DEAR WEHO: Slowing Traffic vs. Sinking Traffic Lights

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January 21, 2025—It took thirty minutes for anyone on the Council to ask: Who will enforce the proposed speed-reduction and traffic regulations when implemented? The question arrived before Danny Rivas, who is responsible for Safety in West Hollywood (…or the lack thereof). 

John Erickson finally placed the question before him, and Rivas finaigled a response that included informing the Sheriff to implement a “rotation enforcement”. Mr. Rivas has forgotten that our Sheriffs, over the last 24 months, have reduced traffic checks in West Hollywood. Now that they have a new $ 80’000 gym sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, there might be even less incentive to stand on a polluted street corner during rush hour and watch the cars slowly creep past.

The idea proposed by a hired business is to install a 30m/h ordinance on Santa Monica, Fountain, and Sunset and a 25m/h ordinance on neighborhood side streets and throughout the Melrose corridor. There was a guidance that only 11% of accidents in West Hollywood are speed-related. That made some on the Council ponder what else could be the problem. Could it be parked cars on a main Fountain artery, a lack of law enforcement, or the 70% passing-through drivers being frustrated with the WeHo light system not being coordinated for the last five years? The only one already ready to vote to accept the resolution was Danny Hang, Erickson’s shadow Council. Someone, please drag him on a bike ride through West Hollywood and then have him revisit the discussion of today…

GOODBYE RENTCONTROL in WEST HOLLYWOOD

Lauren Langer, in her position as city attorney, has in the past personally participated in trying to undermine the Tenants Protection Ordinance’s regulations. The Council introduced and ankered these laws and mandates to securely regulate and maintain protections against short-term rentals as outlined in the RSO (rent stabilization ordinance). These regulations are implemented to protect against building owners from spiking rent or establishing hotel-like short-term rentals. Mrs. Langer has fought these mandates in the past by simply avoiding a proactive response when confronted with scheming managers and landlords. 

After Langer, 2023, was approached by renters in the City of West Hollywood and informed through Code Officers about criminal activities concerning STRs in RSO-protected buildings, she refused to prosecute these criminals. She ignored the Officer’s reports and the Council’s efforts to take it seriously. Many of these cases dust away on her desk.

Unsurprisingly, she saw an opportunity today, claiming the recent fires affecting WeHoians in dire need of opportunities to be housed immediately. Anyone on the Council failed to provide an estimated account of apartments or houses that either burned down or to explain how these victims are now the responsibility of West Hollywood. Why does their housing need to be replaced in West Hollywood? What is Attorney Langer actually proposing as an emergency resolution to the City Council with a minimum framework? What compels her to circumvent laws when implementing this? There are various other fitting solutions to the problem on hand. It is another attempt to overturn rent stabilization ordinances intended to protect low-rent individuals and older people from being forced out of their units. 

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When Lauren Meister suggested that verification should be implemented that these units are indeed provided to “victims of the fires,” the attorney seemed perplexed and responded that they could “look into this…” She was utterly unprepared to explain how that exemption of law would be fairly communicated.

Danny Hang, newly placed on the Council, utterly failed to comprehend the removal of a stop gate that guarantees an increase of people that will lose their flats; instead, he offered a stern warning to landlords: “Do not engage in price gouging… “Somebody, please explain to the newbie that renters and Managers conduct 80% of all illegal short-term rent crimes in West Hollywood! He was ready to vote for this great cause!

His naiveté was displayed again later when he suggested that more “sober activities” should be provided to the community in West Hollywood— We would gladly give you a personal tour. That’s definitely not a lacking activity provided here. Danny Rivas delivered the most honest response to a question about how a check and balance for this rental adaptation could be implemented: “Well”, he noted, “there is not enough staff to do so”. We have heard that solution before.

Council Meister hinted that the “increased short-term” rent could set a precedence for later renters or even invited for rent hikes. Attorney Langer agreed and mentioned that would be reported to the State Attorney… Well, remember the dusting documents on her desk prepared for the LA County Attorney’s attention?  …they never made it to the California State prosecutor’s offices either.

Erickson finally realized Lauren Meister’s point of concern: “How do we know that the people applying for the short-term rentals are indeed victims…” with the suggestion some government (FEMA) paperwork should be attached when landlords forward the requested exemption to the Housing Department. Gosh, girl: It’s the manager’s duty in West Hollywood apartments to communicate these details! How can you not know that? Hang in there, you’re not in good hands!

Attorney Langer didn’t have an answer to that either, which terrifies the renters of West Hollywood, knowing that she is finding a loophole here to support overturning short-term rentals.

Danny Hang insisted that emergency adaptations must be implemented immediately to help the homeless fire victims. Later in the evening, he expressed no such urgency for the unhoused who had been living among us for years.

 For the next eighteen months, there will be no more rent control in West Hollywood.

