PUBLIC SAFETY

The City Council needs to make public safety a priority. When elected, John will act immediately to restore full funding for public safety so West Hollywood has enough sheriff’s deputies to provide the community with protection. John will also implement measures to bring more security technology to West Hollywood and improve communication and coordination among those responsible for keeping us safe. The safety of residents and visitors to West Hollywood needs to be our number one priority.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In the last two years, the business community and the City Council have been at odds with one another. The City Council needs to have a positive working relationship with the business community to ensure West Hollywood’s future success. Most of the City’s revenues is generated by the success of local businesses. One of John’s priorities is to repair the relationship between the business community and the City. While the City Council and the business community won’t always agree, it is critical that leaders in the business community and members of the City Council work together to make West Hollywood the best it can be.

John has always had a strong working relationship with the business community. He helped establish the City’s Visitors Bureau which promotes and supports West Hollywood’s hotels and restaurants.

John led the effort to redevelop the Eastside of West Hollywood. He helped bring additional housing to the area, including the new senior building above the new Trader Joes. John also led the effort to bring the Gateway project to the corner of Santa Monica and La Brea.

John has always worked closely with business leaders and has consistently received support from leaders from the Chamber of Commerce.

COVID AND COVID RECOVERY

Unfortunately, we are still experiencing the impact of the COVID pandemic. One of John’s priorities is to help ensure that residents impacted by COVID have the resources and support they need to remain in their homes and to return to employment. John is particularly concerned about renters who fell behind on their rent because of COVID. We have to do everything possible to keep people in their homes so we don’t add to the homeless population in the region. In addition, as new booster shots become available, the City will need to encourage residents, especially our most vulnerable residents, to stay up to date with vaccinations. Fortunately, many businesses in West Hollywood have quickly rebounded, but others have not. The City needs to help businesses recover, while working diligently to address business vacancies.

HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness is a state-wide problem. The City cannot solve the problem on its own, but the City must do its fair share to get people off the street and into the services they need. While the City has taken many laudable steps, the City’s current efforts to address the homelessness problem are falling short. We need to continue funding outreach workers, shelter beds and services for people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, but we also need to hold people accountable who engage in criminal conduct in the City. In addition, the City needs to support state legislation which will provide city officials with ways to require individuals who are homeless to move into places where they can get needed mental health and substance abuse services.  

LGBTQI+ RIGHTS

John is a longtime leader in the LGBTQI community. In fact, he is one of the longest-serving openly gay elected officials in the country and he has a record of accomplishments to show for it.

John enacted West Hollywood’s landmark sexual orientation non-discrimination ordinance. He drafted the nation’s first ordinance prohibiting discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS. He was one of the founders of the first organization of LGBT elected officials and co-chaired the organization. He enacted the City’s ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity and helped establish both the City’s Transgender Advisory Board and the Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board. John has served as one of the co-chairs of the annual Equality California dinner. And he’s not just an advocate for equality locally. John has worked closely with LA’s Gay and Lesbian Center training LGBTQI leaders from China. John also serves on the board of OutRight International which works to promote LGBTQI rights around the world. John has been a strong advocate for OutRight’s work in Africa, traveling to meet activists in southern Africa.

RENTER PROTECTIONS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

John has always been a leader in the fight for affordable housing. He drafted the City’s rent control law. He established the City’s inclusionary housing program which requires all new developments to include permanently affordable housing units. He helped establish the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation which develops permanently affordable housing units in the City and in other parts of the region.

John was also instrumental in establishing the City’s emergency rental assistance programs which were critically important during the pandemic.

As a law professor, John has also established two legal clinics to assist tenants with landlord-tenant disputes.

EQUALITY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

John is a long-time advocate for equality for women and girls. He helped establish the City’s Women’s Advisory Board. He created the City’s Women’s Leadership Conference. He helped declare West Hollywood a pro-choice City. West Hollywood needs to ensure that women in the community continue to have a full range of reproductive health care services available for them. West Hollywood also needs to welcome people from other states who may be seeking care in and around West Hollywood.

BRINGING METRO TO WEST HOLLYWOOD

John has been a champion of bringing MetroRail to West Hollywood. John fought to make sure service to West Hollywood was included in the County Measure R. John will continue to work to find ways to expedite the line and to create funding mechanisms to support rail service which will benefit the maximum number of residents and businesses in West Hollywood.

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Although West Hollywood is less than 2 square miles, West Hollywood needs to continue to promote sustainability and to address the devastating effects of climate change. John supported the City’s landmark Climate Action Plan and green building standards.

John has also supported expanded electric vehicle charging stations in the city. He has worked to provide technical assistance for existing building owners who want to add electric vehicle charging stations. But more needs to be done. John wants to make sure the City assists existing buildings to become more sustainable by switching to solar power and reducing their carbon footprint.

POVERTY REDUCTION

John created the City’s poverty reduction initiative. The initiative expanded emergency rental assistance programs which have been crucial in preventing homelessness during the pandemic. The initiative has also expanded transportation options and lowered the cost of transportation options such as senior bus passes. One of the key components of the initiative is to prevent residents with physical and mental challenges from becoming homeless.

The poverty reduction initiative complements John’s long-time commitment to providing affordable housing for seniors and people living with HIV/AIDS and other disabilities.