West Hollywood City Councilmember John D’Amico launched a verbal attack on fellow Councilmember John Heilman last night during a discussion of a proposal to improve residential and commercial building access for those with disabilities.
The proposal, brought forth by Mayor Lindsey Horvath, would have the city waive fees for building owners who submit proposals for voluntarily upgrading their buildings to make them comply with federal and city accessibility standards. It also would provide technical assistance to those owners.
During discussion of the proposal, D’Amico and Councilmember Lauren Meister asked that the city also look at the possibility of offering low-interest loans to building owners to bring their properties into compliance with various regulations. D’Amico said that the city had as many as 15,000 housing units that are more than 30 years old, many of which haven’t been brought up to modern standards. Horvath and Heilman, however, didn’t agree to include that in the original proposal.
That spurred D’Amico to claim the Council wasn’t taking the action necessary to really improve the city’s existing housing stock. “Our actual affordable housing stock is falling apart,” he said. D’Amico then focused his attack on Heilman, with whom he has long had a contentious relationship.
“You once again stopped any progress on fixing our affordable units,” D’Amico said. “But shame on you. That’s a shameful thing that you continue to do. And I have zero respect for you in this matter… these people, these residents of our city who live in affordable housing deserve better than the kind of pandering and outright disrespect you have for them. …Yes you got affordable housing and rent control passed in 1984. Well p.s., you lost an election in March because you didn’t want to do anything about affordable housing.”
Councilmember John Duran was clearly disturbed by D’Amico’s remarks and said that he wasn’t addressing the subject at hand. “This item is about accessibility. It has nothing to do with infrastructure repair,” Duran said.
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“I don’t mind when you disagree with Councilmember Heilman, but when you say something like that Councilmember D’Amico, it has nothing to do with what we’re discussing, it just makes good headlines in WEHOville, and its not productive.”
Despite the contentious disagreement the Council passed the original Horvath proposal in a unanimous vote.
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Woody – where did I say D’Amico should go? You just made that up. For the record, though he pledged to serve only two terms, it’s fine with me if he runs again. That’s democracy (though term limit supporters prefer anti-democratic rules). Another thing you made up – Heilman came in last in what election? He has lost only one election (same as Horvath and Meister for the record). He had 4th place in March, only 69 votes short of winning. You are projecting I fear – you clearly are the one obsessed over Heilman. Even most of the Heilman… Read more »
Woody McBreairty
8 years ago
@Chris Sanger: John D’Amico was the top vote getter & won both his elections overwhelmingly. John Heilman came in last in one election & lost big in another. So you say D’Amico is the one who should go & Heilman is the one who should stay. That is so typical of your upside down logic. It is your eerie obsession with Heilman that gives one pause. So much so that I think you are actually him.
D’Amico is the new kid in town while Heilman is a veteran and everyone is now running against him. In the next election D’Amico will run in his conduct and positions will be issues he will have to explain.
JJ
8 years ago
Jonathan there’s a thing called an elevator. No new projects (since 1990) can be approved without meeting all ADA requirements. (The elevator is located underneath the staircase just off the driveway to the parking garage)
Jonathan Simmon
8 years ago
HUH? The Americans With Disabilities Act added to the existing accessibility requirements.
The ONLY GUILTY PARTIES are the City Council Members who voted and approved the design for the Weho Park/Library STAIRCASE FROM HELL …. The City just built the most dangerous and inaccessible to even the non-disabled people attempted to navigate safely up such a steep, narrow, long and high Brand New Designed access to the new library and new weho park.
Any violation of the ADA Access SHOULD be reported and prosecuted if not remediate to meet the legal standards.
These issues are all connected. Its very easy to be for ADA compliance and affordable housing but another thing to actually execute a policy that does something about including maintaining the existing housing stock.
D’Amico was right on in his comments and criticism of pandering with no real action.
Mike Dolan
8 years ago
One last remark about the comment: “What a pity she (Lindsey Horvath) takes her cues from an entrenched politician who is owned by the developers,”
This is not only sexist it demeaning! Mayor Lindsey Horvath takes no cue’s from anyone. Brilliant and smart, our Mayor leads from her strength and knowledge of an issue that permeates with the majority of residents.
There are some men that could and should listen and learn from an extraordinary leader, Mayor Lindsey Horvath.
Mike Dolan
8 years ago
The substitute motion by Heilman was to bring the clarity and focus of exactly what the agenda item was about. D’Amico, along with Meister tried as usual to infra-structure language to an ADA-accessibility item. Thank you Mayor, Duran and Heilman for stopping once again these members who can’t seem to read and vote on exactly what the agenda item as presented. Wrongfully, D’Amico claims that infrastructure issues is the reason Heilman was marginally voted out yet temporarily. June saw a mayor win and landslide victory for Heilman because he never loses focus, is clear and sticks to the agenda item… Read more »
Woody McBreairty
8 years ago
John Q Public is right on the mark. Beware of the aspiring politician who makes the inept statement that they “owe everything” to another politician rather than to the people who elected them, which does not bode well for future trustworthiness of their judgment. Any “As Heilman goes, so goes Horvath” behavior can only inhibit her credibility & her future aspirations. Mayor Horvath mustn’t forget that she did not win this election with the help of Heilman who lost in the same election, but was definitely helped by the scurrilous attack ads on Lauren Meister which were designed to help… Read more »
Chris Sanger
8 years ago
The middle class is being removed from WeHo because over the last 30 years it has become a vastly more desirable place to live. Heilman has had a huge role in it. Too bad we didn’t have incompetent leaders who would not have done so well and made the city more of a hellhole. No good deed goes unpunished around these parts.
And he speaks for the city, based on the last election. Doesn’t mean he speaks for everyone – no one does.
