Congregation Kol Ami is celebrating the official unveiling of the newly named Shalom Peace Square in West Hollywood at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and La Brea Avenue. The celebration is taking place on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 4pm – 5pm.
The naming of Shalom Peace Square is in honor of Israel’s 75th birthday and Congregation Kol Ami’s 30th anniversary. Rabbi Eger, Rabbi Levy, Mayor of West Hollywood, Sepi Shyne, and representatives of the Israeli Consulate, and the Israel Civic Action Network will dedicate and name Shalom Peace Square. A new sign will be unveiled and a reception will follow in the temple courtyard following the dedication. To join the celebration of both Israel and Kol Ami, RSVP here: https://www.kol-ami.org/event/ShalomPeace.
In February 2023, a request was forwarded to staff to explore a ceremonial naming of the
intersection at Lexington Avenue and North La Brea Avenue to the Golda Meir Peace
Square, or the Shalom Peace Square, or something similar, commemorating Israel’s 75th
Anniversary of Independence, which will be celebrated on April 25th, 2023.
Following the receipt of the request per the established policy, the Naming Committee
was convened on March 22, 2023. The Naming Committee consists of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, City Manager, Chair of the Public Facilities Commission, and Public Works
Director. The Committee deemed the request to be complete and meeting the intent and
purpose of the established Naming Policy. The Committee provided direction to transmit
the request to the City Council to name the intersection of Lexington Avenue and La Brea
Avenue as the “Shalom Peace Square” for review and further direction.
On April 4, 2023, the City Council directed the Public Facilities Commission to follow the
procedure as outlined in the City’s Naming Policy to consider the ceremonial naming
request to designate the intersection at Lexington Avenue and North La Brea Avenue as
“Shalom Peace Square” and return to the City Council at its April 17th, 2023, meeting for
a final determination.
On April 12, 2023, the Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission held
a public hearing to review input received through the naming request process, accept
public testimony, review recommended signage, and conclude their portion of the naming
request process by finalizing its recommendation to the City Council. The Commission
recommended that the City Council approve the request to name the intersection at
Lexington Avenue and North La Brea Avenue as the “Shalom Peace Square” and
approve the proposed signage and its locations.
At a regular council meeting on April 17, 2023, the City Council approved Agenda Item 2.J. in the consent calendar where the Public Facilities, Recreation, and Infrastructure Commission recommended to rename the intersection
The City of West Hollywood has a Naming Policy in place that establishes uniform
procedures regarding the nomination, consideration, justification, and review of naming
City owned or leased land, buildings, and facilities (“City Assets”). The current Naming
Policy was adopted on May 1, 2000. The Naming Policy establishes certain criteria for
the City Council’ s consideration in determining the names to be given to City Assets and
sets forth the procedure for how naming requests of City Assets are processed. On
February 17, 2021, the City Council approved Resolution No. 21-5376 amending the
Naming Policy.
I noticed the signage has already been hung and is visible. I’m not sure why it was necessary for naming rights for an intersection.