Councilmember John Heilman thinks WeHo’s economy needs a jumpstart.
He’s putting forth a policy proposal to his fellow councilmembers at their Monday meeting that is aimed at retaining existing businesses in West Hollywood and enticing new ones to set up shop in the city.
Obstacles to success for local businesses still linger from the disruptive COVID pandemic. The hesitancy of residents and visitors to engage in travel, attend large-scale gatherings, or patronize local establishments has significantly impacted key sectors such as restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Moreover, the rise of online shopping has further strained brick-and-mortar retail businesses, as some locals have embraced the convenience and safety of virtual purchasing. Additionally, the shift to remote work arrangements has resulted in fewer employees in the city during lunch hours, leading to a decline in customers for restaurants and other service-oriented businesses. Consequently, the demand for office space has plummeted, presenting a predicament for businesses catering to office tenants. Furthermore, developers face financing challenges due to high interest rates, hindering the construction of new facilities. Lastly, economic uncertainty poses challenges for new businesses seeking to establish themselves in West Hollywood.
While the city grapples with these hurdles, there have been some signs of recovery. Certain industries, including hotels, retail establishments, restaurants, and nightclubs, have begun bouncing back, inching closer to pre-pandemic levels. Nevertheless, the scars of the crisis remain, with some businesses unable to survive and others still struggling to regain their footing. Consequently, West Hollywood is now grappling with an alarming number of vacant commercial spaces and stalled development projects.
To this end, the Economic Development Department (EDD) will take the lead in formulating a comprehensive plan of action. The recommendations put forth include providing regular updates at Council meetings on major commercial and mixed-use development projects, assessing their progress and proposing measures to ensure timely completion. The EDD will also conduct surveys among existing businesses to identify those at risk of closure or relocation, aiming to address their concerns and provide support. Engaging with prominent employers and top sales-tax generators will shed light on their specific needs and challenges, while also meeting with small business owners to understand the unique issues they face.
Efforts to revitalize the city’s commercial landscape also include identifying vacant commercial spaces that have the greatest negative impact on community vibrancy and safety. Through collaboration with property owners, the City seeks to attract new tenants and breathe new life into these spaces. Additionally, the revival of the Brokers’ Roundtable will serve as a platform for attracting fresh businesses to vacant properties and pinpointing obstacles that hinder businesses from choosing West Hollywood as their home.
The proposal envisions a cooperative effort with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Sunset Strip Business Improvement District, the West Hollywood Design District, and Visit West Hollywood.
[…] week in WEHOville there was an article regarding Councilman Heilman’s proposal to help revive economic development in West Hollywood. While Councilman John Heilman’s efforts to retain existing and attract new […]
[…] week in WEHOville there was an article regarding Councilman Heilman’s proposal to help revive economic development in West Hollywood. While Councilman John Heilman’s efforts to retain existing and attract new […]
Probably more sensible and far more effective to table this issue until Heilman is out of his final turn by popular vote, on our “City Council” God only knows the money he wants to appropriate will yet again actually go. He had a self promo article of HIS CHARITABLE foundation IN MALAWI which he travels to several times a year after losing last vote A CHARITABLE Foundation requires Millions and Millions of dollars. And the new (last time I checked – you can by just googling how to launder money) was using MALAWI as a front to launder in an… Read more »
Didn’t this guy advocate for lockdowns, business and school closures, vaccine mandates and mass unemployment? This is just a politician positioning and desperately outrunning his own complicity. Not even mentioning his secretive personal life…
I didn’t vote for Heilman but if what you said is true- then I like him a bit more!
His public health ideas are sound. Who cares about his secretive private life, or your secretive private life. What is problematic are his claims knowing how to fix the business climate, along with his sure to get elected policies of pandering to the freeloaders who vote by making landlords pay for everything by taking away their private property rights.
You are correct.
This is a very harsh and disrespectful remark. Given the available information at the time he undoubtedly did as did thousands of others who did not receive accurate information about the pandemic. Sounds like you have an axe to grind however John Heilman’s advocacy for improvements in the business community is important.
Without an acknowledgement of those mistakes and an effort avoid them in the future, why should Heilman or any other politician get a pass
He still wears a mask, so no chance of any acknowledgment.
Perhaps what was more disrespectful was treating unvaccinated people like second class citizens and censoring anyone who disagreed with the flawed official narrative… and then gaslight us when we are proven correct about many things.. I do have an axe to grind !
Always playing the victim. A person is as second class as they feel and demonstrate.
I am in Paris, France at the moment. The entire city center is thriving. All restaurants are packed, every store is busy, almost no homeless. Why? Because a huge percentage of homes are now airbnb. The city is filled with tourists spending big money. The workers have moved out to the cheaper affordable suburbs and they happily commute an hour or two each way. The ones who remain are wealthy people who can afford to live and spend in the city. Weho does the opposite and look at the result.
Stay there.
