Notable commentary by members of the public during City Council’s meeting June 23, 2023.
‘I see how much time is wasted on your pet projects.’
“I’ve been a resident of Hollywood for the past five years. Let me tell you, I’m very disappointed by the decline of this neighborhood. From month to month, there are more homeless people and an increase in street violence – it’s more than I could have ever imagined. This is the first time I’m attending one of these council meetings, and I see how much time is wasted on your pet projects, your gardens, your scooters, and other things. Meanwhile, you have people living on the streets in their own feces. You should be ashamed of yourselves and get your priorities straight. I would like to see how the money is properly spent on homelessness and where it is going. There’s no accountability for it, and I would love to see that as a taxpayer who’s paying way too much money. I don’t see any positive outcome for the homeless people. So, I would like to see something good coming out of it. I don’t want to see any more homeless people or violence on the streets. Thank you.”
— Lucia Zelenka
‘Block by Block security ambassadors’ presence has been a complete failure’
“I want to speak about your superficiality, especially Mayor Sepi Shyne supporting the defund the police movement, which resulted in a lack of stability and civic well-being of our city. You reduced the number of deputies in October 2022 to ensure more appropriate law enforcement. You hired Block by Block security ambassadors. Their presence has been a complete failure. A month ago, at La Boheme, there was an armed robbery. Since then, we’ve been vandalized five times. Five times. This is unacceptable for all of us.”
— Lucien Tudor, owner of La Boheme
Juneteenth: ‘To say we did a terrible job is an understatement.’
“I am a 35-year West Hollywood resident, the WeHo East Neighborhood Watch Captain, and Chair of your Public Safety Commission. I have had a couple of sidebar conversations with several of you about my disappointment over what we presented on June 10th. Last year, I thought we did a beautiful job. I was a proud queer, black resident to speak at last year’s ceremony. This year, to see it paled in comparison is disheartening. Council member Meister, thank you for being there. You were the only one there from Council. I know other council members had other commitments. David Wilson, city manager, I would have loved to have seen you there. To say we did a terrible job is an understatement. I was insulted, I was embarrassed, and I was offended. However, moving forward, I think we can learn and do better. So, I would like to propose that next year, Council enacts a host committee. They can work in conjunction with staff to help plan this event. We need more people of color involved. This is important to me. I want this to be a success and I hope you consider my recommendation. Thank you. Thank you for your time.”
— Tod Hallman
‘Everyone makes mistakes, please listen to the businesses’
“Good evening, Council members and Mayor. I met you in Mandeville Canyon, Mayor. I’m going to talk really fast. We talked briefly about Santa Monica. My name is Barbara Tensor. I was asked to come here tonight to advocate for businesses and restaurants because the policies coming from this council are hurting the businesses. Mayor, you said, ‘I always put equity and equality for each and every person in the center of my service and that’s exactly what I’ll do in Congress.’ And all of you say that you’re fighters for affordability and economic opportunity. I’m sorry to say that to each one of you, this statement does not appear true. It’s a bit of an illusion at this point. I don’t know who you’re listening to, but you’re not listening to the businesses. I’m here to talk about two issues. One is the ambassadors. We have them in Santa Monica. They don’t work. It’s been 20 years. Getting rid of the sheriff or reducing the sheriff is not working here. The second thing is the minimum wage. You’re very proud of having the highest minimum wage in the US. Businesses have told you that the wage is too high, especially in the restaurant business, where servers are receiving tips. But in Santa Monica, it’s largely controlled by companies and unions, and you need to start listening to individual people. Please take a deep breath and rethink your positions. Everyone makes mistakes, please listen to the businesses. And by the way, my family are immigrants too. A lot of them came from Nazi Germany. Thank you.”
— Barbara Tenzer
1. I am upset on Juneteenth those folks looted the McDonald’s in downtown Los Angeles we need to draw more attention to that and those kids should be incarcerated. They should also pay for all the damage they did. 2. I don’t care what that woman said on the microphone I’m going to continue with my pet projects, my gardens and everything else and I want the city to do as well I want pet projects and gardens and flowers and all that everything should be beautiful when I walk out of my front door. If it’s if it’s too… Read more »
You got it 100% correct & spoke better than any I’ve heard in my 28-29 years living in WeHo. The meetings are required by a law created by the State for all the small municipalities (late 1970s- 1980s) to be required to allow the Residents to be informed and also under the law called “THE BROWN” the City is Required to have open speaker meetings. It has been an ineffective law, WeHo went further to say as little as possible lie to new board members what the *CAN’T SAY BY LAW” under Brown Act. Cut all comments to Max.. Biti… Read more »
Lucien Tudor on ABC News with additional eloquent comments and walking with his restaurant staff to Council Meeting. A vanguard speaking to the degradation of public safety, residential and business environment in Weho.
https://abc7.com/west-hollywood-la-boheme-city-council-safety-concerns/13431466/
I would hope that Tod Hallman would also find that the city’s Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day celebrations are also very disappointing, lackluster and an embarrassment and encourage the city to do better.
Agreed.
Juneteenth is significant enough that it should be taught in schools but not enough that it be a federal holiday with all the events and ceremonies to commemorate it. There are equally significant events in our history that we don’t mark so this one is just pandering.
Obviously from a privileged White man.
Should be ashamed/
By my count African Americans have two federal holidays. Gays along with most other groups have zero. Did I get the math right, genius? I have a privileged White background, but is my math right?
What do “groups” have to do with honoring a milestone in American history? It marked an end to our only civil war. It was the end of legal bondage.