 NICER PLUMBER PARK BATHROOMS for the UNHOUSED

When the Human Services Team broke down solutions to curb crime in West Hollywood, it wasn’t very pleasant to learn that only 107 unhoused individuals will be sheltered in the next few months. 

What is the story behind IHOP and the “recovery home”? Why do WeHo citizens have to give up more and more recreational space to house strangers that come here because the social services provided are better… The French Quarter, Mr. Hang was a safe space for the sober community: like many others, that project was quietly disappeared with no solutions for seven years. There seems to be an issue in comprehending that homeless and crazy are not to be fused. Not much is to be expected when knowing Danny Rivas is in a leadership position to tackle this dilemma. Remember the poverty reduction program… It’s comparably the same dilemma New York experienced when DeBlasio’s wife somehow fiddled away funds intended to help the street people…

Mr. Hang showed a flicker of compassion with his background in social services. He needs to start wandering around our City and talking to the older farts, grappling with the realization that our history is being erased. Well, learn that history first – not from Mayor Beyers or Erickson, they only have anecdotal memories; talk to the old farts that build our City with pride. Many have gone, steadily being forced out of our community by decisions made like that of Attorney Langer. The rest of today’s participants don’t even live in our City. Most of the Sheriffs have no clue what our community’s fabric was built on.

 THERE ARE CRAZY FOLKS OUT ON THE STREET

Mr. Nik Roybal took to the microphone and voiced a strong notion to underline the entire City Council’s failure to help curb the fast-expanding dilemma. Their lack of oversight for oversight of a department that should have brought forward results two years ago is indeed a shameful attestation to how West Hollywood “handles” the unhoused and mentally challenged population. Citizens have learned that most Ambassadors don’t have basic EFR training. That’s personal to me, As an EFR and AED certified trainer!

Danny Rivas seems to think that spending 60’000 dollars for improving a bathroom facility at Plumber Park would solve the homeless needs… Most of us citizens asked years ago to install port-o-potties in the corners of the Veterans Memorial and the Matthew Sheppard Park (you can hardly find his sign…), because to look at a blue cabin, is a preferred sight compared to the defecated and urinated parklets. Again, if Mr. Rivas had entered the Plumber Park facilities, he would have discovered there is a Youth Center: Empty for years, with a fully functioning kitchen, three bathrooms, and an ample community space… it would cost less than $2000 to install an outside-to-inside door for access to the sanitation. Yet, Mr. Rivas, we don’t think catering with a fancy private toilet cabin would stop the drug-addicted from utilizing this facility way differently than you assume. That’s not how you solve crime.

Raphael Gamon is a TCM chef, activist, and longtime WeHo resident

DEAR WEHO 
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Mark S DeRosa
Mark S DeRosa
21 days ago

synching

Brickhouse
Brickhouse
21 days ago

Renting in WeHo is already impossible – removing security measures to prevent hotels a corporations and landlords from abusing this “easing of laws” is going to destroy rent control as we know it!

Concerned Citizen
Concerned Citizen
21 days ago

Let’s not forget how this “emergency response” overlaps with the 2026 World Cup, with games set to be played at SoFi. Perhaps the 18mos. will be extended (with some other excuse) to include the Olympics as well. Councilmember Heilman himself asked about creating a STR exemption at a council meeting at the end of last year specifically for the Olympics. They got their excuse and have now gutted the one year lease requirement under the guise of performative politics. Landlords will simply generate bogus leases as they have done throughout the City, while renting out RSO-protected units for less than… Read more »

John Arnold
John Arnold
22 days ago

Danny Hang came across as overly performative, and it seemed like he was in over his head.

Obsequious!
Obsequious!
21 days ago
Reply to  John Arnold

He said “Thank You” a lot! He also read most of his contributions!
I wonder if he wrote them or if they were prepared for him?

Jim Nasium
Jim Nasium
21 days ago
Reply to  John Arnold

He’s a social worker, he can handle it!

Singleguywh
Singleguywh
21 days ago
Reply to  John Arnold

He came across as “in over his head” because he is.

JF1
JF1
22 days ago

We have inexperienced council members who are just doing the bidding of the extreme, progressive union, Unite Here. Things will only keeping get worse over the next two years. Then 3 seats will be up for grabs. That will be an opportunity to right the ship. Until then, hold on, it’s going to be a bumpy road.

Anne
Anne
22 days ago

The 5 imbeciles at City Hall doing their thing. I think even Lauren Meister has gotten dumber from the company she keeps.

TomSmart
TomSmart
22 days ago

$ 80’000?

Brickhouse
Brickhouse
21 days ago
Reply to  TomSmart

8 million?

:dpb
:dpb
22 days ago

God, these people – being the damn city council and commissioners are dense and dumb. Yes. Dense and dumb.