Abbe Land

Will California Officials Derail West Hollywood's Plans to Tear Down Great Hall-Long Hall?

It's been ongoing saga for a while now, and West Hollywood City Council's plans to demolish the WPA-era Great Hall-Long Hall buildings in Plummer Park may be derailed -- one way or another. It brings back memories of when the West Hollywood City Council pushed hard to mess with the old Tara mansio ... More >>

West Hollywood's New Fur Ban Could Be a Model for the Nation. But Opponents Are Still Trying to Strike It Down

Future of West Hollywood's Historic El Mirador Apartment Building Still Uncertain

The future of one of the most iconic buildings in West Hollywood -- and possibly in Los Angeles County -- is still uncertain. On Monday night, West Hollywood City Council members John Heilman, Abbe Land, John D'Amico and John Duran were unable to agree on plans for the historic El Mirardor apartmen ... More >>

Community Activists Spar Over Walgreens Project in West Hollywood

Update, Tuesday, May 8: West Hollywood City Council approved the Walgreens project on Monday night. Read reaction from those who opposed it after the jump. For years, West Hollywood community activists were united in their fight to stop the construction of a proposed Walgreens at Santa Monica and C ... More >>

Fury over Plummer Park Historic Destruction

West Hollywood politicians set to destroy historic buildings for Jetsons look

West Hollywood's Fur Ban: Is it Unlawful?

The West Hollywood City Council banned the sale of fur the other week to worldwide headlines, and now the politically correct city is feeling the backlash. Animal rights activists cooed over the new ordinance, but the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and retailers are enraged, with some merchants ... More >>

West Hollywood Fur Ban Passed by Council: WeHo to Become Nation's First Fur-Free City

Oh no you didn't.​Fancy L.A. ladies looking to add some baby seal to their fall collections, or hipsters sniffing out their own clip-on foxtail in the Burning Man/Wiz Khalifa tradition, won't be welcome in West Hollywood anymore. The city tentatively approved an ordinance last night that will ... More >>

With Cultural War Brewing in West Hollywood, Will Mayor John Duran Shake Up Status Quo?

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood Mayor John Duran​Will John Duran, who was installed last night as the new mayor of West Hollywood, shake up the status quo with the help of recently elected City Councilman John D'Amico? That's the big question in West Hollywood political circles these days -- in 2010 ... More >>

Despite Controversy, No Children Harmed at Tom of Finland's West Hollywood Erotic Art Fair

Issues of "Physique Pictorial" were sold at WeHo-LA Erotic Art Fair​The 16th Annual West Hollywood - Los Angeles Erotic Art Fair went off without a hitch this past weekend, and the kids, as far as we know, are perfectly alright. Earlier in the year, members of the West Hollywood Arts and Cult ... More >>

West Hollywood 2011 City Council Election: John D'Amico Sworn In, Says WeHo Starts 'New Spring'

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood City Councilman John D'Amico​John D'Amico, the challenging candidate who placed first in the hotly contested West Hollywood City Council election two weeks ago and ousted incumbent Lindsey Horvath, was sworn into office on Monday night at West Hollywood Park Auditorium ... More >>

John D'Amico, West Hollywood Non-Incumbent, Wins Historic First Seat in City Council Race; Heilman, Land Close Behind

PHOTO BY JENNIE WARRENJohn D'Amico: The WeHovians' choice.​BREAKING NEWS: West Hollywood City Council frontrunner John D'Amico made history today, when -- after a final count of 757 provisional and absentee ballots -- he surpassed two decades-old incumbents and pushed out their pet appointee f ... More >>

West Hollywood Spending

West Hollywood 2011 City Council Election: Vote Not Completed, Abbe Land, John D'Amico and John Heilman in Lead

​Update: New figures and analysis on WeHo City Council race. Since approximately 930 provisional ballots still need to be verified and counted, the hotly contested West Hollywood City Council race cannot be called tonight. So far, 522 votes separate first place Councilwoman Abbe Land from ... More >>

