WHY I WORRY ABOUT WEST HOLLYWOOD

By Jerome Cleary

West Hollywood is almost 22 years old and as it is evolving and growing there are many things that I worry about for its future.

I worry because when the Gateway project was completed, I still could not understand why the housing element was not there. I know that it’s been mentioned before by city officials that they were going to get that concession from the developer but, as of today, there is still no housing element.

I worry because when West Hollywood preserved a unique historical parcel of land and architecture in the early 1990s, known today as Tara, the property was deeded to the city. But now the city plans to destroy the green space and the magnificent house that is there, thus not giving the property the proper usage and letting the residents decide how to use it.

I worry about how little by little West Hollywood is becoming home to the luxury condo, whereas, years ago it was known for its unique village type atmosphere.

And about how the spirited voices of the residents were once actually a mainstay and focus of how the city responded but now that voice has been replaced by apathy and futile outrage.

I worry about how mixed used development will push mom and pop small businesses out with higher rents that can only attract brand name chains and conglomerates.

And how tall walls and billboard companies reign supreme in our city and small businesses with sandwich board signs, banner signs and signage somehow appear to be in code violation in our city.

I worry that West Hollywood is now known for its aggressive towing and parking fines and parking still seems to be a problem for visitors and residents.

And where our crime blotter based on police reports still reveal the same type of crimes in our city in some of the same streets and neighborhoods, and we still cannot get rid of these common type crimes.

I worry about how we are being told that pending new development is really to attract the gay and lesbian community whereupon I do not believe we have trouble attracting that community because we are attracting everyone to our city.

I worry about how developers have made their mark on our city for the positive and many times for the negative where neighbors and neighborhoods will never be the same anymore.

And where residents and neighbors were once such good friends but now, because of political campaigns, business deals and developments, these friendships fell apart and now they either do not speak or are enemies today.

I worry that if you come once to a city council meeting or commission meeting to speak, you are considered passionate and active, but if you come more than three times you are considered a problem or loony.

I worry that when you have a problem and you e-mail or call city hall, either you get a receptive response or follow up, or at other times you somehow disappear into the system or get attacked or berated or don’t hear back about what happened.

I worry that you may take the time to go to many community and residents input meetings like the 20/20 Visioning, and you discuss mixed use. But we never heard during these meetings that the city was considering 7- to 10- story structures.

I worry because if that idea had been presented back then, the residents would have spoken up with their strong opposition to such large heights and it would have not been a surprise to us all today.

Jerome Cleary is an actor, writer and comic at The World Famous Comedy Store-www.freecomedytickets.com and can be reached at: jeromeclearytalk@aol.com