It was just two weeks ago that Lindsey Horvath was the swing vote in a 3-2 approval of the modifications to the Faring Factory Project at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. at Robertson. Now, that very same corner features a larger-than-life mural of Horvath and an advertisement for her political campaign.
All murals or artwork are required to get a permit and approval from the Arts and Cultural Commission. This item did not go through the Commission.
The erection of the Horvath image and 4 County Supervisor plug whitewash a queer art installation that previously occupied the premises.
Jake Stevens, who represents Faring Capital, explained that the former artwork was granted as a “special event permit” which had expired. The walls were given to “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath” an independent expenditure committee supporting Lindsey Horvath for County Supervisor.
The Independent Expenditure Committee, “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath’ is run by Barbera Grover. Grover has a long history helping run one of Horvath’s City Council campaigns, and campaigns for Abbe Land and John Heilman. Grover has also worked with Horvath and Land on a number of projects. Grover also was part of the team that lobbied for approval of the Townscape project at 8850 Sunset Project.
Horvath, along with Councilmember John Erickson, carried the 3-2 vote to approve the modifications to the Faring project just two City Council meetings ago. Although it is illegal for an independent expenditure committee to coordinate with the campaign, Horvath would have to have had no knowledge of the mural.
Council members John Erickson explained to WEHOville that he was part of the “Neighbors for Lindsey Horvath’ Independent Expenditure Committee in the primary but was not part of the IE in this leg of the campaign. It would be illegal for the campaigns to coordinate.
The walls, a previous home for the Queer Art Installation over the Pride weekend, were whitewashed. Two artists, who told one resident they came from Arizona, and are being paid $45 an hour. That payment will be reported as an in-kind donation on an upcoming financial filing.
The City Council, along with Lindsey Horvath’s vote also voted to change the walking pattern on this same crosswalk to ‘all directions’ this past meeting, just before the mural began to take shape. The City Staff report pointed to the heavy traffic at this intersection upwards of 2,000 people per hour at peak times.
WEHOville was told the in-kind contribution for the mural was ‘below the minimum’. Billboards along Santa Monica and Sunset Blvd. are known to fetch price tags of $5,000 to $100,000 or more per month.
Despite the explanation by the developer to skirt the city’s Arts and Cultural Commission approval process, or the City of West Hollywood art in public guidelines, this is a mural on a construction wall and leans on the sidewalk in the public right of way and appears to violate the City of West Hollywood policy.
The shadowy tactics that allowed the mural to fly under the radar harken back to another project that evaded the city’s approval process: the repainting of the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd and San Vicente with a large transgender flag in the middle of the night without permits, a unilateral move spearheaded by Council member John Erickson. In her role as Mayor at the time Horvath watched the installation on public property without following any of processes or laws of the City of West Hollywood.
Let’s see if Code Compliance calls into question this out of the box installation directed by the ‘in-siders’ .
[…] Lane Treehouse project? The vote split 3-2 with Horvath and Erickson voting for the project and a mural of Lindsey rises on the corner of Robertson and Santa Monica Blvd just two weeks later. It was listed as an in-lieu […]
Lindsey Horvath is a hideous person! She needs to be run out of West Hollywood.
I finally saw this in person today.
What a legal and ethical disgrace this is.
Just further proof I guess about what we’ve always known – that for 25 years the City Council has been in bed with all of the various developers. I just hope they changed the sheets along the way…
City code compliance should enforce laws regulating murals and signage on commercial buildings without preference even for political speech.
It’s worth noting that city code compliance will confiscate without warning political signs placed by homeowners outside their homes on parkways they must maintain.
Let’s see if they are selective or demonstrate favoritism in their enforcement.
Quid Pro Quo
But John has a PhD., in what we may never know.
They should put a For Sale sign or Pay to play on city hall.
Wel, do not follow the Land, Ericson, unethical machine. Snap out of it!
Witness the continuing degradation of West Hollywood by means of offensive billboards both painted and constructed by nefarious special interest chameleons. The “home town hero developer” has publicly played its hand for all to witness in the evolving money grab that is West Hollywood cleverly disguised by layers of cannabis promotion and other as yet unseen tactics. Where is ethical behavior that the lack of, can trip one up at the most unexpected times.
