Last Thursday at the West Hollywood Design Review Subcommittee meeting, while reviewing the potential traffic and circulation design issues for a project that would include event and banquet space, I used an example of a large Persian wedding where the guests would all be arriving at the same time. Please know that my comment was intended to reference a large, festive event and the resulting traffic patterns, and was not made with any malice towards the Iranian or Persian communities. I am genuinely sorry for any pain that this comment may have caused. Those of you who know me, know I believe in West Hollywood being an inclusive city. I hear the members of the community who have expressed disappointment with my comment, which was inelegant and unintentionally inappropriate. Again, I am very sorry. However, given the magnitude of the distraction that this comment has created, I feel that I will no longer be able to be as effective a Commissioner as I would hope to be in my continuing service to the city. I am therefore submitting my resignation to Mayor Lauren Meister effective immediately. It has been my privilege and honor to serve our city as a Planning Commissioner and I thank the Mayor for the opportunity.
Lynn M. Hoopingarner
[…] Shyne also attacked the only Jewish member of the City Council, Lauren Meister, and called for the resignation of her Planning Commissioner over a comment about Persian […]
[…] and respected commissioner this year when Lynn Hoopingarner, the Planning Commission’s chair, resigned over a misconstrued comment she made about Persian weddings. A silver lining is that the watchful and intelligent Kimberly […]
Excuse me, to recuse one’s self and turn in a resignation over a statement? That’s an overreaction and if I were mayor I’d refuse to accept this resignation. Have we not all misspoken or done things we could have done better? If everyone had to resign or quit their jobs the moment they made a single mistake, our who country would grind to a halt. And mind you, need we look back to the vile statements made by a certain orange-hued president? He pronounced how he loved to grab women by their (insert private part here) and yet he was… Read more »
This is the craziest thing ever!!! You can tell it’s a big deal and a lot of fun if you’ve ever gone to a Persian wedding. I believe Lynn provided a great illustration…. So, I’m a racist, too, I suppose.
I am sad but this is probably for the best. Best of luck for your new endeavors Lynn. Take good care!
Last night the Pkanning Commission was respectfully channeling Lynn Hoopengarner at Design Review. And then up popped Lynn herself with salient comments about the project and later consulted in the discussion for additional input. Position on the PC will likely not deter her service in advocating for better projects. Chair Carvelhiero commented that her’s were “big shoes to fill”. So true. Perhaps Mayor Meister will re-appoint Lynn after the dust settles. Either way, she took the high road and will always be an asset.
Amen and well said
Absolutely, positively ridiculous!!! If you have ever been to a Persian wedding, you know how festive and large they are. I think Lynn gave a good example….I guess I’m a racist too!
Yeah you are. Also confused. Glad to see her go.
It’s almost now a given that public commentary on just about any article in this “News de Ville” production is infested by far-right cranks blaming the world’s ills on such intangibles as “wokeness” and anything else to the left of Adolf Hitler…or Dumb Donnie tRump. Congratulations, dingleberries…your far-right idealogues installed on the Supremes by your Fat Fuehrer (and Dumbya and Daddy Bush) are poised to obliterate stare decisis by trashing Roe v. Wade, and, along with it, the legal underpinnings of your gay marriage, your sex life, and anything else the church nutballs and southern inbreds don’t like about you.… Read more »
Cancel culture at its best! I am Persian, I live in the area and I know Hoopingarner is NOT racist. She is kind, reasonable and brings common sense to the council. Big development needs all angles to be considered and should not be pushed down the residents throats without true data studied and real life events contemplated. I hope Hoopingarner reconsiders her resignation.
I agree!
This is ridiculous! I am Persian. I find absolutely no offense to her comment. Many Persian weddings, parties and large events use banquet halls. Lynn was giving an example of possible traffic due to parking issues for events of more than 300+ people; especially since it is such a major intersection. Enough of the ridiculous name calling and false accusations. She is the only commissioner who thoughtfully considers projects and the effects to neighborhoods. This was another way for the very woke members of council to try to crucify a hardworking ally to the community. I find it disgusting and… Read more »
I agree!
Virtue signal. As someone who IS Middle Eastern, we have large weddings and I was not offended in the least. Get over yourselves.
I agree!
I doubt anyone actually had their feelings hurt. We live in a society where people pretend to get their feelings hurt so they can either get attention, get their way, or both.