This past year we have witnessed a number of commissioners removed at whim and in the middle of their work. Some were dismissed via email or text without any explanation.
Keely Field was the Chair of the Women’s Advisory Board who brought forward the Drink Test Strips. Her idea was born in WeHo and just approved for rollout in the State of California. Field is working closely with the next Congresswoman from the 30th District, Laura Friedman in hopes of having her idea come to the floor of the United States Congress. Field was fired a few weeks before her presentation for Domestic Violence Month by Councilmember Sepi Shyne. It was ruthless. She was told she could attend the program she created ‘as a guest’.
NiK Kacy told their story here about being booted at the start of Equality Fashion Week. Kacy was appointed by Shyne to the new LGBTQ+ Commission. Kacy wrote about it here. And just two weeks ago, Zekiah Wright was thrown overboard from the Rent Stabilization Commission without any regard. These commissioners have served our community with dignity and respect but were shown little in return.
It is time for a Bill of Rights for appointed officials. Commissioners/Board members are not the property of councilmembers. We need a change in policy. The new policy is that councilmembers may appoint their Commissioners for a term of office but may not remove those Commissioners. The council members make their appointments and those officials serve the residents for their full terms without fear of retaliation.
There is something wrong with a system that allows direct appointees to be fired at whim, but at-large appointees cannot be fired and need a vote of three Council members to be removed. That is unequal justice. Its not fair or equitable.
Commissioners and Board members are paid $100 per meeting. Most are overworked. Employment rules may dictate commissioners/board members are independent and not paid per hour of work or overtime; they get no sick or vacation pay that is mandated for all other employees. So if these commissioners are independent volunteer contractors getting token stipends, then fairness dictates due process, along with equity among all appointees. New protections would allow for commissioner independence, freedom of speech without fear of retaliation, and greater service to the residents. Appointed officials should and must have the freedom to act in the residents’ best interests.
From my desk — from my heart — I remember knocking on Steve Martin’s door to ask him to write the language for term limits. It was about the voice of the people that somehow gets dismissed by those in power. And then an opportunity came to bring this publication home to West Hollywood, to give all of you a voice in your city. That’s what I’m about. The people’s voice.
There are whistleblowers who trust me more than their city manager, and commissioners such as Field, Kacy, and Wright that tip the scales of injustice. Egregious acts require council action. It’s sad how silent all have been in the face of these injustices. Appointed officials who give or gave their love to the city should never have their dignity taken away without due process. It is time to give Commissioners and Board members, our present and future leaders, their opportunity to speak freely without fear of retaliation from their councilmember.
Item 6s. Legislative. Dignity and Equity for Appointed Officials. Each council member will have an opportunity to appoint one member to each of the city’s boards and commissions. Those members will serve for a full two-year term.
A provision can be drafted that could allow for removal of any appointed official by a 2/3 vote of the governing body in which they serve.
A look back: It was the election of 2015. I ran for City Council alongside incumbent John Heilman, John D’Amico, Lindsey Horvath, and Lauren Meister, who was running for her first term. They all won! Shortly after the race, they would appoint their commissioners and board members, and the City would host its annual Congress. Even though I lost the election and was not on any commission or board but attended the Congress and was the only speaker at public comment. The former owner of this publication wrote about it here: https://wehoonline.com/2015/10/15/opinion-board-and-commission-members-serve-the-city-not-those-who-appoint-them/.
Unlike certain other commissioners, these three individual have a healthy outlook on life and do not define their being as commissioners. Field continues with her fine work and I am sure Wight and Kacy will carry on with their productive lives. Unfortunately it is tough being an adult in a political play-pen dominated by children. They deserve our thanks and best wishes.
