ACTIVISM AND POLITICAL BURN OUT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD

By Jerome Cleary

Even though West Hollywood is a mere 20 years old, we are now suffering from what many cities across the U.S. suffer from — burnout, apathy and time.Our city now has many community advocates and activists that are up in years and can no longer attend the city council, planning, public safety and other commission meetings and are not Internet savvy. Others are burned out since in many neighborhoods whatever issue was sticking in their craw has either been resolved in an unsatisfying way or has angered and disillusioned the residents to a point where they now turn their backs on whatever else is happening in their city. Our city has lost many activists who simply got fed up and moved away where they feel they can possibly make a difference.The newer residents who have purchased homes or condos at very high market prices have such a high overhead of mortgage payments and taxes that many are working over 50 to 60 hours a week just to keep up. When you are hardly in your $1.5 million home because you are at the office or at meetings, how can you spend any time addressing what could be bothering you in your neighborhood or city? So the zest that usually drives the activists and advocates dies a slow death in what could now be a non-existent cycle.Some West Hollywood residents have no idea they even live in our city and think they live in Los Angeles. This is discovered at every election when they walk in to our polls to vote and think they can vote for the mayor of Los Angeles or some L.A. ballot issue. One of the biggest problems we have is the apathy of the vast majority of the residents who realize they do live in West Hollywood but cannot be bothered to vote. West Hollywood voter turnout has been as low as six percent.So where does that leave the rest of us? Right where we are.We now have newer residents, some young gays and lesbians who have no idea who Harvey Milk was, what Stonewall was all about and love being free and in an alternative lifestyle in West Hollywood. And why not? West Hollywood is now posh and prettier to look at and be in.Recently the Los Angeles City Council agreed to have a satellite substation in the San Fernando Valley for residents so they do not have to drive down town to testify at city council meetings. All the residents have to do is go to the City Hall branch in the Valley, and they will have a live video-conference. Will the future of our city head in that direction too?Historic preservation takes on a whole new life as the sensible alternative to preserve and protect our city’s architecture and lives.But just like any good mystery novel, the next plot turn in our West Hollywood story could surprise us. We don’t have any idea what the next big fight in West Hollywood will be. But all it needs is a few turn of events, a developer who wants his or her way and a bee that gets in to just the right bonnet of a resident or business owner and voilá — instant re-charge.The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on eminent domain will now be a tool that may or may not be utilized, so it will still be a different kind of fight. How will the political higher ups maintain their popularity when they might use a heavy handed approach? Like any great reality TV show today — to be continued.Jerome Cleary is a writer, TV talk show host and comic at The World Famous Comedy Store-www.freecomedytickets.com and can be reached at: jeromeclearytalk@aol.com