Dear WeHo:
In the 2020 West Hollywood City Council election, the word “progressive” functioned as a political skeleton key. It unlocked the doors of City Hall for John Erickson and Sepi Shyne, promising a fresh, modern vision for a city that the same faces had governed for decades.
However, looking back from today’s residents’ and business owners’ perspective, that “progressive” label feels less like a platform and more like a Trojan horse. What was sold as a mandate for social equity has, in the eyes of many, morphed into a “woke” experimental lab that has compromised the city’s economic engine and its residential charm.
The Marketing of the “New Guard”
In 2020, Erickson and Shyne ran on a platform that prioritized identity politics and systemic overhaul. By branding themselves as the only true progressives in the race, they successfully cast long-term incumbents as stagnant relics of the past.
The strategy was simple but effective:
- Defining the Enemy: Anyone questioning their specific brand of activism was labeled “anti-progressive” or “conservative,” a death knell in a city as deep-blue as West Hollywood.
- The Vague Mandate: The candidates used “progressive” as a catch-all term for change, allowing voters to project their own hopes (better transit, lower rent) onto the candidates, while the actual agenda was far more radical.
From “Progressive” to “Performative”
The primary grievance from the WeHo community today is that the policies enacted post-2020 haven’t actually progressed the city—they have destabilized it. Critics argue that Erickson and Shyne traded pragmatic governance for high-profile, “woke” policy wins that play well on social media but fail on Santa Monica Boulevard.
1. The War on Small Business
Under the guise of progressive labor reform, the council pushed through the highest minimum wage in the country alongside a massive expansion of paid time off. While the intent was framed as helping workers, the reality for West Hollywood’s unique “mom-and-pop” ecosystem has been dire.
- The Result: Iconic businesses have shuttered, and those that remain have been forced to cut hours or raise prices to the point of driving away locals. The “progressive” victory for workers became a hollow one when the workplaces themselves disappeared.
2. The Safety Paradox
The decision to deprioritize traditional policing in favor of “unarmed ambassadors” was touted as a progressive reimagining of public safety. Yet, as residents report an increase in visible crime and a decrease in the quality of life on the streets, the “progressive” label feels like a misnomer. For many, a city that feels less safe is the opposite of progress.
3. Overdevelopment and the Concrete Jungle
Perhaps the greatest irony is the shift toward aggressive overdevelopment. Under Erickson and Shyne, the city has seen a surge in massive, high-density projects that many residents feel are erasing the “village” feel of West Hollywood.
- The “Progressive” Cover: These projects are often greenlit under the banner of “housing equity,” yet they frequently result in luxury units that do little for the average renter while straining the city’s aging infrastructure and increasing traffic congestion.
A Community at a Crossroads
The 2020 election wasn’t just a win for two candidates; it was a rebranding of the city itself. Today, the “progressive” label in West Hollywood is under intense scrutiny. Residents who once cheered for the “new guard” are now finding that the reality of their governance includes a struggling business sector, a frayed social fabric, and an unrecognizable skyline.
The lesson of 2020 is a cautionary one for voters everywhere: when a candidate wraps themselves in a popular label, it is essential to look past the branding and into the fine print of the policy. In West Hollywood, the cost of that lesson is being paid every day by the people who call it home.
RA
West Hollywood
Dear WeHo is WEHOonline’s letters section, offering West Hollywood residents a forum to speak freely on issues affecting their community. The opinions expressed are those of the letter writer and do not reflect the views of WEHOonline or its staff.
The thing about progressives is that they wildly overestimate the popularity of their movement and their policies. They are also terrible at actually governing. Look at what’s happened in California – a solidly Democratic state – in recent years where the voters have basically said “enough”! SF school board was recalled for focusing on nonsense. SF mayor lost reelection. Alameda County DA and Oakland mayor recalled. LA County DA lost reelection in a landslide. Prop 36 (weakening Prop 47 criminal justice reforms) passed in a landslide. Rent control measure rejected 3 times by voters. Minimum wage increase rejected by the… Read more »
I have attended two “meet and greet” sort of events with Chelsea Byers. One involving the dog owners at plumber park … and another held at plumber park by non citizens trying to organize to get her re elected. Is that even legal? Using a public park for outside influencers to promote a weho candidate? i don’t know. But I don’t think it should be legal. I will say, both times I have had personal conversations with her… where I suggested something that she didn’t like… she was extremely RUDE and condescending to me both times. The event with all… Read more »
The “Progressive” label used by Council members Erickson, Byers and Hang is just a cover for “We only care for our own progress as politicians” They are not democratic or even liberal. They ignore residents’ rights and input, squashing democracy and destroying WeHo in the process. They are using Trump’s techniques to shamelessly advance their self-agrandized political careers. VOTE THEM OUT!
We don’t usually look back—but this still matters. Three years ago, The New York Times covered the challenges we faced while trying to open The Collar Club in West Hollywood. At the time, we were navigating: • 30–45 day delays for basic responses • Conflicting direction between city departments • A permitting process that stalled progress for over a year What’s important is this: Those weren’t isolated issues—they were systemic. In total, it took us 28 months to open, including 14 months of preventable delay. That delay alone resulted in over $200,000 in additional costs, postponed the hiring of 14+… Read more »
The “Progressive” label is the embrace of ideology based upon grievance and competition for who is the most “oppressed”. The Social Justice Cultural Revolution, as embodied by Sepi Shyne, Jon Erickson and Chelsea Byers, actually harmed the trans community was was directly responsible for the re-election of Donald Trump. I no longer referred to myself as a “progressive”.
I am so fed up with the lies and bs propaganda. Faux progressives are like the faux christians in the MAGA crowd. A betrayal of true democracy. Our city weeps. Vote them out.
Yes, progressives are the absolute worst, and give us reasonable Democrats a bad name. I will say Hang has been a pleasant surprise as a somewhat reasonable “progressive.” Erickson and Byers are the worst…the only reason we keep electing progressives is due to the voting system not being ranked and a large field of candidates. It won’t happen, but would nearly be hilarious if the same issue makes the CA governor options one of two Republicans. We need ranked voting to get back to sensible candidates.
The “progressive” label is a fraud. Shyne and Erickson signed onto a bitter contempt for what makes progressive politics. Theirs was and is a politics of personal branding exploiting buzzwords that have proven to be false. Ask any of them (including newcomers Byers and Hang) what it means to be a progressive and you will see the equivalent of deers blinded by headlights.
Great article. What candidates like Erickson define as progressive has proven to be Trump-like, like a wolf in sheep clothes. They talk about housing and public transportation which sound great, until you realize they are talking about luxury apartments destroying rent-control buildings, with affordable housing seen as the enemy. These “progressive” council members are in bed with developers and they refuse to listen to residents. What we need is not falsely self-named progressive candidates but sane candidates who care for the city and its residents, which is something these “progressive” candidates couldn’t care less about
Yes! Let’s get behind a good candidate or two or three to run against these “faux progressives.” Unite Here et al will throw another $1million into the WeHo race but remember, Rick Caruso paid $100 million and lost the LA mayoral race and Meg Whitman threw in $52 million to try and beat Jerry Brown for CA governer and lost. Money does not mean winning! Expose the lies. Power to the people!