F.7. Roadside Memorial Sign Program: This item directs staff to develop a memorial sign program for victims of traffic-related fatalities to promote awareness: The item is brought forward by Councilmember Erickson. STAFF REPORT 
ITEM F.7. – ATTACHMENT A
Dear City Council,
Please think long term of the cumulative effects of a roadside memorial for traffic tragedies. The cumulative effect of memorials along Fountain, Santa Monica or other streets over time will create a city filled with death reminders. WeHo will be known as WeWreck.
The only awareness this will raise is that West Hollywood is an unsafe place. Had this item been in effect over the past ten years there would be more memorials than pot shops. The item memorializes the death, but has no criteria. Who is the judge and jury? A drunk driver hits a pole and gets a memorial. A driver who might be texting and driving and hits a pedestrian…the pedestrian survives but the driver passes.. is that a memorial to honor his bad conduct?
Where does the council draw the line? A victim is stabbed on Santa Monica Blvd and dies – do they get a memorial? The examples are infinite and over time the City of West Hollywood will appear to look like one big cemetery of death. There were tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of deaths due to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. Each person does not have their own memorial.
Think twice if you want the West Hollywood brand to be dominated by its worst tragedies.
Thanks,
Larry
Editor’s Note: The motion passed 3-2. Councilmembers Erickson, Byers, and Vice Mayor Hang voted in favor. Mayor Heilman and Councilmember Meister opposed.
It just seems like another distraction. After the Fountain Re-Design is built, traffic on all of our major boulevards will be at grid-lock which should dramatically reduce traffic fatalities.
That stupid plan to create permanent gridlock by making Fountain jammed all because the sheriffs department is too lazy to patrol and enforce speed limits has got to be stopped at all costs. The People must rise up. This is all about the $8 million contract and kickbacks to the city council all for the three bicycles ever seen in West Hollywood. Los Angeles is a car culture. Car culture. Car culture. Stop pretending otherwise. We the taxpayers will not stand for this kind of waste. Stop the grift!
Of all of the stupid (Erickson) ideas, this may clinch number one.
Has he thought about changing the idea and instead, putting up historical signs of important buildings that once dotted West Hollywood? Just like every city that tries to educate the public and promote the city’s assets.
This is a shining example of the bright ideas that the could bring to Sacramento.