“Now Is Not The Time To Hide”, Heilman Opens Final Mayoral Term With A Challenge To West Hollywood

John Heilman began his final year on the West Hollywood City Council Monday night by taking the oath as the city’s 42nd mayor, marking a full-circle moment for a city founder. In a 20-minute address that balanced municipal strategy with an urgent call to action, Heilman also announced he will donate his entire council salary this year back to community organizations.

For an avid runner who knows how to go the distance, his long run to the finish line feels like a moment to remember. His address covered local issues like safety, housing, and transit, including a stark warning about the state of the national political climate and its impact on West Hollywood residents. Heilman made it clear that for West Hollywood’s LGBTQ residents, seniors, and immigrants, the current federal landscape requires resistance, not retreat.

Public Safety and Accountability

Heilman identified public safety as the City’s primary focus and “ultimate job.” While noting that West Hollywood has invested heavily in technology and Sheriff’s Department programs, he emphasized the need for these tools to be used as promised. He called for resources to be utilized in the intended way to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists.

Zoning, Housing, and the Rail Project

Addressing the city’s housing crisis, Heilman acknowledged the tension inherent in zoning updates. He said the Council’s role is to balance the need for new affordable housing without compromising the quality of life in established neighborhoods, which will be of special interest to many homeowners and tenants who worry about the preservation of their neighborhoods.

On the transportation front, he highlighted the high stakes of the upcoming Metro alignment decision. Heilman stressed that the city must secure a route that serves the entirety of West Hollywood, treating the project as a generational opportunity that cannot be squandered.

A Year of Transition at City Hall

With 2026 serving as a transition year, Heilman pointed to the appointment of Jackie Rocco as the new City Manager. He said that the Council must provide clear expectations and hold staff accountable to ensure city resources align with legislative commitments.

He also mentioned the upcoming November election, where both he and Councilmember Lauren Meister will be termed out. Heilman urged candidates and residents to participate but insisted that council meetings remain focused on city business rather than campaign drama.

Revitalizing the Sunset Strip and the Signage Dividend

Heilman said he wants a real effort to revitalize the Sunset Strip, which he called the heart of rock and roll and a key hotel corridor. He noted the City has put a lot of focus on the Rainbow District, and he wants more consistent activity on the Strip to keep it interesting and inviting for locals and visitors alike.

He referenced earlier Council discussion about bringing back the Sunset Strip Music Festival in a new form, and suggested the larger goal is ongoing programming, not a one-off event.

A “Signage Dividend” For Residents

One of Heilman’s more interesting proposals was what he called a “signage dividend.” He said the City’s updated approach to Sunset Strip signage is generating a lot of money for the City. “That signage revenue is significant,” he said. “It is part of the reason why our budget is so strong right now.” He wants residents to feel that benefit directly.

He described exploring using that revenue to reduce certain costs residents experience, naming rent stabilization fees and parking permit fees as examples. “A dividend that won’t necessarily pay money to residents,” he said, but would be used to reduce fees so residents can see the connection between new Sunset revenue and real, everyday costs.

Preserving Rent-Stabilized Housing With New Incentives

He circled back to the topic of finding ways to keep rent-stabilized units from disappearing into the unaffordable zone like so many have. He described the squeeze felt by too many. Considering the city was founded on renters’ rights, it’s rather fitting this founding father would want to ensure tenants are a priority.

His idea is to explore incentives that would encourage owners to sign covenants with the City to preserve affordability within a defined range, while still allowing owners to earn what he described as a fair return. “There are ways that we can do this,” he said, describing an approach where owners “continue to make a fair return,” while agreeing to preserve units “in the same range of affordability.”

Expanding The Book Fair Concept

Heilman also said he wants to bring back a more general community book fair, beyond the recent event that he said primarily served families with children. It was a smaller mention compared to housing and safety, but it fit the broader theme of community-building and shared civic life.

Taking Stock Of City Buildings Before They Age Out

Heilman’s last local initiative was about infrastructure and facilities, not a sexy topic, but the kind of thing that can’t be ignored. He noted that buildings many residents still think of as “new” are already aging, including the library and other City facilities. “Do they need enhancements? Do they need improvements?” he asked, saying he wants staff to take a hard look at what’s working and what isn’t, and make sure City buildings are ready “for the next 30 years of service to our community.”

Then he turned to what sounded like the real message he wanted to share.

“It Directly Impacts Us”

Heilman said what’s happening at the federal level cannot be ignored. “Why am I talking about the federal government here at the local level?” he asked. “Because it directly impacts us.” He listed cuts and policy decisions he said are negatively impacting West Hollywood residents, especially seniors, people living with HIV, people with disabilities, LGBTQ residents, transgender residents, and immigrants. He mentioned cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and LGBTQ youth suicide prevention. He also described the attempt to erase LGBTQ people from public life and called out the relentless and violent attacks on the trans community. He drew a direct line from the national climate to local incidents, saying the City has seen workers taken in immigration enforcement actions nearby, and warning about the impact on asylum seekers, including LGBTQ asylum seekers.

Heilman’s point was loud and clear: “We need to remain vigilant,” he said. “We need to oppose their activities. We need to do everything within our power, our limited power as a city, to fight back and to protect the members of our community.”

A Call To Serve, And A Personal Pledge

Heilman closed with something a bit more personal, and direct. He acknowledged the exhaustion people feel, the temptation to tune out, to “fly under the radar.” Then he said, rather bluntly, “now is not the time to hide. We need you. We all need you.”

He urged residents to volunteer, naming a range of organizations and service providers that depend on community support. And he made his own commitment, saying, “I can pledge my entire city council salary this year,” adding that he will donate it to organizations serving the community. He also said he plans to begin each Council meeting by making a personal $1,000 contribution to a local organization serving residents, naming the group publicly as a way to encourage others to donate or volunteer if they can.

It was a moving address, one that set the tone and tenor for a marathon runner and LGBTQ+ icon who sees the important work ahead and a personal finish line in sight. His was a very West Hollywood kind of message. A mix of political and personal, with a call for action. If this is his last lap in office, my bet is he’s going to use it to pull people closer, not let them drift away. And that may end up being a lasting legacy of his final term, not just what City initiatives passed, but whether more residents step up, show up, and choose to opt in, not tune out. After all, John Heilman (and many of you reading this) pledged back in 1984 to fight to make a difference.

Today, four decades later, the clarion call is louder than ever. Mayor John Heilman is asking all of us to do our part and continue to answer the call, as West Hollywood has done since day one.