that crosses the street a drive at in front-either walking dog or walking. The don’t communicate-they… Read more »

:dpb
:dpb
1 month ago

There is more than neighborhood neglect. There is crime and fear. And the problems of Sierra Bonita were intensified by squalor and homeless neglect. This all originates at City Hall.

Had Enough
Had Enough
1 month ago

Who is the developer?

Cy Husain
1 month ago

Running the text of her article through an online FREE AI Detector the analysis shows that “60% of text is likely AI-generated” with “the 40% Human-written” likely done later replacing original AI work to throw off detection. A classic case of a politician introducing themselves by way of deception.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
1 month ago
Reply to  Cy Husain

The only thing that would make the words printed under the author’s name deception would be if the words or thoughts being propounded were untrue. How the words were formulated is irrelevant to their veracity. The only thing that matters to me is if the words truly represent the author’s thinking.

Cy Husain
1 month ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

You really want go in this direction❓ I can and have attacked misinformation put out before and, cited credible sources to back my position.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
1 month ago
Reply to  Cy Husain

Yes, I do want to go there. Great that you attacked misinformation elsewhere; however, I’m talking about this article. Here you attack nothing of substance, you attack only the method by which you baselessly surmise it was written.

Cy Husain
1 month ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

I’ve also attacked misinformation here as well.

Gimmeabreak
Gimmeabreak
1 month ago
Reply to  Cy Husain

Your sources for misinformation are always far-left radical Marxists publications that are too extreme for even the most liberal among us.

Last edited 1 month ago by Gimmeabreak
Cy Husain
1 month ago
Reply to  Gimmeabreak

More like academic and SCIENCE sources that completely debunk your nonsense leaving you with Marxist baiting as your only option. 🤣

Last edited 1 month ago by Cy Husain
Not Buying
Not Buying
1 month ago

a one issue candidate. sounds ideal.

john
john
1 month ago

Best of luck with your campaign. The only way we can change course is by voting out council members that you may find problematic with their stance on certain issues. Let’s elect a council that starts listening and acting on behalf the majority rather than special interest groups.

smlev
smlev
1 month ago

Sorry this happened but I’m always amazed at how people try to describe West Hollywood. I’ve lived here for 30 years and it’s NEVER been the “urban village” that people pretend it to be. it’s amazing and I love it and it has many qualities that make many of us stay living here over Los Angeles, but it’s no more tight knit than any other neighborhood in LA. New residents don’t even know they live in a separate city.

BloodshotEyedGuy
BloodshotEyedGuy
1 month ago

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but at this stage, it looks like it’s going to take Robocop and the Terminator to return West Hollywood back to the safe community that it once was. Oh, and maybe Rambo, too.

Cy Husain
1 month ago

Or we could with far less effort address the root causes of the problem like lack of social justice and inequality.🤷🏽‍♂️