WeHo Lanterns Glow Orange in Celebration of Transit Workers Appreciation Week

May 27, 2020

WeHo Lanterns - Photo by Paulo Murillo for WEHO TIMES

The lanterns in the heart of West Hollywood’s Boystown will be lit orange this week to celebrate transit workers responsible for transporting essential personnel to and from their jobs every day during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WeHo lanterns, which hang above Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Robertson Boulevard and Hancock Avenue will glow orange the entire week in recognition of Transit Workers Appreciation Week in West Hollywood.

According to US Census data, 2.8 million workers in essential industries commute by transit, comprising 36 percent of transit ridership. Nationwide, more than 600,000 transit commuters work at hospitals, doctors’ offices, or as home health providers; 165,000 take public transit to jobs in pharmacies or grocery stores; and 150,000 commute to social service jobs. In Los Angeles County and in the City of West Hollywood, transit services have been modified due to Safer At Home orders, but transit remains an essential and vital service.

Approximately 500 Metro bus operators, mechanics, and support staff work at the Metro West Hollywood Division 7 facility making it one of the largest employers located within in the City of West Hollywood. From healthcare professionals and social service providers, to grocery store and postal service workers, transit workers ensure that transit systems are clean for riders and commuters.

The City of West Hollywood has temporarily suspended its weekend shuttle programs, the PickUp and The Sunset Trip, however the City’s Cityline routes (Local and Commuter) continue regular operations; riders are required to wear masks and practice physical distancing. The City of West Hollywood also has two transportation options including Dial-A-Ride/TLC and the WeHo On-Call Transportation program. The City maintains its Bus Pass Subsidy Program, as well. For additional information, please visit www.weho.org/transit or call (323) 848-6510.

The WeHo lanterns will glow orange until Sunday, May 31, 2020, to pay tribute and appreciation to transit workers at the Metro Division 7 transit facility, located on Santa Monica Boulevard, just east of N. San Vicente Boulevard. The City of West Hollywood, in coordination with Metro, will provide Certificates of Recognition to Metro workers in Division 7 and the City encourages residents and community members to participate by sharing the City’s social media posts (@wehocity) about Transit Workers Appreciation Week in West Hollywood, as well as by making yard or window signs and banners, and thanking essential transit workers when using transit for essential travel. As a reminder, wear a cloth face covering and comply with social (physical) distancing requirements when using transit.

The City of West Hollywood has declared a local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and is advising community members to adhere to the Los Angeles County Safer At Home Order. The revised Order is a continuation, which became effective on May 13, 2020. It will continue until it is extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing by the Health Officer of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and it begins to move Los Angeles County into the next stage of a Roadmap to Recovery: A Phased Approach to Reopening Safely in Los Angeles County.

The City urges everyone to stay in place, maintain your space, and cover your face. Leave home only for essential needs; always use social distancing of at least six feet; and follow guidelines to use cloth face coverings such as bandanas or scarves so that medical masks, which are in short supply, are prioritized for health professionals.

West Hollywood City Hall is currently closed to the public and has suspended all in-person transactions. All public City buildings, playgrounds, parks, and facilities are closed. City Hall will remain 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.

The 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 for up-to-date information regarding details in the City of West Hollywood.

To view essential-business City meetings, tune in to WeHoTV at:

www.weho.org/wehotv
www.youtube.com/wehotv
Spectrum Channel 10 (in West Hollywood)
AT&T U-verse Channel 99 (in Southern California)
SmartTV Apps: AndroidTV; AppleTV; FireTV; and Roku

For notifications by email, subscribe to the City’s E-Notifications at www.weho.org/email. Visit the City’s event and meetings calendar at www.weho.org/calendar and news archive at www.weho.org/news. To receive urgent updates to your phone by text and to your email, text your ZIP code to 888-777.

For updates and information about the current numbers of COVID-19 cases in the United States and in Los Angeles County, the spread of the virus, severity, treatments, precautions, and other important public health information in multiple languages, please visit websites for: