West Hollywood Mayor, Lauren Meister, Hosts Meet and Greet at Hotel Ziggy

West Hollywood Mayor, Lauren Meister invited residents, businesses community members, and community leaders for a meet and greet at the Hotel Ziggy, hosted by Jamison DeTrolio on Thursday, August 4th. The event was a fundraising effort in support of her re-election campaign for West Hollywood city council in November.

“We are in full support of Mayor Meister and we congratulate her on a well done job” said Todd Metzger the Regional Vice President of Operations at Springboard Hospitality during his introduction.

“I really appreciate your enthusiasm and your support,” she said to a crowd of supporters. “Running for city council is never easy, even when you’re running for re-election. I never take anything for granted. I love this city very much. I want to see the direction of the city change. I’m going to need some help with that, not only that you vote for me, but also vote for two other adults in the room to help the direction of the city get back on course.”

The Mayor spoke of housing affordability and how expensive it is to run a business in West Hollywood like most metropolitan cities. She spoke about being the first person to vote against the city budget because she did not agree with cutting sheriff deputies. She also said she voted against the pilot for the 4am extension of alcohol in the city.

“What’s most interesting about this election is that for the first time in a long time, residents and businesses have the same issues,” she said. “I think what we’re seeing is residents and businesses come together to work on these issues and to get the city on a better course.”

She reiterated the importance of public safety, saying she believes it is the number one reason for city government and that in a city like West Hollywood with its healthy reserve, we can have it all. “We can have the same amount of sheriff deputies or more,” she said. “We can have our security ambassadors and we can have mental health professionals. We can have it all, but there are people who are not happy with having it all…”

“Lauren has supported everything for the business community, the small business community and hotels, and has just been focused on what’s important for city hood rather than the ideological policies out there,” said Genevieve Morrill, the President/CEO at West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “…I don’t normally attend anything we haven’t endorsed yet, but I think it’s coming.”

Photos by Mike Pigel for WEHO TIMES (Click to enlarge).

Hotel Ziggy, located at 8462 Sunset Boulevard served refreshments appetizers at the event. The suggested minimum donation was $100 but all donations up to $1,000 were accepted and appreciated.

About West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister:

After nearly two decades as a neighborhood advocate, Lauren Meister was elected to the West Hollywood City Council on March 3, 2015, and re-elected for her second term on March 5, 2019.

Since being elected, Mayor Meister has worked on initiatives to: provide social services for people who are homeless, develop more neighborhood-friendly planning and land use policies, strengthen the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, create a Small Business Task Force, establish West Hollywood as a safe haven for LGBT 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.

In her first term as Mayor (April 2016-May 2017), she joined with mayors from across the nation to show support for preserving the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and protecting LGBT, 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. Currently, Lauren is serving a second term as Mayor (September 2021-January 2023) and represents West Hollywood on the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, and the Sanitation District Personnel Committee.

Councilmember Meister has served on the Westside Cities Council of Governments (WSC COG) and currently represents the WSC COG on the Community, Economic, and Human Development Committee of the Southern California Association of Governments. She also serves on the City’s Finance & Budget subcommittee, Homeless Initiative subcommittee, Plummer Park subcommittee, and Laurel House subcommittee.

Among Councilmember Meister’s priorities:

• Prioritizing public safety, social services, and housing production to reflect the needs of our community
• Initiating and supporting policies to save our affordable housing stock and local neighborhood serving businesses
• Preserving our city’s rich history and unique character
• Protecting parks and increasing green space
• Advocating for safe mobility options and fair parking policies

Councilmember 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.

Prior to her election, Lauren 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, Lauren 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, Lauren 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, Lauren 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.

Lauren received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and graduated with high honors (Phi Beta Kappa, Dean’s List scholar). In 2014, she received a Certificate of Completion in Civic Mediation from the LA County Bar Association/Center for Civic Mediation. In 2020, she received a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University (online graduate school program). In June of 2022, she earned her master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Services Management.

A resident of West Hollywood for over 30 years, Lauren has been both a renter and a homeowner in the City. Lauren’s parents, sister, and adorable rescue dogs, Suki and Sammy, also call West Hollywood home.

To learn more or to make a donation, visit: https://www.meister4weho.com.