Councilmember Lauren Meister has won a seat on the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)’s Regional Council, three years after she was denied the position by her own colleagues on City Council. Meister gained the opportunity to serve on the SGAG after Alex Fisch was defeated lost re-election campaign.
SCAG is the largest metropolitan planning organization in the United States, representing six counties, 191 cities and over 19 million residents. SCAG makes regional transportation decisions, determines housing quotas and makes climate change policy recommendations, among other things.
Meister will represent West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City and Santa Monica on SCAG’s Regional Council, which is an 86-member governing board that makes policy recommendations, studies specific issues/problems and directs the action of the agency. A voice on the Regional Council can influence growth and policy decisions across the entire Southern California area.
In 2020, Meister was up for the seat along with Alex Fisch, the mayor of Culver City, and John Erickson, who had just been elected to City Council. After coming in third place, Erickson joined then-Councilmember Lindsey Horvath in voting for Fisch instead of their colleague Meister.
This year, Meister’s two opponents dropped out before the start of voting, and she was elected by default. On the Regional Council, she’ll finish her predecessor Alex Fisch’s term before beginning a term of her own. Representing not just WeHo but the region, Meister says her focus will be working on the area’s common goals: building affordable housing; reducing the number of homelessness; and creating a transportation system that works for everybody.
In November, Meister was re-elected by wide margins to her third term on City Council.
Hooray for Lauren!!! And may I suggest they find a better name for the organization. In some slang , a scag is akin to a skank or or slut. When I first saw the name (new to me) I could not imagine whoever thought of Lauren in those terms. Just a thought. Brava Lauren. You never let us down.
Association of Southern California Governments.
Congratulations to Lauren – and to SCAG and to the citizens of WeHo for having someone of Lauren’s caliber on the Council looking out for our interests and bringing her usual Common Sense and Good Judgement to these important issues!!!
So true. It is painful to watch how certain Council members demean or are dismissive of Lauren’s exhaustive knowledge and broad sense of vision. She understands you can’t see the big picture if you don’t have a grasp of the details. Fortunately SCAG is a forum where Meister’s knowledge will be appreciated.
Erickson and Horvath should count their lucky stars that Meister is not in any way as petty and vindictive as they are.
Great news. Congrats, Lauren. Well deserved.
Congrats Lauren!
It’s about damn time! The only dignified and competent grownup on the City Council among corrupt egomaniacs and deluded incompetent grifters.
YES! Councilmember Meister is our voice…this is wonderful news and well deserved. We are lucky to have her and I am grateful she takes this on.
Thank you Lauren.
Lauren’s reasoned and measured voice will be a huge asset to SCAG’s Regional Council.
Bravo! Lauren Meister is the real deal. We are very lucky to have her and so is this association. I wish she could serve another term on the west Hollywood city council
Our anchor on the Council.
I hate their acronym, SCAG. It just sounds dirty. Or something gross. Too close to SCAB. Ha ha.
ASCG. How’s that?
Yes. But then they would have to change their organization name.
An amazing women who has given so much to Weho. SCAG are lucky to have her. G-d bless her for her unwavering commitment and reasonable thinking.
Learn to spell WOMAN properly. That is basic elementary school stuff.
Learn how to be less petty, and recognize that sometimes people use dictation. Not everybody proofs what they write. Or notices their spelling mistakes, even if they are typing. That includes, not just comments, but sometimes in articles. The important thing is, you know what he meant.
THUNK you!
Thanks Randy!
You should step over into BH, it’s kindness week there , this week.