I do not think that it is appropriate to use a wall for political purposes. You don’t see other candidate support groups putting a so called (in your face) campaign image in the epicenter of West Hollywood where someone running chose to dismiss the mention of a city she was appointed as a Councilmember for 2 1/2 years and served for another 7 1/2 years when the political website went up. I don’t like the optics and the sense of entitlement that the people of West Hollywood can associate or refer to as a clandestine and covert operation to deliberately… Read more »
Like just about everyone else here, I find that billboard disgusting and inappropriate. Even if it’s on private property, you still have to have permits for billboards. Otherwise we would have them all over place. Of course we do but they are at least permitted.
I do wonder though, what does the scramble crosswalk have to do with this? Just like conflating Fred Savage’s issues with candidate Ben Savage as was done in a recent article, this seems like a red herring and otherwise good article.
God, I can’t wait until Horvath is gone. I just wish she could take Erickson and Shyne with her. Hopefully she’ll fail out..and the county will dodge a bullet. And hopefully in a couple of more years (that we have to suffer through and our City has to survive through) we can make Erickson and Shyne a one and done and be rid of them and their radical, destructive, city-destroying, people-dividing, victimhood ideology.
Isn’t this a political ad on private property protected under free speech?
Regardless, if you don’t like it, take it up with the property owner. Next topic please….
No, let’s stay on topic. The more you shine a light on the cockroaches, the more they will scatter.
Jason Illouian is the property owner. He needs to get yes votes on any project he wants to build in West Hollywood. Call and complain about the grotesque Horvath billboard. Here’s the number – . Since there is a class action Breach of Public Trust Lawsuit in the works against the SHE… Shyne, Horvath, and Erickson! Jason and his Faring company may not want the negative media attention. Looking at these comments, Jason is hosting one of the most loathed politicians in California on his property. Plus, Jason must like defunding the police and not being able to use a… Read more »
SHE LOL thanks for the phone number tiger
The Illouian’s are very succesful, rich real estate developers and whatever childish, vicious attack you scheme won’t affect them at all. But the negative, hatefulness that you devise will do more harm to you. Your nervous system will soon collapse. You cannot stop progress. West Hollywood is not some “cutsey” village. It is strategically located in Los Angeles county and the developers will make it fantastic. Most of the naysayers will soon be dead mostly dying of incurable hate and hostility.
I am sure the Illouian clan has money or access to it, unlike Townscape, whose 8150 Sunset project has died twice when it comes to financing and now is a big empty lot. Townscape bought off Heilman, Horvath, and D’Amico just like Illouian did with Erickson and Horvath. I don’t believe Illouians want to be part of any resident class action Breach of Public Trust lawsuit against the SHE: Shyne, Horvath, and Erickson, plus D’Amico and Meister (who made a dreadful deal with Townscape). I recall you own some property in “Cutesy” West Hollywood and are a TV director. Frankly,… Read more »
So basically, you think there should be zero development? The corner of Robertson and Santa Monica Blvd is already slated for a new development. Studio One is gone. I suppose you prefer it to stay an empty lot? Approving development doesn’t automatically equal corruption.
Do you know how many “Do you know who I am and how rich I am” people have been taught?
As long as they do business in this town they WILL be affected by their actions. Just ask the owner of El Mirador. This is West Hollywood, full of educated people who will show you the shed and the nails with litigation. There have been far bigger fish than those that set sail for easier targets.
The property owner probably has 1st Amendment rights that would protect this form of speech, but I am not sure the developer did Horvath or themselves any favors as the optics on the timing of this mural are pretty negative. Much like the relationship between Horvath’s vote to cut Sheriff’s deputies at the bequest on Nika Soon Shiong and her endorsement by the Los Angeles Times endorsement, the mural creates a portrait that is not flattering.
Yes, but the owner, as soon as he opens his mouth in social media. He becomes a public figure and can be satirized and made it look like an idiot for associating with the dreadful hideous Lindsay Horvath.
“Not flattering??” How about “Disgustingly CORRUPT!”
It states in the article that it’s in the public right-of-way.
Murals require permits, regardless of the content, including on private buildings/walls. Permits are reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that prevent people from doing things that lower property values, such as painting over windows, creating sexually explicit depictions, etc.
Aside from skirting the local code, I think this mural looks really cheap, but that’s just my opinion.
Ditto
Not quite. Firstly, it is commercial property located in a city with zoning ordinances, therefore, “free speech” is a moot point. Now, if you want to go down the road of vigilante tit for tat when the majority of the residents stand against you, I doubt that would be wise.
It appears to be in violation of code with the permission of the owner.
Don’t forget this voters.