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Who’s running for City Council (so far)
West Hollywood will hold its general election for two City Council seats on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and seven hopefuls are currently in the running. The seats belong at present to Mayor John M. Erickson, who is running for re-election, and Councilmember Sepi Shyne, who is not. The nomination period began...
Ariana Madix sued over WeHo sandwich shop
Everybody it seems wants a piece of Something About Her. Ariana Madix, owner of the popular new WeHo sandwich shop, is facing new legal troubles as a lawsuit was filed against her by Penny Davidi Borsuk, who claims she was promised a 10 percent stake in the restaurant. Borsuk’s suit,...
How WeHo can curb landfill waste
Vice Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers will never forget the landfills she saw as a child in Arizona while accompanying her father on his construction jobs. “Something about seeing those landfills regularly really struck me and sort of haunted me,” Byers said. “It was alarming and scary to think about all of this waste we were incessantly producing as people. But it made me curious and inspired to understand the many people and policies working to ensure that waste wasn’t just a pile of refuse but instead a tool for us to pave the way for a sustainable planet.”
MedMen’s closure progresses as receiver oversees asset liquidation
MedMen’s properties in Illinois, Nevada, and New York are nearing sales, but the outlook in California and Massachusetts remains grim. The controlled shutdown of MedMen Enterprises continues under California-based receiver Richard Ormond. In a recent update, Ormond indicated that sales of most former MedMen dispensaries are in progress, with some locations being abandoned and four in Southern California still operational.
Planning Commission will review plans for 4-story apartments on Edinburgh
West Hollywood’s Planning Commission will review a development proposal Thursday aiming to transform two single-family homes at 1006-1010 N. Edinburgh Ave. into a modern, four-story apartment complex. Proposed by Shahrokh Zarrin of Kiavand LLC, the project intends to merge two parcels into a single 12,373-square-foot lot, replacing the existing...
WeHo mom Rachel Schmeidler throws hat in ring for City Council
WeHo resident Rachel Schmeidler announced during City Council’s meeting Monday night that she plans to run for one of the two seats up before voters in November. “I’m a single mother of two boys,” Schmeidler said. “I’ve been a resident of West Hollywood for 24 years, and I’ve spent the last 10 years working for LA County. Like over 70% of West Hollywood, I’m a renter.”
Council split on giving new crimefighting tech to Sheriff’s Department
West Hollywood City Council on Monday narrowly approved new technologies for the Sheriff’s Department including a drone-as-first-responder program, a real-time watch center and fixed real-time cameras throughout the city. The upgrades, long in discussion, were designed to bolster the city’s public safety profile in a manner similar to Beverly...
WeHo pursuing Community Safety Officers program
Public Safety Manager Anita Shandi provided an extensive update to City Council on Monday night on the public safety equipment and technology items that were previously approved by the council. She began by discussing the Community Safety Officer program, which the city’s Community Safety Department is working on in partnership with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
Voters will be asked to raise minimum wage statewide
Californians are set to vote in November on whether to increase the statewide minimum wage, following a recent rise in fast-food workers’ wages to $20 an hour. Currently, the minimum wage in California is $16, up from $10.50 in 2017 due to incremental increases mandated by state law. Proposition 32, the ballot measure, proposes raising the minimum wage to $18 per hour in 2025. For employers with fewer than 25 workers, the increase would take effect in 2026. This would establish California’s minimum wage as the highest in the nation, second only to West Hollywood’s local wage of $19.08.
Part 4: ‘Bear’ calls for citywide reform of civil rights
SECTION ONE: CIVIL RIGHTS DENIALS FROM CITY MANAGER; LABOR RIGHTS BETRAYALS FROM WITHIN. In the first three parts of this series, we looked at a disturbing concern for an apparent lack of transparency and accountability at West Hollywood City Hall. As a whistleblower, I detailed alleged retaliation and a lack of support for staff living with disabilities. This was followed in Part Two with some recommendations addressing numerous WeHoville articles that seem to raise concerns about excessively high management salaries, a lack of transparency in hiring, and questionable staffing practices. Finally, the third part revealed a system where social connections appear to matter more than qualifications for key positions. Additionally, we discussed apparent negative consequences that are being felt by residents, visitors, businesses, and civil servants. These incidents paint a clear picture: West Hollywood needs a more robust system to protect employees and residents.
DEAR WEHO: Chevron Car Wash Conundrum is an environmental threat
Why is the City of West Hollywood not concerned enough about the air quality and the potential poisoning that may impact West Hollywood?. In March 2020 the planning commission waived the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) requirements and waived any traffic study and voted to approve a new automatic car wash at the Chevron station located at LaCienega and Holloway Drive. I decided to appeal the planning commission’s decision.
The success stories of WeHo’s Social Services
The numbers are in for West Hollywood’s social services contractors, who report to City Hall how many (or few) people to whom they’ve provided assistance midway through the year. The data reveal accomplishments and shortcomings alike. Healthcare In Action, for example, provided mobile medical, mental health, and substance...
Progress report on major WeHo construction projects
West Hollywood has released its quarterly update on major capital improvement projects involving city-owned properties and public parks. The report, which excludes infrastructure-related projects, provides a detailed status and timeline for each project, listed in order of completion priority. 8120 Santa Monica Blvd Interim Parking Lot. 8120 Santa Monica Boulevard...
Salon Republic opens 2nd WeHo location Aug. 4
Salon Republic is set to open its second location in the West Hollywood neighborhood on August 4, 2024. Situated in the heart of WeHo, known for its vibrant nightlife and cultural attractions, the new salon is located on the third level of a beautiful building at Santa Monica Blvd and Knoll Dr. The location offers easy access to a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses, making it a convenient spot for both beauty professionals and their clients.
‘WeHo Lake’ is breeding ground for mosquitoes
West Hollywood city officials have been receiving an increasing number of complaints about mosquitoes, particularly from the construction site at the corner of Santa Monica and Melrose, where a significant multi-use development is underway. This site, known as the Melrose Triangle, has a large, water-filled hole locals have dubbed “WeHo...
City Council will review drone policy, other enhancements
West Hollywood City Council will review and consider the approval of proposed policies for the use of public safety equipment and technology to support community safety efforts in West Hollywood. The proposed measures include the use of drones as first responders, the installation of fixed real-time cameras, and the establishment of a real-time watch center.
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