It was faux-de-complete. Mark R. Edwards would get the nod for the open seat on the West Hollywood Planning Commission. Edwards is the Public Affairs Strategist for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. We learned last night he is a declared candidate for the West Hollywood City Council in 2026. Edwards will run for the WeHo City Council with the support of UNITE HERE Local 11.
The open at-large seat surfaced after the resignation of Michael Lombardi during the last planning commission meeting. Vice Mayor Heilman and Council member Meister said they had barely received notice of an open seat. While deliberating the agenda for the evening Heilman and Meister asked to wait two weeks until the next meeting to ‘allow for more applicants’. Mayor Byers, Council members Erickson and Hang voted not give their colleagues any room for any other possible applicants.
During public comment Edwards spoke to the public: ”
Mayor, Vice Mayor, and council members – I Mark R. Edwards. I am a renter in West Hollywood and I love this city. A city built on creativity, courage and community. As a community advocate and a land use practitioner for twenty plus years I experienced how thoughtful planning can shape lives. How zoning changes can make housing more affordable. How design can welcome rather than divide. How policy could breathe life into art, small business and sustainability. My work in land use, workforce development, housing, homelessness and the arts has shown me that every decision we make about space is really about people and who we include. I realize that the best way to keep serving the city I love was to help guide its future through the planning commission which I previously served on and have strived in my efforts to listen, learn, read and partnership with others. I came here tonite ready to work collaboratively with fellow commissioners, city staff resident to continue the plan of a West Hollywood that is equitable. vibrant and resilient. Lastly, Ive carried the words to my heart, To tend the earth has always been to to tend our destiny, our freedom and our hope. Mayor, Vice Mayor and council member thank you for considering my appointment and i ask for your aye vote so that together we can tend this cities destiny, its freedom, and hope through planning rooted and wholehearted ness.
David Eckert followed: “Good evening again, David Eckert resident of West Hollywood. I’m a little disconcerted with that public comment. It just felt like a speech of please endorse me. And I would love to be on this commission, I never saw any posting whatsoever, so it just feels a little biased and rushed”
Vice Mayor John Heilman followed: “I want to echo Mr. Eckert’s comments, and Mayor you spoke about making sure that we make an appointment because otherwise it would be a dis-service to the Planning Commission that has a number of important issues to address. But I think rushing an appointment to the Planning Commission is a dis-service to the community it is suppose to serve. I also feel a great deal of trouble given the fact that the applicant who spoke tonite is already a declared candidate for the city council. So, it seems to me a that this is a very clear effort to rush through a political appointment before the community has really had notice that there’s a vacancy. As I indicated the city clerk didn’t notify the council of the vacancy I only found out of this last week and that to me is problematic. But I know the majority has spoken but I am very uncomfortable with it.”
Mayor Byers pointed out that both applicants, Adam Bass and Mark R. Edwards had previously served on the Planning Commission and in any pool of applicants these two would rise to the top. And that she supported holding the vote.
Both nominees, Mark R. Edwards and Adam Bass serve as the direct appointees of Council member Danny Hang. Bass serving as the direct appointee to Rent Stabilization, and Edwards as Hang’s direct appointee to Historic Preservation.
Despite the obvious majority in favor of Edwards, council member Meister nominated Adam Bass. In the final vote Edwards carried the votes of Erickson, Byers, and Hang. Heilman abstained. Meister voted for Bass noting “It is still a protest vote.”
With the appointment of Mark R. Edwards to the Planning commission Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and her top public strategist will have attained a seat and voice to influence West Hollywood’s future development and housing policy.
For the record: I was honored to have worked for Mayor Karen Bass as her Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs. I am no longer with her office, but have my own company: MRE Communications, a public affairs firm. Lastly, I have not been endorsed by Unite Here Local 11, because their process has not started for West Hollywood.
This is a biased vote that gave no public notice or allowed dissent by residents who see a clear conflict of interest as did some council members. This capacity can implicate the appointed commissioner going forward as an de facto representative of 2 cities which may be considered an ethical violation by implementing policies and special interests for the city of Los Angeles while serving on an appointed body of West Hollywood. Also this is an obvious springboard for higher elected office and further the objectives of other lobbying groups and political interests groups carrying the purse strings. From the… Read more »
During the City Council meeting, Erickson mentioned that some Public Safety Commission members are also running in the upcoming City Council election. I’m curious if he was referring to George Nickel, or if there are other candidates as well. I haven’t seen any formal announcements yet.
This was the most shameful appointment to a commission I have ever witnessed. Mark’s public comment was nothing more than an acceptance speech before any vote was to have taken place. Very concerning he was on the room when city staff removed it from the agenda. Ask yourself why 3 council members pushed this through even when the city said it was to be removed. I ask anyone concerned by this to write to Mayor Byers , Councilmember Erickson , and Councilmember Danny Hang thought the city was wrong to remove it. Unite Here has successfully taken over our city… Read more »
John Erickson, Chelsea Byers and Danny Hang were called in by chits issued by Daniele Wilson and Unite Here who own their votes. This appointment was rushed through in a style that trump and his Republicans love to shove down our throats. Corruption in the style of the City of Bell.
There is no attempt to even hide the Unite Here influence anymore. It is blatant corruption, pathetic, and so transparent. Zero freethinking. It won’t work in the long run. It reminds me of how the White House now acts – perhaps it flows down. Case in point – Council Member Erickson, a couple weeks ago, went as far as to vote to uphold a baseless appeal by Unite Here to stop construction at the Standard Hotel. Not even his fellow Unite Here council members could support this one. The Unite Here appeal was under the guise “noise concerns” – in… Read more »
Bad sign this guy is closely aligned with the Bass mafia.
As the brazen looting of Californians continues apace, it’s getting increasingly difficult to dismiss concerns we live in a failed-state
Karen Bass can barely claim to control the City of Los Angeles much less that of West Hollywood. On the other hand, Unite Here and their protege Lindsey Horvath are more likely to have extended their influence over land use decisions. The upside is that the public will have a chance to view how Edwards makes decisions in the run up before the election as the Planning Commission is generally observed by more residences than any other public body except the City Council and we can see if he treats the public more respectfully than certain City Council members.
” We learned last night he is a declared candidate for the West Hollywood City Council in 2026. Edwards will run for the WeHo City Council with the support of UNITE HERE Local 11. “
There has not been an official declaration of candidacy nor has there been endorsements of ANYONE By Unite at this time for the next election cycle.
Larry that’s not reporting. It’s conjecture
John Heilmans own words ‘a declared candidate for the West Hollywood City Council’ – it was not refutted. Wanna bet?
FYI: Edwards has previously announced he is running for City Council.
“This joke is not funny anymore…” how Morrissey used to say…. What a level of corruption, just insane.
It is unbelievable. Actually it is believable. The union Unite Here owns this council. They don’t give a damn about the people they serve. This union and the council it owns has an agenda and the residents of the city be damned. You have to give it to Unite Here, they knew West Hollywood was an easy target to take over. The people in our city care know more about ticking boxes than they do about the actual issues. They knew they just had to parade the “right“ people in front of the electorate touting that they are the first… Read more »
It is insane that the City Council has outsourced its decision making powers to a labor union.
Weho residents screwed again