 Edward "Ed" Garren, MFT is a Family Therapist, justice activist, former West Hollywood City Council candidate, writer and sojourner Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
A friend directed me to a letter in last week's WeHoNews, written by Rob Bergstein, current chair of the Eastside PAC (EPAC). Rob referred to a "number of factual inaccuracies" regarding a letter I wrote.
Mr. Bergstein says the EPAC was "reformed with a dedicated group of West Hollywood Eastside residents and business owners." He goes on to say "we have worked with developers, business people and City employees on development issues and various matters affecting the quality of life on the Eastside.
Does he believe that the former leadership of the first EPAC, which was elected by the neighborhood, (not appointed by Council) was any less dedicated?
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Mr. Bergstein also chastises me saying in all capital letters that there are no plans for any eleven story buildings on the eastside, calling it an unfounded rumor with no factual basis. He adds a "period" for emphasis.
 This view from City Hall’s rooftop shows that WeHo has many highrises. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
I called a friend who is on the "re-formed" EPAC to get some clarity on one site, Movie Town Plaza. I was told by her that the first proposed building on that site was in fact TEN floors. The EPAC expressed concern over that height, and the proposal is now being reviewed.
The Mixed Use Overlay will allow expanded heights along Santa Monica Blvd. east of Fairfax. I went to the city's web site and searched at length for the actual details of the proposed ordinance, but nothing came up. In fact, the page that was supposed to contain the ordinance would not load.
Informants inside of City Hall tell me the ordinance allows much higher buildings than anything currently on the Boulevard. Ten floors plus one floor of underground parking equals eleven floors, so I’m not sure who is being inaccurate here.
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I remember when I was running for City Council, going to Rob's house about four blocks from my own. The young man who I talked with was very polite, but told me that they were close friends of John Duran's and would be supporting him.
 The Eastside PAC in meeting. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
After Todd Elliott (the last chair of the original EPAC) moved out of West Hollywood, The Empire needed someone close to them to run the EPAC, so I'm not surprised that Rob is the chair, or that he wrote the letter to the West Hollywood News.
I also remember that in my campaign two years ago I said the city was poised to start putting up five story buildings if John Duran was re-elected (he being the third vote The Empire needs). At that time, I was called an “alarmist” and those accusations said that my concerns were not based in fact either. The facts were that the city was poised to start putting up ten floor buildings, and began the process as soon as the votes were counted.
The city’s tactics have become very predictable, it’s the old “Mushroom” metaphor. “How do you grow mushrooms? Keep them in the dark and feed them lots of bovine fecal matter.”
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What I also found interesting is that none of the membership of any of the city's boards or commissions is posted on the city's web site. Although those appointments are supposed to be public information, they are relatively difficult for the public to actually access.
 Mayor John Heilman taking the oath of office at his installation. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
So, who's on these boards? More importantly who is NOT on them?
The first and most important thing to remember is that anyone who has disagreed with The Empire does not get appointed. I was one of two people (that I know of) who filled out papers for the new "reformed" EPAC in 2005 who was not re-appointed.
When I was running, many business owners and community leaders quietly told me they were afraid to cross John Heilman. Their numbers could fill a large Metro bus, standing room only. Some of them gave me $99 in cash so their names would not be reported.
John Heilman runs the city. Everyone else gets leftovers. Take the organ pavilion, for example; John Heilman considers West Hollywood Park his personal project, so if he doesn’t want an organ, it’s not happening.
So Rob, don't ask too many questions or cross John, or you could find your dedication and volunteerism rewarded with being asked to resign. If you don't, then you won't be re-appointed. Talk to some of the people who aren't on boards or commissions anymore. They can tell you the dark side of how the city is really being run behind the fa�ade of civility.
 Talk of a high rise complex on this plot of land has been put on the back burned while the Mixed Use Ordinance is re-examined for the Eastside, but people expect that one day it will be developed with up to a ten story building. Photo by Ryan Gierach. |
As we remember Martin Luther King this weekend, his legacy, and the civil rights movement, let us remember that dissent is what established the freedoms that founded this country, and it is our right as citizens and our duty as Americans to question government, and demand full accountability for everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
“A slave is one who waits for someone else to come and set him free.” Ezra Pound
Edward "Ed" Garren, MFT is a Family Therapist, justice activist, former West Hollywood City Council candidate, writer and sojourner. He is originally from the Tampa Bay area of central Florida. Ed has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Frontiers news magazine, and other books, including "Out of My Mind", a pictorial memoir by Kris Nelson. He is currently working on a book about Addiction in America. More information about Ed can be found at: www.edgarren.us