Horvath pre-planned press conference prior to minimum wage vote

ADVERTISEMENT

County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, while serving as a West Hollywood councilmember, pre-planned the press conference prior to the city council’s vote on the minimum wage ordinance.

Details have emerged about the rush to push though the minimum wage and hotel worker ordinance on Nov. 4, 2021. Horvath was pushing the vote in order to secure the support of UNITE HERE Local 11 in her quest to compete in a competitive field to win the open seat left by former County Supervisor Sheila Keuhl.

Lisa Belsanti

One month later, Lisa Belsanti, Director of Communications for the City of West Hollywood, was terminated two weeks before Christmas. The abrupt firing of Belsanti by new City Manager David Wilson left many unanswered questions.

The rush to implement the highest-in-the-nation minimum wage ordinance was pushed by Horvath, along with her close colleagues, Mayor Pro Tem Erickson and current Mayor Sepi Shyne. All received the support of the UNITE HERE Local 11 union.

A press conference was quick to follow the vote with Horvath in the spot light. Sources indicate that Horvath approached communications Director Belsanti to pre-arrange the press conference prior to the vote by the full council.

ADVERTISEMENT

 

A source with close knowledge of the incident reported that Belsanti refused to adhere to Horvath’s demands. Horvath told Belsanti, “Then, fine, I will do it myself’, and then arranged the press conference prior to the deliberations and her vote. Previous reports had pointed to Belsanti’s collusion with Horvath to use the city apparatus for her own campaign for County Supervisor.

It is not clear why this would have prompted Wilson to fire Belsanti, but the same source pointed to the ‘tip of the iceburg,’ as reasoning while Wilson was forced to relieve Belsanti less than a year before her full retirement benefits.

WEHOville reached out to Supervisor Horvath for her side of the story. Public records requests for details regarding the termination of Lisa Belsanti were denied as confidential personnel matters.

3.3 7 votes
Article Rating
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

45 Comments
Newest
Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Voter
Voter
1 year ago

Thank you Larry for your work! We didn’t realize how bad and toxic our council it is.

Jamie Francis
Jamie Francis
1 year ago

I wonder why this wasn’t uncovered or unearthed almost two years ago. It seems people are so secretive or afraid of political retaliation. most staff are told to remain silent to ensure their jobs or retirement pensions. political operatives or organizations who created spin and held details private during the election cycle or Allies staff in city hall who tried to cover this up. The Unite Here 11 lobbyist group tried to intimidate Weho hotels and businesses and dupe Wehoans about its agenda 3 years ago! In general this union determined and decided political outcomes—not us. They decided the city… Read more »

Cyn Guy
Cyn Guy
1 year ago

Not quite sure what the point of this post is about, given it’s talking about things which happened nearly two years ago. Loyal readers of WeHoVille are quite knowledgeable about our City having been taken over by Unite Here Local 11, and all the past and on-going political grifting of our electeds who are using our city as stepping stones, regardless of the true cost to businesses and residents.

Brian Holt
Brian Holt
1 year ago

Lisa was a great asset to the City. I’m hard pressed to believe she would compromise her integrity or work ethic. Will be interesting to see how this unfolds.

Brian Holt
Brian Holt
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

I did see that – which seems suspect. I was referring to whether or not it’s been established (or can be) that her termination was proper or a form of slick retaliation.

West
West
1 year ago

Rainbow masked plebs used as props as Lindsey’s sociopathic smirk peeks through. This image says it all.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
1 year ago
Reply to  West

Used as props? Or maybe they supported the minimum wage hike and were happy to celebrate this achievement?

JF1
JF1
1 year ago
Reply to  West

Yup. Celebrating a policy that will inevitably lead to the elimination of low skill jobs as more and will be automated.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
1 year ago
Reply to  JF1

more and will be automated.” that was already happening for the past decade.

Kevin
Kevin
1 year ago

What’s the point of this article. Politician grandstanding and patronage hires being let go happen literally every hour everyday everywhere. If the people of West Hollywood don’t support current policies they can vote for new elected officials.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
1 year ago
Reply to  Kevin

Jobs at city hall are not political patronage jobs. Grandstanding is not the issue; the issue is the abuse of city resources in grandstanding. Ethics matter.

Feckless
Feckless
1 year ago

“it may be that we have become so feckless as a people that we no longer care how things do work but only what quick, easy outer impression they give.”