West Hollywood 2011 City Council Election: John D'Amico Ousts Lindsey Horvath, Abbe Land and John Heilman Likely Win - By Few Hundred Votes

Jennie WarrenWeHo City Council candidate John D'Amico​Even with some 930 provisional ballots that still need to be counted, West Hollywood City Council challenging candidate John D'Amico has ousted appointed council member Lindsey Horvath, according to political consultants who talked with L. ... More >>

West Hollywood 2011 City Council Election: Challenging Candidates Cast Ballots, Urge Voters To Do Same

​UPDATE: Voter turnout may be much higher than in 2009. Polls in WeHo are closed. More after jump. UPDATE: Steady flow of voters at WeHo polling stations, with turnout expected to pick up after 5:30 p.m. More after jump. West Hollywood City Council candidates Mito Aviles and Scott Schmidt h ... More >>

West Hollywood 2011 City Council Election: Street Artist Plasters Warhol-inspired 'Vote Mito' Stickers on Santa Monica Boulevard

Unknown artist"Vote Mito" sticker in WeHo, photos by Patrick Range McDonald​In 2008, there was the iconic Obama "Hope" poster by L.A. street artist Shepard Fairey. Three years later, there's the "Vote Mito" stickers (as translated into English) by an unknown, apparently Russian-speaking arti ... More >>

Lucas John, West Hollywood Candidate: Running Underdog Campaign, John Seeks Term Limits and Better Ways to Engage Residents

Jennie WarrenWeHo City Council candidate Lucas John​Read the latest L.A. Weekly news story about WeHo's hotly contested City Council race: "West Hollywood Incumbents Dig In." West Hollywood City Council candidate Lucas John, a 28-year-old public relations consultant and co-founder of the gay ... More >>

Mark Gonzaga, West Hollywood Candidate: Renters' Rights Advocate Seeks to Pull Off Major Upset Victory

WeHo City Council candidate Mark Gonzaga​Read the latest L.A. Weekly news story about WeHo's hotly contested City Council race: "West Hollywood Incumbents Dig In." As an apartment renter in West Hollywood, City Council candidate Mark Gonzaga knows what it's like to deal with difficult landlo ... More >>

West Hollywood: Political Ad Tells WeHo Residents to Read, Vote & Kick Out Incumbents

Park LaBrea News/Beverly Press advertisement​Someone sure wants change in West Hollywood, taking out a quarter page advertisement in the March 3 issue of the Park La Brea News/Beverly Press that features two L.A. Weekly cover stories. But there's no need to Google. You can find the exposes r ... More >>

West Hollywood Incumbents Dig In

A surprisingly pitched City Council battle for control of a town without term limits

John D'Amico, West Hollywood Candidate: City Hall Needs New Ideas and Resident-Friendly Policies

Jennie WarrenWest Hollywood candidate John D'Amico​Read the latest L.A. Weekly news story about the West Hollywood City Council race: "West Hollywood Incumbents Dig In." After raising around $105,000 for his campaign, City Council candidate John D'Amico realizes he's not exactly the kind of ... More >>

Steve Martin, West Hollywood Candidate: Former Councilman Promises Change, Says Voters Feel 'Heilman Fatigue'

Jennie WarrenWeHo City Council candidate Steve Martin​Attorney and community activist Steve Martin loves a good fight, and, this year, he's sticking himself smack in the middle of one -- the highly contested race for West Hollywood City Council, which features six challengers and longtime inc ... More >>

Scott Schmidt, West Hollywood Candidate: Gay Republican Tried to Stop Prop. 8, Now Aims to Unseat Incumbent John Heilman

WeHo City Council candidate Scott Schmidt​In West Hollywood, City Council candidate Scott Schmidt is apparently getting the reputation as the guy who worked harder to try to defeat Proposition 8 than incumbents John Heilman, Abbe Land, and Lindsey Horvath -- combined. Schmidt sent out a camp ... More >>

