Patch Blog: On Thugs, Speeding Cars and 'The Mayor'

Tucked away inside the bottom corner section of the L.A. Times (LAEXTRA, March 19) is a tiny article, "Hollywood: 3 Assailants Attack Gay Man," stating that "In October, a handful of similar attacks reported in West Hollywood led to spikes in crimes committed against gays. West Hollywood's mayor downplayed those attacks at the time." 

A handful? Downplayed? I wonder if this is just a timid approach to a very serious matter, or if the mayor has more interest in protecting the city's nightlife and financial interests than he does the safety of the citizens. The "downplaying" is likely the reason the news item was so brief and inconspicuous and virtually unnoticed.

Those who ask to be placed in positions of public service are obligated to put the safety of the public first and foremost before any other interest. Even Ronald Reagan said it, and I quote: "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not to run their lives." And this includes protection from thugs and speeding cars, as well as others who would harm us.

Instead of being dismissive of these attacks, the mayor has an obligation to the people to respond like a leader and publicly condemn such attacks on our citizens and issue a warning to the perpetrators that such behavior will not be tolerated, that anyone who chooses to come to West Hollywood and attack innocent people for any reason whatsoever will be caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law. 

That is called leadership. "Downplaying" such serious matters for political or other reasons is not. Or maybe this wasn't a sufficiently appealing media op.

This is the same councilman who has been consistently dismissive of citizen's requests for a red light at the heavily trafficked crosswalk that connects the Starbucks at Santa Monica and Westmount to the 24 Hour Fitness across the street. The mayor's reasoning: It would slow down traffic. Duh? That is the whole idea. 

This seems to me to be just another flimsy irresponsible attitude by the mayor to a very serious public safety concern, ostensibly for dubious reasons. Traffic in that area should be slowed down. Drivers tend to speed through this stretch even though there is a traffic light at Westbourne Drive.  One more light that allows pedestrians to cross more safely is not going to have a signifigant impact on the traffic flow. 

This is easily among the most dangerous crosswalks in West Hollywood. Daily I observe pedestrians dodging the traffic trying to cross this street and see the danger they are in as they do. 

Unlike most city council members, I am actually in the city most hours of the day and night to see these situations first hand on an ongoing basis. I would like to see the "mayor" show less interest in the ceremony of his honorary office and more interest in the safety and well being of the people in these two cases, as well as others.