2024 exposed the City of West Hollywood as being operated like a private company. Dealings with commissioners, employees, developers and resident are handled by self-serving individuals. From Councilmember Sepi Shyne, City Manager David Wilson, City Attorney Laura Langer, Director of Administrative Services Janet Jimenez, Public Safety Director Danny Rivas and Newly Appointed Assistant City Manager Jackie Rocco. What else needs to happen in order for City Manager Wilson and Councilmembers to realize that they cannot do as they please out of self-interest? Public servants and elected officials owe us transparency and this is something they lack. When will we know… Read more »
I think removal should be limited to a council vote, not one of a specific commission. This would prevent commissioners from removing members with whom the others have political disagreements.
There are two types of commission members: Members approved by a majority of the council who can only be removed by a majority of the council, and members appointed by one council member (who are not required to be approved by any other council members) but can be removed only by that council member. The recent commissioners removed were directly appointed by just one council member.
I believe there are two types of appointments to the commissions: “At Large” appointments, which require a majority vote and cannot be removed by a single council member, and “At-Will” appointments, which can be offered to a council member and can be both appointed and removed by that council member alone. This seems like the most appropriate way to handle these commissions. Many of the at-will appointees may not receive a majority vote, so allowing them to be appointed by one council member seems worthwhile, despite the possibility of them being removed by that same person.
“Field is working closely with the next Congresswoman from the 30th District, Laura Friedman” – Do elections not matter to these people? Friedman has not won her seat in Congress.
I’m still unclear why Zekiah Wright was removed from her position. Why did they also drop out of the City Council race? What are the backroom politics at play? Was this Sepi’s way of rallying the progressive vote in favor of her BFF Danny Hang?
* removed from their position.
Why does she wear a bow tie? Seems like a strange choice.
Sepi Shyne continues to be the most divisive person to ever hold office in West Hollywood. Her spite is evil. Her vindictiveness belies the kumbayah krap she often spouts. She is a fraud and her toxicity attaches to the sycophants in her orbit, particularly those she poisons with her endorsement. We need no Sepi 2.0 on council.
All three commissioners were fired by Sepi Shyne! To my knowledge, nobody else on the council has done that! She really is a piece of work!
As far as removing board members and commissioners, it should be the same for both appointees and at-large. Any board member or commissioner can be removed…but only by a vote of three council members and it’s got to be a damn good reason!
Thanks for the story, Larry! I hope a lot of WeHoans read it!
Could not disagree more unless you want all commissioners to have to be voted in by a council majority. The ability of a council person to appoint a commission member directly, not needing a majority vote, allows many people to serve who would not get a majority vote. If that means they can be removed by their appointee, that seems like a good compromise. I really wish people would look at this set up, not through recency bias, but as a proper way to ensure we have diversity on the commissions for many years to come.
Thank you Larry
I never realized there are two different rules for removal of commissioners.
Can’t these people just go find normal jobs and leave us alone?
I disagree completely. It’s a shame that Sepi Shyne is a nasty bully who lacks self-control, but in general I would not want to give the commissioners this type of power. Council members need to be able to remove rogue commissioners for the good of the community.
Exactly, but these three individuals were productive and respected members of their respective commissions. As a former Council member, I believe that direct appointments need to be “at will”. Unfortunately these dedicated members of the community were targets of the often irrational middle school drama that permeates City Hall and unaddressed mental health issues of the person who appointed them.
Steve is right. He had to remove his Transportation Commissionet, who thought she was a code enforcement officer. Her name was Jeanne Doberman.
Jeanne Dobrin was her name. She was an incredible advocate for Weho and knew her facts like no one’s business, including many councilors. She was however, not the type to play well with others and not good as a commissioner.
Yes, we all loved Jeanne but she was a lose cannon as a Commissioner. I had inherited her from Steve Schulte and I really respected her willingness to share her knowledge of land use. But she was a bit of a vigilante as a Commissioner. But Jeanne found her niche as a community advocate where she was often incredibly effective.
I miss her.
it’s too bad that commissioners can’t remove rogue council members (like Sepi) for the good of the community!