It is the number one reason that shows why we have a long way to go to try to fix inequality and racial discrimination.
Okay?
on point
Groups, you know, like there are groups of people that think and groups of people who can’t think. Which are you in?
The thinking group. And you?
The person you’re replying to as openly admitted to racially profiling people. And they worked in law enforcement…
So what’s yer point?
My pronouns are he/him; not they!
I don’t racially profile; I consider probability. None other than Jesse Jackson himself encouraged that:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has admitted to racial profiling: “There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see someone white and feel relieved.”
Wow, using a 30 year old quote to justify your racism. So quaint of you.
I could choose some snappy comeback or I could just ignore you but I find your charge of racism to be pretty offensive. You have repeatedly demonstrated your sense of superiority on most topics and total lack of humility to consider that just maybe you don’t know as much as you think you do. I’ve never said anything racist here on this site or anywhere else, so I am not going to let this go without a response. Knowing you as I do I expect you will keep this going because you ….. are you! You are incapable of letting… Read more »
Not Profiling is Both Foolish and Dangerous, Chicago Tribune
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-jesse-jackson-michael-brown-garner-holder-profiling-race-perspec-1218-jm-20141217-story.html
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating that it takes two months for news to get from Appomattox courthouse to a rural island in south Texas where nobody knew the war ended and fewer knew it had started.
I think we all know that.
I don’t know if you read on KTLA news on June 19 does hood rats looted that McDonald’s in south-central LA
These were all important comments and observations that the council needed to hear. But most likely ignored.
To ease the inconvenient truths of the public sentiment, the current Mayor likes to cut public speaker time from 2 minutes to 90 seconds. Doing so diminishes the public’s right to be heard at a PUBLIC HEARING.
The council uses a packed agenda as an excuse to hear less from citizens. But there are other ways to be time efficient.
Democracy is delicate. Giving Democracy less time is dangerous.
While the agenda did give the appearance of being packed, it was evident that most of the items were in consent calendar and easily dispensed with. Two significant other items would take time but not so much more than other meetings. Since Shyne was quick to decree 90 seconds each to public speakers it’s possible that this was her direction to City Clerk Melissa Crowder, who had to acquiesce. prior to the meeting. These seemingly small indignities are emblematic of Shyne to the public and ti city staff. A growing blight in City Hall.
Another thought. People wanting to speak during Public Comment would be best advised to submit a concise written one with clear direction of the problem and a suggested remedy. In any setting, folks are immune to complaints but pointing out specific solutions they wish to see often advances the issue .
in my public comment, I tried to offer a possible solution, only to be chided and ridiculed by John Erickson. The horrible three only hear what they want to hear.
How about you advise people that they get two minutes, and they can speak about anything they want without your judgement. If people want to talk about the weather, don’t set your own rules and recommendations. Worry about yourself.
The days of silliness at Council Meetings have passed. Submitting written comments allow others to review them prior to the meeting and puts it visibly and handily in the public record..
Who gets to decide which comments are “silly” and which aren’t? You?
Sure, I’ll be the decider😊 Thanks for the referral!😄
They also took like couple of 10 minutes break
Our city has lost its way and the residents and business owners are starting to pay attention. That is good. What’s not good is we’re have three Boss Hoggs on the council with their hands out while the city drowns. What happened to the Shyne recall? What’s the status?
HAHAHA amazingly accurate analogy!!
Oh no another DREAM …law passed ( lets start here in our “progressive”city )
At no time , No sitting, acting , working politician, at any level local, state or federal should be allowed to run for office during their active term… It takes away from their job at hand ….What do you think about a minimum of 1 year after any active term before they can run ?
This is happening at every level of government and even some appointed seats should be included…
What say you wehoians ?
How did you calculate that 1 year. Was it a number you pulled out of thin air?
well it was not exactly out of “thin air” ..
“I always put equity and equality for each and every person in the center of my service, and that’s what I will do in Congress”. She’s gotten the woke terminology and phrasing right but will Sepi Shyne explain exactly what she means by that phrase and give us examples of instances where she has done precisely that in West Hollywood?
she sounds worn down, on autopilot, spewing out woke work salad like a malfunctioning robot.
So embarrassing. If she actually cared about the citizens, she’d be worried that they would be hurt or worse by so much violent crime. Congress?! You don’t have the range, honey.
All of these people you have shown here, who got up to speak, had legitimate complaints, and made strong valid points! I respect their courage in speaking truth to “power!” But, sadly, “The Horrible Three” don’t listen! They just sit up there on the dais, smugly thinking that they know it all! The arrogance of Byers, and especially Shyne and Erickson, is boundless! It is only surpassed by their dishonesty and their ambition! And…laughably, they think that just because they bought their way onto the City Council, they can demand respect! Well, I vehemently disagree! All they deserve is the… Read more »
Thank you, Mikie! I couldn’t agree more with you.
The three Unite Here grifters on the council have hurt the city in so many ways that I’ve lost count.
Ot was greedy voters looking for Marxist style rent control that put those three Marxists who don’t believe in private property rights on the Council. They were, sadly, duly elected by nitwits. I suspect most of the people who Comment here voted for some or all of them.
My understanding is that West Hollywood was created because the majority of residents wanted rent control. I bet the majority still want it today. You sound like a greedy landlord.
Also, rent control isn’t Marxist – it’s not collective ownership. Rent control exists in various economic systems all around the world, because it’s very popular.
Finally, who on the council doesn’t believe in private property rights? When you lie and exaggerate like this it’s hard to take you seriously.