At the end of Monday night’s city council meeting councilmember Meister spoke to the public during her last council member comment period. She aired her disappointment at being voted off the SCAG representing the west side cities and West Hollywood.
“I represented our diverse cities with fairness and balance with regard to the energy and environment committee, my questions comments and votes reflected our collective passion to protect the environment in a highly urbanized region – if you have any doubts ask the Nature Conservancy as some tried to water down SCAG’s new green tool which they helped build I fought to strengthen it”
Meister continued “whatever politics were behind this vote I was not the only loser and although the vote was sad and humiliating for me personally I believe that it was much more humiliating for the City of West Hollywood and the West Side City cog as a whole as both bodies lost out on a leadership position at SCAG. As Vice Chair of the energy and environment commission committee I was also on the executive administration committee and I was asked to run for Chair of the EEC committee which would have provided additional visibility for the city [West Hollywood] and for the West Side Cities cog. Lastly I was included in the recent conversations on resilience as I added a unique perspective as someone in the field of emergency management. The absence of some West Hollywood council members speak as loud as the one who was there voting against his own city I’m disappointed and the West Hollywood community should be too.
Meister’s reference pointed to Council member John Erickson who was in attendance and voted against his co-council member and having West Hollywood representation on the Southern California Association of Governments.
In 2020, then Mayor Lindsey Horvath joined council member Erickson to deny Meister’s original appointment to SCAG. WEHOonline reported it here: https://wehoonline.com/councilmember-lauren-meister-reveals-rift-among-the-five-city-council-members/.
Council member Erickson has announced his run for the California State Senate seat to replace current State Senator Ben Allen representing the 24th Senate District, covering the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County.
Our city is owned by Latham & Watkins and Beverly Hills MAGA developers. Is it any wonder that Latham & Watkins who was behind the disastrous Melrose Triangle project is still getting more disastrous developments approved by the city. What is wrong with people at city hall? Who did this law firm donate to on our city council?
Lauren has consistently been helpful
to my community and to those of us who are longtime residents of King Road. Erickson is a clod and I will donate to anyone running against him. His opportunistic manner, a massive ego and his general incompetence is not acceptable in any elected position. He needs to be kicked to the curb as nothing more than a sock puppet and I think more will come out in due time as to his proclivities
There are a lot of people in the city of West Hollywood voting on behave of special interests: although Meister had long lost her true commitment for fair housing – and preventing the dismantling of rent protections – this move by Erickson is not a surprise. He has to please powerful investors that were against the original restrictions (Heilman is going to be capped) set forward to protect renters. Carefully pay attention to the whistleblowers and internal crumbling of a Council, consumed and manipulated by peeps that have long abandoned to vote and guide in the best interests of the… Read more »
Mr Erickson (who insists on continuing to call himself “mayor” on his social media, long after he stepped down from that role) is a disrespectful misogynistic megalomaniac who has no place in government.
I want to shower every time I find myself in a room with him.
As a long time resident, I believe that Lauren Meister is fully dedicated to her city. She is not using her position to climb the political ladder like others. Sal Guarriello comes to my mind, when I speak of her.
Lauren meister has been the biggest NIMBY and anti housing in WeHo. Her decisions has led to high cost of rent within our city leading to many failed businesses and residents leaving. It’s time to get our city back from backwards thinking people like her. We need forward thinking people not the old and grey playing their usuals politics
Whatever happened to: “United we stand, divided we fall” … sigh
Councilmember Meister’s legacy will reflect her as a fair, dedicated, and selfless leader. Her path to the Council was driven by a deep concern and commitment to our City—and since joining the council, she has not wavered in her dedication.
West Hollywood was never a stepping stone or a resume platform — WeHo is her passion and her home – it’s the TOP of the ladder for her and the residents she represents.
Thank you, Lauren.
I watched the meeting and I have to tell you that John Erickson acted terribly! He spoke arrogantly to the people running the meeting, telling them in a very rude tone something like….(with a big sigh) can we get this going? some of us have jobs. He sat as far away as he possibly could from Lauren, voted against her, and then at the end of the meeting got up, rushed out, leaving her sitting there, and he didn’t even say goodbye or even acknowledge her. I am torn. I certainly don’t want to see him rising politically and disrespecting… Read more »
Erickson is a self-serving incompetent willing to sacrifice West Hollywood’s representation on that committee just to strike out at his opponent on the city council. That’s not the kind of person we want in the California Senate. It’s not even the kind of person we want on the West Hollywood city Council.
Wow.
We’ll have our chance to vote against Erickson & make sure he never becomes a state senator.
Erickson is nothing more than Weho’s Trump. He will use anyone when necessary and discard them when finished.