John J. Duran

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 >>

Brett Shaad Aftermath: John Duran Apologizes to Family as Meningitis Vaccinations Uptick in West Hollywood

West Hollywood Councilman John Duran offered an apology on Monday to the family of Brett Shaad, who died from meningitis over the weekend. Duran held a press conference on Friday about the Shaad tragedy, which sparked national media coverage. "Please offer my deep condolences to the Shaad family," ... More >>

Another Death of an L.A. Gay Man Tied to Meningitis

See also: Brett Shaad Aftermath: John Duran Apologizes to Family as Meningitis Vaccinations Uptick in West Hollywood WeHo News is reporting that another gay man in the Los Angeles area recently died of bacterial meningitis, heightening concerns that the widely publicized death of West Hollywood res ... More >>

UPDATE: Brett Shaad, West Hollywood Lawyer, Brain Dead after Contracting Meningitis

Update: Shaad family releases a statement about the tragedy, after the jump. Shock. That's what a lot of people in West Hollywood were feeling after hearing the news that Brett Shaad, a gay man and lawyer in his early 30s, was announced brain dead after contracting bacterial meningitis. As of Frid ... More >>

West Hollywood Municipal Election Results: Voters Defy Political Establishment and Approve Term Limits for City Council

In one of those odd twists on election night, West Hollywood voters gave City Council incumbents Jeff Prang and John Duran another four years, but then solidly approved a term limits ballot measure for the City Council by more than 1,000 votes. The passage of Measure C is a major blow to the West H ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council and Term Limits Races Turn Political Scene Upside Down But Voters Get Last Word on Election Day

After months of political contention, West Hollywood voters will decide today if term limits for City Council members should be approved and if incumbents Jeff Prang and John Duran should be re-elected. Former Councilman Steve Martin, a front-running challenger, wants to replace either Duran or Pran ... More >>

More Political Intrigue in West Hollywood City Council Race, But Will Voters Care on Election Day?

Every two years, West Hollywood residents often get a startling look at how their government is actually run via City Council elections, and every two years West Hollywood residents almost always vote for the same people -- if they show up at the voting booths at all. Will this year be any different ... More >>

Humongous Mall Project Sparks Controversy in West Hollywood City Council Race

WEHOville recently broke a jaw-dropping story that's causing a major stir in West Hollywood and could possibly impact any driver passing through that city on Santa Monica Boulevard, which is already a rush hour nightmare. Developer Charles Cohen, who owns the Pacific Design Center and recently adde ... More >>

Are Term Limits Good For West Hollywood? Voters to Decide in Upcoming Election

The Los Angeles Times ran a piece about West Hollywood terms limits today. It's filled with the usual, and very simplified, arguments by City Council members John Heilman and Jeff Prang about why terms limits are bad. "The people in West Hollywood are smart enough to know that if there's a council ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council: Sam Borelli and Steve Martin Kick Off Campaigns to Unseat Incumbents John Duran and Jeff Prang

Election season is once again upon the good folks in West Hollywood, where politics is often played as a contact sport. With an exception or two, it's almost always liberal Democrats fighting against liberal Democrats, and the infighting can be quite a hoot. This year, former West Hollywood City Co ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council Finally Makes Deal with El Mirador Owner Jerome Nash

West Hollywood City Council members avoided a longtime controversy from blowing up in their faces on Tuesday night, approving a development agreement that would prevent the historic El Mirador building from being torn down. Without the agreement, El Mirador owner Jerome Nash threatened to demolish ... More >>

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

West Hollywood Activists 'Fed Up,' Look to Pass Term Limits For City Council Members

In a town where City Council members are almost never voted out of office, West Hollywood community activists have reached a boiling point -- and they're pushing hard to place a term limits initiative on the March 2013 ballot. "It's very hard for a grassroots activist to raise over $100,000 and bea ... More >>

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 >>

Democratic War for L.A.'s Richest

Betsy Butler and Torie Osborn woo the carbon-counting strata of Assembly District 50

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 >>

Prop. 8 Ruling: Los Angeles, West Hollywood to Host Celebration Rallies Tonight

Surely you've heard the good news by now: Proposition 8 was just overturned by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. And, though the religious zealots at ProtectMarriage will inevitably appeal that decision, it's definitely time to take this Internet party to the streets. LGBT advocates and city o ... More >>

West Hollywood City Council: Will John Duran and John D'Amico Bring Change in 2012?