West Hollywood Revolt

Starting To Look a Lot Like Egypt: West Hollywood City Council Candidates Try To Oust Stubborn Dictator With Social-Media Uprising

PHOTO BY JENNIE WARRENWeHo City Council candidate Mito Aviles wants to send the Mubarak -- er, mayor -- packing on a private jet​In this week's cover story, "Dethroning West Hollywood's Martinets," Patrick Range McDonald documents three underdog WeHo City Council candidates who are taking a st ... More >>

Dante Atkins, WeHo City Council Campaign Manager, Spotted Texting Answers to Candidate Lindsey Horvath During Debate

Atkins Research Group IncDante Atkins dutifully oils the incumbency machine​Updated after the jump: Mito Aviles, another candidate, says he noticed the same damn thing. This makes yesterday's LA Weekly cover, on which two West Hollywood City Council incumbents hang from puppet strings, so muc ... More >>

Dethroning West Hollywood's Martinets

Can five intriguing gay men upset the City Council's 26-year dynasty?

West Hollywood City Council Candidates Debate Again, Challengers Seek to Unseat Longtime Incumbents

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood candidate John D'Amico​West Hollywood candidates meet up for another debate tonight at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium, where hard-charging challengers seek to unseat longtime incumbents John Heilman, Abbe Land, and Lindsey Horvath. Heilman and Land have served a c ... More >>

West Hollywood Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath Invokes Arizona Shootings To Win Votes?

West Hollywood City Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath​West Hollywood City Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath apparently thinks that West Hollywood's lively political culture is destined for a major tragedy if she's not elected and can help tone things down. During a West Hollywood candidate's forum on ... More >>

Term Limits Hot Button Issue at West Hollywood City Council Debate, Incumbents Oppose Them

West Hollywood City Council candidate Mito Aviles​Term limits for West Hollywood City Council members was the hot button issue at a candidates' forum held at the West Hollywood Park Auditorium last night. Nearly all challenging candidates supported term limits while incumbents Abbe Land and ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council Candidates Square Off in First Debate, Challengers Say Time for Change

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood Mayor John Heilman​A long-anticipated debate will take place in West Hollywood tonight between all of the candidates running for City Council, including several hard-charging challengers and incumbents John Heilman, Abbe Land, and Lindsey Horvath. The challengers will ... More >>

West Hollywood Tightens Restrictions on Public Access Television -- Right Before City Election

WeHo City Council: Trying to dodge more scrutiny?​During the hustle and bustle of election season, it's so much more convenient to throw a citywide campaign party without annoying anti-incumbent activists making a fuss on the telly, wouldn't you say? Whether or not that played a part in the r ... More >>

West Hollywood City Councilmember Lindsey Horvath, Appointed By Friends On Council, Illegally Used City Stamp, Listserv To Beg 2011 Campaign Support

WeHo NewsSilly ethics laws don't apply to the WeHo City Council's golden girl​New: Horvath's campaign manager explains that the listserv was a private (albeit gigantic) one. Updated after the jump with Horvath's public Facebook profile pic and more juicy links from the over-zealous editor of ... More >>

Wanna Be a West Hollywood City Council Member? Get 20 or 30 Signatures and You Can Sling Mud All Day on Campaign Trail

West Hollywood City Councilwoman Lindsey Horvath​West Hollywood's campaign season officially begins today, with a nomination period for City Council candidates that lasts through December 10. Apparently, you don't need millions of dollars to get your name on the ballot. According to official ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council's Big Dreams of Subway-Oriented Development Goes Down in Flames, Traffic Destined to be a Nightmare

West Hollywood City Councilwoman Abbe Land​When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority shot down a subway route through West Hollywood a few weeks ago, it probably shook up no group of people harder than West Hollywood City Council members John Heilman, Abbe Land, Lindsey Horvath, Jeff Pra ... More >>

West Hollywood's John Heilman and Abbe Land Beg Voters To Keep Gerrymandered Districts in 'Yes on 27' TV Ad