JANE JACOBS 1961

“The Death & Life of Great American Cities”

Crookies
Crookies
1 year ago

All criticisms of Horvath should be couched in the understanding that women shouldn’t be allowed in government – for every Meister theres 3 or 4 demons run amok (Shyne, Byers, Keuhl, Horvath, …).

Joshua88
Joshua88
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Second that.

Crookies
Crookies
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

The degradation of the political class closely trends with it’s increasing inclusiveness, yes. It is a historical anomaly however and will come to pass with many a stark anecdotal reminder of why women shouldn’t be in politics.

Just another
Just another
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Ridiculous? Aren’t there prohibitions against attacks?

Feckless
Feckless
1 year ago
Reply to  Crookies

You have an interesting observation and I believe it has its roots in rabid feminism exhibited by these four individuals. The goal for them seems not to participate in affairs and collaborate with men but to ultimately “best” the men. It is a wretched characteristic that has progressively and exponentially diminished their character and effectiveness and caused society in general to be emerged in unnecessary conflict.

Weho Resident
Weho Resident
1 year ago
Reply to  Feckless

“Rabid feminism?” Lol! You sound like such a collaborator. The worst human in the history of American government in the last 100 years is Donald Trump who you probably support and will support all the way to prison…but yeah those darn feminists!

Feckless
Feckless
1 year ago
Reply to  Weho Resident

Completely wrong as you often miss the point. Have never supported Trump or feminism. Always felt it was a self defeating proposition and it never interested me. Have been competitive with men in various fields and never felt challenged.

Eric
Eric
1 year ago

Cesspool of people we have at the helm.

JF1
JF1
1 year ago
Reply to  Eric

Could not have said it any better.

Kevin
Kevin
1 year ago
Reply to  Eric

All elected by a majority of the city’s voters.

Eric
Eric
1 year ago
Reply to  Kevin

And so? Doesn’t make it okay.

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
1 year ago

Lindsey Horvath drives around town in a $100,000 foreign made SUV, and still lives in a rent controlled apartment in West Hollywood. Her new government salary has to be in the $300,000 plus perks range, per year. Crime in Weho skyrocketed just after she defunded the police, along with her L.A. Times endorsement BFF billionaire gal-pal. Since she left Weho office, I haven’t heard a peep out of her still spouting her “defund the police” nonsense. I’ve said many times she is the worst thing to ever happen to West Hollywood, and that includes the current City Manager, City Attorney,… Read more »

Joshua88
Joshua88
1 year ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

“Crime in Weho skyrocketed just after she defunded the police,…”

Let’s see some proof, WHQ.

Joshua88
Joshua88
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Skyrocketed just after she defunded?

Some proof, as I said.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
1 year ago
Reply to  Larry Block

If you look through Wehoville (before you bought it), you can see articles about gun robberies going back to 2013 and 2014.

Joshua88
Joshua88
1 year ago
Reply to  greeneyedguy

And we already discussed every restaurant around LA raising their prices.

Sheesh! It’s the MAYOR’S fault.

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
1 year ago
Reply to  Joshua88

You want proof? Look out your window. The defenders of Lindsey and her failed policies can’t be swayed. They are more loyal than the Trump sycophants.

Livin The Dream
Livin The Dream
1 year ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

Big salary and a rent controlled apartment

WehoQueen
WehoQueen
1 year ago

That’s the whole idea of John Heilman’s rent control: everyone can get it, no matter how rich and powerful you are. Who cares about the landlords and those who risked investment, let’s reward the freeloaders.

greeneyedguy
greeneyedguy
1 year ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

risked investment”

Lol yeah such a big risk on property in Los Angeles lol.

Warren H
Warren H
1 year ago
Reply to  WehoQueen

Clearly she cares more about her career then the City of West Hollywood and her citizens.

Alan Strasburg
Alan Strasburg
1 year ago

It sure does smell like Belsanti was kicked out for political retribution, doesn’t it?

John Arnold
John Arnold
1 year ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

Ethics matter.

Harsh
Harsh
1 year ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

Incredibly harsh and vindictive! 😱Has anyone looked into this on behalf of Lisa Belsanti? Seems as if this might be actionable.

Harsh
Harsh
1 year ago
Reply to  Alan Strasburg

Make that unmitigated ruthlessness dressed in a pink sweater..

Gimmeabreak
Gimmeabreak
1 year ago

LindseyHorvath/HillaryClinton!

This woman is dangerous!