During this past Monday’s May 1st City Council meeting Mayor Pro Tem Erickson spoke during the Council member comment period. He began with a list of events attended and then spoke to the recovery community. The Mayor Pro Tem then spoke to a threat received earlier the day. A copy of his statement is below:
“Additionally, on a different note I received another death threat. I received a text message to my phone, that said the following, Hi John, fag, a noose would look great on your neck. And I just want to say, especially to my mother, I’m going to be fine– because she is been blowing up my phone. That these things happen when we allow hatred and intolerance to continue in our community. We are doing a great job at being at the forefront and ensuring that everybody knows that they are welcome here in this city of West Hollywood. We are always going to be that city. And Im never-ever going to step back from making sure and helping lead the charge and pushing people up and letting people know that they are loved and that they are equal. So I have to say to this individual, because this I think number 5 or 6 I’m not afraid of you and I will keep on fighting to the bitter end.”
WEHOville posed questions to Mayor Pro Tem Erickson regarding the threat.
Did you file a report with the Sheriff?
I’m working with Captain Bill Moulder on a report and investigation but the recent events on the AK47 person is a priority and that goes first.
Have their been other threats?
Yes, multiple others.
How hurtful are these instances as a public official?
It’s extremely hurtful because we are living in a world where the hatred and bigotry seems to be winning
Do you think it is somebody who knows you?
I think it’s a crazy but this is my personal cell phone and you have to know how to find it.
The recent threats to the Mayor Pro Tem follow previous threats in 2022 to then Mayor Pro Tem Shyne. Shyne then made a request for additional personal security, but Erickson has not.
Please note personal attacks are not permitted in the comments section.
John Erickson, I am afraid of YOU! You have been on the wrong side of just about every issue that has faced our community.
So true.
So very true. He is way more dangerous than the juvenile “threat” he received.
The constant threats on this site and criticism to Mayor Pro Tem Erickson, with no civic discourse, feeds into this. For those of you defending this, you should be ASHAMED. Disagree with John, all you want, but do not defend this awful, awful behavior. Or, just continue, “keyboard warriors,” and do the same. Feed into the vitriol. Makes me sick to my stomach. He is not dangerous, like people making death threats. Cannot believe anyone, anyone, would defend this.
Randy, your take on the situation is over the top dramatic. To those of you defending this..what are you talking about?
No one is defending this, merely pointing out that the threat that John holds to the City of West Hollywood is far more dangerous and credible than the text he received. No one is going after John with a noose, and no one should ever send such a text, but John is doing damage to Weho by not listening to his constituents. Voting on policy and direction when you following your personal agenda is dangerous to the people who live and work in Weho.
“Please note personal attacks are not permitted in the comments section.”
This was nice to see. I think the rhetoric could be toned down a bit.
Hope the sheriff can do something to address all of these threats. They’d probably have more time if deputies weren’t cut. Maybe Block By Block can help?
Sheriffs haven’t been much help being unable to stop people from getting punched in the face outside the West Hollywood library right in front of them. Maybe we can call in another helicopter to land on the Blvd to handle this, that was really effective the last time. But go on…..
Thank you for mentioning that and it’s a shame more media outlets didn’t report the incident
There is more to this than seen at face value. Wonder how everything would have escalated had the deputy engaged the assailant and then Capt Moulder would be in front of council being chastised by Sepi and John E. We are doing a great job in making policing less effective.
Sorry about the threats, but really the only question that I am interested to hear an answer from him is whether or not he will vote to end the Sherrif cuts and increase the amount of sworn deputies.
Erickson manages to paint himself a victim and a hero in one statement. Curious to know if John Heilman is receiving death threats..cause you know, hatred and bigotry seem to be winning. Politicians/public figures have always had to deal with death threats (ask Lincoln). Sad and disgusting, but nothing new. Well, the only thing new is, broadcast it and try to paint yourself a victim and a hero in the same statement. To Erickson’s mom: he’ll be fine. It’s our city that won’t be. (interesting how he turned to the sheriffs when he needed help. Good thing for him that… Read more »
This is pretty awful. Duly elected people, despite differences of opinion people may have, deserve to live in safety without fear. I hope they have success in finding the perpetrator. I do note, however, the richness, of the same person who voted to defund the Sheriffs, first calls the same Sheriffs when they are in need.
John Erickson never voted to “defund the sheriff”/reallocating funds to Block by Block. He was a no vote along with Lauren Meister.
The Wehoville op-ed on April 26 states that John Erickson signed the contract for Block by Block.
Please state facts if you going to comment. John voted earlier this year to proceed with cuts when Council had the opportunity to stop this non sense. He somehow had a change of mind from the vote you are singling out.
Yes, Erickson did in fact vote to reduce the number of deputies. People need to pay attention to when these folks change their minds, and the affect that those changed minds have on the total narrative. Thank you, Eric, for keeping historical truth accurate. The “receipts” are all available online in the form of council minutes and recordings of council meetings. We shouldn’t forget to call out the public safety commissioners who started this entire morass, some of whom later seemingly changed their mind (it was too late). They include current PSC chair Tod Hallman and former PSC member Robert… Read more »
Oh, my mistake. I was looking into the initial vote from summer 2022.
Sorry dear, ya wrong.
He initially voted against it when his vote wasn’t needed (horvath, shyne and d’amico) voted for the reduction. But then when the council changed after the election and his vote was needed, he voted for it (shyne, biers and Erickson voted for it. So he flip flopped when unite here forced him to.
I think biers would have been against reducing the number of officers, but only if they wore SS uniforms or were brown shirts.
https://wehoonline.com/2022/12/27/council-member-ericksons-cop-chop-flip-flop/