I can’t afford to stay long, as I have to subsidize tenants freeloading off the system for decades. See, I work, so they don’t have to. Got it? Sorry to disappoint you, I’m coming back.
Sorry you aren’t very good at being an oligarch, or chose the wrong country. Bummer for you. Sorry to diasappoint you, but nobody cares.
Of course you won’t want to talk about France’s robust public transit system, social services (including housing for homeless people), workers rights/pro-union sentiment etc.
Btw Paris has very strict AirBnB laws as well.
I already spoke about the happy commuters. The French get the homeless out of view of the wealthy tourists. I’ve seen perhaps one homeless person in 4 days in Paris. I’m good with workers rights and the right to unionize, as long as strikers know they will hopefully and likely lose their good job, then end up working cleaning up after the likes of me. Airbnb laws are not strict here, and don’t seem enforced. A huge percentage in central Paris are short and long term rentals. Use your eyes.
“I’m good with workers rights and the right to unionize, as long as strikers know they will hopefully and likely lose their good job”
Have you been following the protests/demonstrations in Paris for the last 4-5 months?!
And Airbnb laws are VERY strict in Paris. You have to register every airbnb with local authorities. They can only rent a unit out 120 days of the year (for primary residence) and not charge more than what their actual rent is. They have to get permission from the landlord as well. There are also airbnb taxes that are strictly enforced.
The leader’s requirement of paying businesses $4 more per hour for minimum wage than the national average results in a monthly cost increase of $800 for small businesses. Comparatively, setting up shop in LA or Beverly Hills next door would save $800 per month. Additionally, the city mandates employee benefits not required by LA or the national government. Considering these factors, it is illogical for anyone to choose this location for their business. Personally, I emailed the mayor regarding the persistent presence of a homeless group near a laundromat close to 7-Eleven, but no action has been taken. The homeless… Read more »
I’m sorry to say it, we have absolute morons in charge. But blame the intellect and greed of the voters who vote for these fools.
The leadership of WeHo decided to require business to pay $4 dollars more a hour for minimum wage more than the national average which would cost a small business $800 more a month(A business can set up shot in LA and Beverly Hills literally next door and save $800 a month). They also mandate other employee benefits which the city of LA or the national doesn’t require. Who in their right mind would want to set up shop here? I personally e-mailed the mayor and told her about the homeless group that constantly since his friend laundromat near 7-Eleven, and… Read more »
this is very true, they talk about affordable housing as a value that the city was founded on and then build an unaffordable city around a few affordable housing units.
Yes Larry, let’s build affordable housing in a city that’s unsafe & UNaffordable to live! The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over & over & expecting a different result. This city seems like an Insane Asylum with these jokers running it right now….no common sense whatsoever!
You are correct. West Hollywood was the perfect opportunity to encourage an outstanding example of a well balanced city open to people seeking respect and acceptance. Rather than that, it has become a failed experiment and training ground for erstwhile politicians and unadaptable people that simply forever want to be the exception and who have introduced a full alphabet of issues and prototypes forced on others. They are in essence creating their own segregated society with various categories. The Titan submersible could reasonably stand as a metaphor.
Every single councilmember voted to erect a literal two tiered society based on medical segregation. If they had it their way, you’d still be locked in your house, unemployed and humiliated, your children force masked and their schools shut down, and you would be happy about it.
Gee Larry, that sounds like my main talking point. Maybe my message is resonating with others too.
For July 2023:
West Hollywood minimum wage is $19.08
LA City min wage is $16.78
LA County min wage is $16.90
Pasadena minimum wage is $16.98
Malibu minimum wage is $16.90
Let’s be honest here. West Hollywood definitely is the highest but it’s not $4 more an hour compared to nearby cities.
SAFETY FIRST!!! With the landscape of glass cabinets going up in just about all big stores due to theft with flash mobs that none of us have ever imagined, what store would want to come into WeHo ESPECIALLY with the “defund” instigators sitting on the city council! You cannot have it both ways. Yes, the highest minimum wage in the country with sales tax at a record high, but let us not forget that Athens Service is increasing their wages AGAIN along with Southern CA Edison & Sewage going up AGAIN…..why would anybody really want to open a business here?… Read more »
At least somebody wants to do something.
What a joke. This is the last place in LA county anyone wants to open a business.
Apparently, you are wrong.
The sky high sales tax and minimum wage are two reasons business owners probably don’t want to operate in WeHo. I know that if I was a business owner, those would be my main reasons.
that’s the truth. it also has a horrible image problem.
That was not what was reported, now is it?
YUP.
On top of the fact that the City Of West Hollywood is not a business friendly city, we have very high rents, and we have the highest hourly minimum wage. Restaurants should now do away with the archaic tipping system since servers now make $20 an hour. Tipping was started because servers made very little per hour. Now with restaurants adding “kitchen gratuity” automatically to the bill at about 3% and servers still seeking 20% tip (some places automatically adding 20% tip when it’s six or more people) we are now tipping 23% on top of somebody who’s making $20… Read more »