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood City Councilman John Heilman​West Hollywood City Council members John Heilman, Abbe Land, Lindsey Horvath, and Jeff Prang star in a "Yes on Prop. 27" TV ad, begging voters to maintain the supremely shady practice called "gerrymandering." Few, if any, major politicians ... More >>

California Proposition 20 Wins, Proposition 27 Loses: Politicians Will No Longer Draw up Their Own Districts

Billionaire and Prop. 27 supporter Haim Saban​Update, 11:50 p.m.: With 39 percent of California precincts reporting, Prop. 27 is heading for a huge loss -- 60 percent of voters oppose the ballot measure and 40 percent support it. California voters approved Proposition 20 and shot down Propos ... More >>

West Hollywood Councilman John Duran Slams Colleagues, Says There's a 'Cultural Battle' for City's 'Soul'

Ted SoquiWest Hollywood City Council John Duran​West Hollywood Councilman John Duran wrote a whopper of an op-ed piece in the WeHo News on Thursday, describing himself as the "lone dissenting voice" on a City Council that's engaged in a "cultural battle" for the city's "soul." Whoa! Duran d ... More >>

2011 Political Candidates Already Battling in West Hollywood

E. DunnA cartoon on the web site of political canddiate Mito Aviles​ The municipal election doesn't arrive in West Hollywood until March, 2011, but candidates looking to defeat City Council incumbents John Heilman, Abbe Land, and Lindsey Horvath are already gearing up for a major battle. Form ... More >>

West Hollywood Pushes For Any Kind of Outdoor Smoking Ban

Abbeland.comWest Hollywood City Councilwoman Abbe Land​The West Hollywood Outdoor Smoking Task Force met again last Friday, and it seems that West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman and Councilwoman Abbe Land, who first proposed an outdoor smoking ban at bars and nightclubs, are pushing behind the ... More >>

Does West Hollywood Want Wide-Sweeping Smoking Ban?

While West Hollywood City Council members have been considering such highly-publicized measures as boycotting Arizona due to its controversial immigration law and taking a stand against commercial whaling, some of those same politicians seem to be quietly pushing a wide-sweeping, anti-smoking agenda ... More >>

West Hollywood 'Art Attack' Ringleaders Revealed

Who were those masked men and women?Sky Yim"Art attack" protesters assemble near the Pacific Design Center on Monday night.​That's been the question of the week in West Hollywood, where some 20 people, wearing masks of longtime City Council members John Heilman and Abbe Land, and holding placards ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council Awash in Controversy and Protest

The West Hollywood City Council was awash in controversy and protest at its annual "reorganization" ceremony on Monday, where longtime Councilman John Heilman became West Hollywood's newest mayor -- for the seventh time.Ted SoquiWest Hollywood Mayor John Heilman​Heilman, who's sat on the City Coun ... More >>

West Follywood

How a progressive town founded on renters' rights and diversity ended up gridlocked, angry and elitist

West Hollywood Ponders Ban On Outdoor Smoking At Clubs, Restaurants

Abbe Land.​We told you about a movement in Santa Monica to ban smoking at apartment and condo complexes. Now the city of West Hollywood is looking at a proposal to prohibit lighting up in outdoor areas of clubs and restaurants. The idea comes courtesy of Mayor Abbe Land and Mayor Pro Tem John ... More >>

Underdog Howdy Doo-Me Triumphant at West Hollywood Drag Race

In a stunning upset, underdog Howdy Doo-Me out ran Swine Flu at the West Hollywood Drag Race yesterday, capturing the title as the fastest drag queen in high heels over two inches high. Patrick Range McDonaldWest Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land (l-r), champion Howdy Doo-Me, Swine Flu, and third place f ... More >>

Alternative Endorsements

The Activist Candidates

WeHo’s legacy is at stake in this Assembly race

Queerville, USA

The free-wheeling colony makes it to 20

Patriot Act

"Forged in fire" fighting for gay rights in O.C., WeHo mayor John Duran isn't afraid to speak out