Ted SoquiWeHo City Council member John D'Amico​We're all for protecting bicyclists, the humane treatment of puppies, reasonably guarding the health of restaurant and bar workers against second-hand smoke, and many of the other feel-good, headline-grabbing ordinances the five members of the We ... More >>

Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day in West Hollywood

Siran Babayan​It was raining men in West Hollywood Saturday night as the city organized its first Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day. Leave it to WeHo to declare a Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day and Motley Crue Day in the same year. And only in WeHo will you find a scantily clad dancer outside a yog ... More >>

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 >>

West Hollywood City Hall, With Severe Case of New York Penis Envy, Pays $2.6 Million for Space-Age Stacked Parking (VIDEO)

Car, meet Robot.​The suave, sophisticated WeHo aesthetic is about to get even sillier -- with a $2.6 million Unitronics parking garage. According to City News Service, it uses "computer-controlled lifts and conveyors to move vehicles into parking spaces." Yay for robots! Mayor John Duran is a ... 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 >>

West Hollywood vs. Lakeview, Chicago: Will the Real 'Boystown' Please Stand Up?

WeHo NewsCan we out-rainbow Chicago?​There's a battle of the gayborhoods going down between West Hollywood and Lakeview, and we're all invited! The territorial blog-off started when West Hollywood resident Larry Block proposed that the city officially designate the stretch of Santa Monica Bou ... 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 City Manager Paul Arevalo Appears To Be Second Big Spender in City Credit Card Scandal

City of West HollywoodWeHo City Manager Paul Arevalo made $309,186 in 2009 -- apparently not enough to cover meals​Updated after the jump: Fran Solomon, the other cardholder, was so not having us at last night's City Council meeting. Also, the candidates' final words! Update: West Hollywood e ... More >>

Dethroning West Hollywood's Martinets

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

West Hollywood City Council Tries to Ban Public Restaurant Smoking Once and for All

Life MagazineWeHo starlets with cigarettes: a fading grace​Updated after the jump: The outdoor smoking ban passed last night, even after some awesome characters in bondage and mohawks (apparently not too convincing) showed up for public comment. Oh, West Hollywood. That fabulous little town o ... 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 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 >>

Sunset Strip Festival: West Hollywood Declares August 26, 'SLASH DAY'

Alex DistefanoLast night, the focus was on Slash (focus not pictured)​On the eve of the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival, Thursday night, the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip and the city of West Hollywood honored none other than hard rock guitar icon Slash, who rose to fame with Gu ... More >>

Same-Sex Marriages To Resume In California Next Week: Federal Judge Lifts Stay On Decision Overturning Prop. 8

Via TwitpicCelebration earlier this month at San Francisco City Hall.​ By Dennis Romero and Patrick Range McDonald, with reporting by Steve La from Norwalk Updated with reporting from the county clerk's office. First posted at 12:40 p.m. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker on Thursday mo ... 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 Councilman Gets Behind Full Legalization Of Pot

West Hollywood city Councilman John Duran.​A West Hollywood city councilman says he's the first politician in Southern California to support a statewide initiative that would legalize marijuana for recreational use. The ballot measure, which appears to have enough signatures but which has not ... More >>

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 >>

L.A.'s Medical-Weed Wars

How the potheads outwitted Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. City Council

Stage Raw: The Laramie Project Ten Years Later

COMPREHENSIVE THEATER LISTINGSLATEST NEW REVIEWSSTAGE FEATURE on Parade at the TaperINTERVIEW with Pieter-Dirk Uys and Charlize TheronTHE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF​Photo courtesy of Ipenema Theater Troupe and the Electric Lodge TheatreCheck back here Monday afternoon for reviews of Moliere's The ... More >>

Letters: Old and Not in the Way

The face of post–Prop. 8 gay leadership; and more musings on Gold

Young Gays Take Reins From Elders on Prop. 8

In wake of gay-marriage ban, the mantle is shifting from battle-scarred AIDS warriors

Dem Presidential Candidates Face Gays

At Hollywood Q&A, Richardson screws up, Hillary argues, Edwards flipflops

Gay Syphilis Scourge Skyrockets

County officials dawdle, leisurely launching another questionable ad campaign

Lighting Up

Cutting through the haze of WeHo’s marijuana vote

The Activist Candidates

WeHo’s legacy is at stake in this Assembly race

Letters

Patriot Act

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

Gay Marriage Squabble

Why California’s Supreme Court ruling was a lost battle, not a lost war

No Wedding Bells in WeHo

West Hollywood struggles to keep up with San Francisco

Gay Lobby Founders

Decade-old group folds; survivors split