Lauren Meister Is Sworn-In As Mayor Pro Tempore Of The City Of West Hollywood

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

December 22, 2020

The City of West Hollywood has sworn-in Lauren Meister as the City of West Hollywood’s Mayor Pro Tempore, who took an oath of office during the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of West Hollywood on Monday, December 21, 2020. The meeting took place as a teleconference meeting in adherence to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Meister was unanimously selected by the City Council at its regular meeting on Monday, December 7, 2020, following the installation of two new Councilmembers: Sepi Shyne and John M. Erickson, who secured victory in the General Municipal Election in November 2020. Biographical information about the five members of the City Council is available on the City’s website by visiting www.weho.org/city-government/city-council.

The City Council meeting and oath of office, administered by City of West Hollywood City Clerk Yvonne Quarker, is available for viewing on the City of West Hollywood’s website at www.weho.org/wehotv and on the City’s WeHoTV YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/wehotv.

After nearly two decades as a neighborhood advocate, Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015. Mayor Pro Tem Meister became involved with the City of West Hollywood as a neighborhood watch captain, took the LASD Community Emergency Response Team “CERT” training, and attended the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Community Academy. She went on to lead the largest neighborhood association in the city, representing residents on issues such as public safety, traffic circulation, parking and development.

Among Mayor Pro Tem Meister’s priorities are:

• Initiating and supporting policies to save our affordable housing stock and local neighborhood serving businesses;

• Prioritizing public safety and social services to reflect the needs of our community;

• Preserving our city’s rich history and unique character;

• Protecting parks and green space; and

• Advocating for fair parking policies.

Since being elected, Mayor Pro Tem Meister has worked on initiatives to: strengthen the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, develop more neighborhood-friendly planning and land use policies, provide social services for people who are homeless, create a Small Business Task Force, establish West Hollywood as a safe haven for LGBTQ asylum seekers, increase community engagement and transparency, implement a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program, educate the public on safety issues related to children and pets, embrace and promote our historic resources and, raise the bar on design standards, environmental programs and sustainability.

Mayor Pro Tem Meister joined with mayors from across the nation to show support for preserving the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and protecting immigrant and refugee communities. She also initiated an item to take steps to prohibit West Hollywood City Hall from doing business with entities that provide financial or other benefits to the President of the United States and develop socially conscious banking policies.

Prior to her election, Mayor Pro Tem Meister served on numerous commissions and committees for the City of West Hollywood, including the Planning Commission and Public Safety Commission. She worked to mitigate traffic and parking impacts of new and proposed projects in the City, supported creative parking solutions to help neighborhood businesses, initiated the City’s “Live, Work, Play, Be Safe” educational campaign, and supported new ideas to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety. She also worked on campaign finance reform and has been a strong advocate for a stricter code of ethics.

At the request of former Congressmember Henry Waxman, Mayor Pro Tem Meister testified before Congress in support of health insurance regulation and universal health care, and she worked with City of Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz to reduce helicopter noise in residential neighborhoods.

In 2013, Mayor Pro Tem Meister served as Chair of the successful “Yes on Measure C” Term Limits for West Hollywood committee, limiting all Council members elected on or after March 2013 to no more than three full or partial terms on the City Council.

Professionally, Mayor Pro Tem Meister is the sole proprietor of her own marketing research firm based in West Hollywood. As a businesswoman and market research professional, she listens to public opinion to form action-oriented solutions, understands the importance of budgets and resources, and believes that the City must provide good customer service and be accountable.

A resident of West Hollywood for more than 25 years, Mayor Pro Tem Meister has been both a renter and a homeowner in the City. Mayor Pro Tem Meister’s parents, sister, and rescue dogs, Suki and Sammy, also call West Hollywood home.

The City of West Hollywood is like no other city in the world. Located in the heart of metropolitan Los Angeles, the city was incorporated in 1984 by a unique collaboration of people including LGBTQ activists, seniors, and advocates for affordable housing. At only 1.9 square miles, West Hollywood is a robust economic and cultural center instilled with idealism, creativity, and innovation. A spirit of community activism and civic pride thrives in West Hollywood for many of its approximately 35,000 residents and the city has a strong progressive political voice.

West Hollywood works diligently to defend the fundamental rights of its community members including LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, seniors, people of color, immigrants, women, and others. The City is one of the most outspoken advocates anywhere for the legal rights of LGBTQ people; more than 40 percent of residents in West Hollywood identify as LGBTQ. The City also prides itself on being a safe space. Regardless of nationality or immigration status, the City of West Hollywood has a commitment to promoting social justice and equal rights.

The City of West Hollywood has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Individuals are advised, at this time, to stay at home as much as possible and limit close interactions to those in your household. When in public for essential needs, community members should maintain your space with social (physical) distancing of at least six feet, and cover your face. Public Health officials recommend that everyone continue to follow physical distancing and infection control directives and wear a clean face covering that securely covers both your nose and mouth when in in public. Additionally, people 65 years old or older and all people of any age with underlying health conditions should remain at home whenever possible; people in these categories should only leave their residences to seek medical care, exercise, or obtain food or other necessities.

West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions. Most public City buildings and facilities remain closed. City Hall remains accessible for business and essential services with transactions to be conducted by phone (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org.

City of West Hollywood coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirus and the City encourages community members to follow @wehocity on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and turn on notifications. Sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.