Mayor Erickson sworn into second term

Mayor John M. Erickson was moved to tears as friends and supporters packed City Council chambers to celebrate the start of his second term on Monday.

Erickson’s remarks carried a mixture of humor, gratitude, and personal reflection as he addressed those in attendance, as well as friends and family watching remotely.

He acknowledged the significance of their presence during the busy holiday season. “I’m thankful for each of you and very grateful that you’re giving us your time in between your busy holiday schedules. To my friends and family watching online at home in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin — my mother informed me it was a negative one when she left — and across the country, I love you. Thank you for believing in me during this campaign and for offering me the countless hours on the phone when you heard me complain, worry, or offered a safe space for me to express my fears and anxiety. And I did it a lot.”

Erickson then shared a heartfelt message to family members who could not attend. “A special shoutout to my sisters and nieces and nephews back in Wisconsin who couldn’t be here tonight. Public service and elections take us away from those that we most want to be around for the greater good. I miss a lot of big and small moments, and I’m really sorry. I find myself apologizing to my nieces and nephews and my sisters more than when we would fight as children, but here we are.”

He went on to highlight family milestones, celebrating their achievements. “To my niece Emma on making gold team for the Milwaukee Sting — congratulations. For Drew, for getting his first deer of the hunting season — even though I don’t condone hunting, congratulations. To Bailey, who is as grief-stricken as I am that the Eras tour is over. And to Brady, who is braces-free and already ready for his next baseball season.”

Erickson then turned his attention to his mother, expressing his deep appreciation for her support. “I’m extremely grateful to my mom, who was able to join me here for this big step. She watched me back home when I first got elected in 2020, when I first took this oath, and to have you here with me on this next step is a very humbling experience. When I think about all the worrying you always do or how much I know you miss me, to look out and see you right now as I do is a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.” Erickson humorously recalled his grandmother’s words: “Just like your mom, and my grandma — Grandma Gladys — would always say to you whenever I did something slightly naughty, because I was a perfect child, I’d be all right. I just had to find my path. Well, I found it.”

He thanked his campaign team for their dedication throughout the election. “To my incredible campaign team — Barbara, Amy, Nicky, Matt, Amy, Jordan, and Tom — thank you for joining me on this crazy ride. You came to my house every Monday, and I have missed our times together. You were the voice of this campaign when I couldn’t be at every door, and I’m so proud of the message we put out — one focused on equity, responsibility to our residents, the basic nuts and bolts of local government, and the bigger issues we saw before us: protecting our renters, building out and advocating for safer streets, and making sure our community is safe. You are the heart and soul of every person we spoke to, and by the results, we spoke to a lot of people who believed in our mission. Thank you.”

Erickson commended newly elected Councilmember Danny Hang for his integrity during the campaign, saying, “Councilmember Hang, your election is both historic and continues to fulfill the promise that our city founders believed in. We went through a lot of ups and downs this past election, but you never were afraid to stay true to your morals, no matter what the opposition said about you or threatened you with. You did this by doing what every winning campaign does — talking directly to voters, listening to them, hearing what they’re most concerned about. And now, as I sit next to you in this seat, you get to make good on those promises. You get to help the residents of all abilities and ages and businesses about what the priorities will be for your tenure. Congratulations, my friend. I am so very proud of you.”

He offered personal reflections on the toll of public service, expressing gratitude to his partner, Brian. “Elections are very difficult. As politicians and people who are asking for votes, we are trained to knock another door, make one more phone call, or ask someone else for a donation. Thanks, Barbara, for that always-ever-frustrated reminder. All of these things, while also serving as mayor and working for Planned Parenthood, definitely kept my dance card full, and sadly, it took me away from the person I always wanted to be around the most. And that was, and has always been, you.”

Erickson spoke directly to Brian, saying, “You are my backbone when I was weak. You are the person who told me when I was scared, and you were my eyes — quite literally — when I couldn’t see. You are the best person and the best part of me, Brian, and there’s so much more beauty to come.”

