OpEd: Game-Set-Match

For those who are not familiar with the term ‘Game, Set Match,’ it is a phrase used in tennis to announce that a player has won the entire match, signifying they have won a single ‘game,’ within a ‘set,’ and then won enough ‘sets’ to claim the whole match.  It’s the final call declaring the winner.

In the election of 2024, UNITE HERE Local 11 was the big winner. That was solidified at the November 18, 2024, City Council meeting that would adopt Items F1 and F2 into law. The City Council would cede their future authority to make decisions on behalf of wages, workers, or short-term rentals. Both the expired short-term rental ordinance and the hotel worker ordinance that applies to all workers within the City of West Hollywood can no longer be changed without a full ballot measure that would have to be voted on by all voters in the City of West Hollywood.   

UNITE HERE had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars door-to-door in support of its chosen objectives: 1) to lock into law the hotel worker ordinance for all workers within the City of West Hollywood, 2) make sure any new City Council could not roll back those provisions, and 3) elect candidates John Erickson and Danny Hang. The door-to-door campaign included a petition. The petition asked for signatures to put those two issues ‘on the ballot for the voters’.   The fine print did not tell you that the city council could adopt the motion into law. 

While on the campaign trail I heard of many residents who signed the petition to put the issue to a vote or to get rid of the person at the front door.   Most did not vote to have their signature used to make it a law. But the signatures were presented to the City Council, who had four choices: 1) to allow the ‘voters to vote” on the item in a special election, 2) place the item on the March 17 election ballot, 3) adopt the language into law without alterations, or 4) ask city staff to do a report on the economic impacts to local residents and businesses and come back to the City Council within 30 days.  Once the petition was adopted into law, no future changes could be made without a citywide election, a costly and time consuming procedure.

Councilmember Shyne led off the discussion: “I am incredibly proud every time that I share that we [West Hollywood] have the highest minimum wage in the country. The result is that a young LGBTQ person could live here finally, work here, play here. I am not supportive of any changes. I am absolutely in favor of adopting the ordinance without alteration at this meeting for F1 as well as F2.”

Councilmember Meister began the counter-argument: “In general, this is how I feel. We get elected to be decision-makers. John, you worked very hard to get elected, Danny, you worked very hard to get elected, and this doesn’t feel good in a way. You’re taking away the decision-making process from us, in a sense.”   Meister then raised the white flag of surrender.   “this is not a hill I am prepared to die on” she said.   GAME

Councilmember Heilman continued: “I share Meister’s thoughts. Doing these by initiative takes away the ability of future councils to address the real-life concerns that are happening and the impacts of this ordinance on businesses. I disagree there were any special interests coming out to get this ordinance. To Councilmember Shyne’s point, there were signatures; people sign things knowing they have the opportunity to vote for it later. Not everybody who signed it would have gone to the ballot. There are people who may wish to rent their homes during the Olympics or such. With respect to F2, this is tying the hands of the City Council. There are things the previous City Council put in by request of UNITE HERE, but it seems unusual that an ordinance requires a certain number of square feet per day. We don’t say a bank teller can only serve so many people or a waiter can only wait on so many tables, but as Councilmember Meister said, “it’s not a hill that I am prepared to die on.”  SET

Vice Mayor Byers continued, “Regardless of the signature count or anticipation of the ballot, I do not see before us any opposition or even anybody here to say it should be put on the ballot.”

As the discussions came to a close, Mayor Erickson thanked the public and then continued: “I applaud everyone here tonight who spoke up for their beliefs and morals,” and then continued, “It also says a lot that no one is here to oppose because they lost and you won. It was the purpose of this election.” Erickson continued, “I see what is before us, and I think what is before us is a mandate from the voters of West Hollywood.”

Erickson called for the vote. Shyne moved to adopt the measure without alteration on Item F1, and Mayor Erickson seconded the motion. In the final vote, Meister and Heilman caved and approved the item despite their previous objections. F1 passed 5-0.

Shyne then made the motion to adopt F2, receive, file, and accept the petition as valid in all respects. City Clerk Crowder read the motion: Title 5, existing hotel worker protections enacted and cannot be changed without city approval. Byers seconded the motion. F2 then passed 5-0, Meister and Heilman again ceding the power.

There were no representatives from the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce at the meeting. Genevieve Morrill, President and CEO, or David Wood, Chair of the Chamber, failed to speak up on behalf of any businesses.  The Chamber did nothing to ‘rally the troops’ or ‘alert local business owners’ of the policy.   The Chamber passed on delaying the motion or urging an economic impact study.   The Chamber of Commerce was not even present.  The policy that would affect all current and future workers in West Hollywood has no represenation.   In effect the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce waived the white flag of surrender and made zero effort to stop or delay a policy that affects every business and resident within the City of West Hollywood.  MATCH.

The Chamber of Commerce no longer has the ability to advocate for workers in the City of West Hollywood. The City Council no longer has the authority to make changes to the city worker policy or make changes to the city short-term rental policy for special situations.  The Chamber has surrendered its ability to advocate for business policy affecting every worker in the City of West Hollywood. 

Over the next few years we will see the results of these changes.   The highest wage and worker package will continue higher like a runaway train.   Local residents will not be able to rent their homes or apartments during the Olympics or any other time.   UNITE HERE Local 11 has solidified its lock on City Hall and has achieved its objectives.   GAME OVER.