Looking forward, Erickson addressed economic issues and the importance of West Hollywood’s minimum wage law. “A few must-look-forwards in 2025 and beyond: From workers’ rights to the minimum wage, the issue of what is a person worth was a topic of conversation at forums in the community and amongst residents and businesses I found myself chatting with day to day. I want to be clear about what I heard when talking to countless people: no one is making enough money, and the wages are too low.”

He emphasized the city’s leadership on this issue, saying, “We must, both as a region, a county, and a country, address this issue head-on, and I am glad that West Hollywood’s minimum wage law, which goes up in January, will be the highest in California. It is a call to action for other cities to take this step forward. The minimum wage was a winning issue in this campaign, and I’m looking forward to bringing forth other items to further address wage inequity as we approach major regional events like UEFA, the Olympics, and other major activations that will happen across our region.”

West Hollywood — While the debate over bike lanes on Fountain Avenue dominated recent election discussions, the core issue was always more significant: the minimum wage law and policies affecting workers. During a post-election address, Councilmember John M. Erickson outlined his vision for addressing critical issues in West Hollywood, from safer streets to housing, homelessness, and support for older adults, while reaffirming the city’s role as a sanctuary for LGBTQ people.

“The real issue that came about from this conversation was how to actually make our streets safer and more equitable for people of all abilities,” Erickson said. He emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements, such as wider sidewalks, traffic calming measures, and bike lanes — which he called “the most controversial words in our city’s history.”

Referencing existing efforts on Melrose Avenue and planned projects for Beverly and Santa Monica boulevards, Erickson underscored the urgency of transforming Fountain Avenue, where he resides. “There have been too many crashes, too many scooters, and sadly, one too many deaths that have occurred as a result of our outdated infrastructure,” he said, adding that the west side’s success with traffic calming must be expanded citywide.

Erickson acknowledged challenges with securing federal funding under the incoming administration but urged localized efforts. “We are working on policy changes at the statewide level to bring about our local ability to have speed cameras, as well as putting shovels in the ground to bring about these changes that we’ve been talking about for far too long.”

Turning to housing, Erickson addressed the city’s inability to meet its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) goals. “We’re not building enough housing, period. End of story,” he said. He called for cutting red tape at City Hall to streamline projects and reduce costs, urging action to meet affordability and housing availability goals. “West Hollywood has always touted itself as a leader in this space, and it’s time — especially after 40 years of cityhood — to make good on that leadership and step up and play our part in the housing crisis.”

Erickson also highlighted homelessness as a central issue from the campaign. “We have to do all that we can to help those that are living on our streets, who are plagued by mental illness and other issues impacting their lives and the lives of those around them,” he said. Sharing his personal perspective, he added, “As someone who has lived paycheck to paycheck, it could have been me. It could be you. And let’s make sure there’s never any of us ever again.” Erickson praised ongoing work by city staff and reiterated the importance of addressing homelessness through compassion rather than criminalization.

In addition to policy priorities, Erickson called for investment in West Hollywood’s older adult population, citing the importance of connection and storytelling to combat loneliness. “There’s such a rich history here in the city of West Hollywood,” he said. “The issue of loneliness in our city, with people who aren’t talked to — whether how old you are or not — is something that is plaguing our region.”

Reflecting on his hopes for West Hollywood’s future, Erickson invoked the “parable of the pearl of great price,” likening the city to a diamond in the rough and a sanctuary for LGBTQ people. “West Hollywood, for me, was always that pearl — a city that many LGBTQ people see as close to heaven as we can imagine because we are protected by our very, very purpose,” he said.

Erickson expressed optimism about local election results in West Hollywood and across neighboring cities. “As I look out and see friends from Santa Monica and Culver City, we did it, and we did it together,” he said. He emphasized the importance of regional collaboration to solve shared challenges.

In closing, Erickson thanked voters for giving him another term and acknowledged the collective work ahead. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve these past four years, and I’m so thankful to the voters for giving me another term,” he said. Quoting Wicked, Erickson concluded, “Unlimited. Now, let’s get back to work. Thank you, everyone.”