John Q. Public
8 years ago
D’Amico got it right and just stated what many in the city think. For the record, if you were paying attention, the flavor of the evening was “Subtitute motion.” Heilman pulled that stunt several times . Which in effect has the council speaking on and voting on something that was technically not on the agenda and upon which the public had no input. Mayor Pro Tem Meister had an item up that would have held the city and staff accountable to the public when the public takes the time to come and speak at meetings. But Heilman changed that with… Read more »
The issue was ADA compliance not upgrading rental units. D’Amico was dead wrong attacking Heilman when he was only making a motion concerning the ADA issue. Upgrading rental units is another issue and I wait for D’Amico to bring up a measure that can be voted on. But somehow I don’t believe the issue will ever see the light of day coming from D’Amico in the near future.
Mike Dolan
8 years ago
The City Council and implementing pro-active technology today and for the future is why a state-of-the art robo-garage was envisioned, planned, debated and approved and soon to open. This is the progressive city at its best with hopefully many more to come. The City is and has always invested in its housing stock with adding back inclusionary, affordable units along with supporting our WHCHC and their great work. Housing landlords and property owners that are irresponsible in their upkeep, improvements, are to blame for their lack to repair, replace or improve the longevity of their housing developments that are 30… Read more »
Right on Chris!
Woody – where did I say D’Amico should go? You just made that up. For the record, though he pledged to serve only two terms, it’s fine with me if he runs again. That’s democracy (though term limit supporters prefer anti-democratic rules). Another thing you made up – Heilman came in last in what election? He has lost only one election (same as Horvath and Meister for the record). He had 4th place in March, only 69 votes short of winning. You are projecting I fear – you clearly are the one obsessed over Heilman. Even most of the Heilman… Read more »
@Chris Sanger: John D’Amico was the top vote getter & won both his elections overwhelmingly. John Heilman came in last in one election & lost big in another. So you say D’Amico is the one who should go & Heilman is the one who should stay. That is so typical of your upside down logic. It is your eerie obsession with Heilman that gives one pause. So much so that I think you are actually him.
D’Amico is the new kid in town while Heilman is a veteran and everyone is now running against him. In the next election D’Amico will run in his conduct and positions will be issues he will have to explain.
Jonathan there’s a thing called an elevator. No new projects (since 1990) can be approved without meeting all ADA requirements. (The elevator is located underneath the staircase just off the driveway to the parking garage)
HUH? The Americans With Disabilities Act added to the existing accessibility requirements.
The ONLY GUILTY PARTIES are the City Council Members who voted and approved the design for the Weho Park/Library STAIRCASE FROM HELL …. The City just built the most dangerous and inaccessible to even the non-disabled people attempted to navigate safely up such a steep, narrow, long and high Brand New Designed access to the new library and new weho park.
Any violation of the ADA Access SHOULD be reported and prosecuted if not remediate to meet the legal standards.
These issues are all connected. Its very easy to be for ADA compliance and affordable housing but another thing to actually execute a policy that does something about including maintaining the existing housing stock.
D’Amico was right on in his comments and criticism of pandering with no real action.
One last remark about the comment: “What a pity she (Lindsey Horvath) takes her cues from an entrenched politician who is owned by the developers,”
This is not only sexist it demeaning! Mayor Lindsey Horvath takes no cue’s from anyone. Brilliant and smart, our Mayor leads from her strength and knowledge of an issue that permeates with the majority of residents.
There are some men that could and should listen and learn from an extraordinary leader, Mayor Lindsey Horvath.
The substitute motion by Heilman was to bring the clarity and focus of exactly what the agenda item was about. D’Amico, along with Meister tried as usual to infra-structure language to an ADA-accessibility item. Thank you Mayor, Duran and Heilman for stopping once again these members who can’t seem to read and vote on exactly what the agenda item as presented. Wrongfully, D’Amico claims that infrastructure issues is the reason Heilman was marginally voted out yet temporarily. June saw a mayor win and landslide victory for Heilman because he never loses focus, is clear and sticks to the agenda item… Read more »
John Q Public is right on the mark. Beware of the aspiring politician who makes the inept statement that they “owe everything” to another politician rather than to the people who elected them, which does not bode well for future trustworthiness of their judgment. Any “As Heilman goes, so goes Horvath” behavior can only inhibit her credibility & her future aspirations. Mayor Horvath mustn’t forget that she did not win this election with the help of Heilman who lost in the same election, but was definitely helped by the scurrilous attack ads on Lauren Meister which were designed to help… Read more »
The middle class is being removed from WeHo because over the last 30 years it has become a vastly more desirable place to live. Heilman has had a huge role in it. Too bad we didn’t have incompetent leaders who would not have done so well and made the city more of a hellhole. No good deed goes unpunished around these parts.
And he speaks for the city, based on the last election. Doesn’t mean he speaks for everyone – no one does.
D’Amico got it right and just stated what many in the city think. For the record, if you were paying attention, the flavor of the evening was “Subtitute motion.” Heilman pulled that stunt several times . Which in effect has the council speaking on and voting on something that was technically not on the agenda and upon which the public had no input. Mayor Pro Tem Meister had an item up that would have held the city and staff accountable to the public when the public takes the time to come and speak at meetings. But Heilman changed that with… Read more »
The issue was ADA compliance not upgrading rental units. D’Amico was dead wrong attacking Heilman when he was only making a motion concerning the ADA issue. Upgrading rental units is another issue and I wait for D’Amico to bring up a measure that can be voted on. But somehow I don’t believe the issue will ever see the light of day coming from D’Amico in the near future.
The City Council and implementing pro-active technology today and for the future is why a state-of-the art robo-garage was envisioned, planned, debated and approved and soon to open. This is the progressive city at its best with hopefully many more to come. The City is and has always invested in its housing stock with adding back inclusionary, affordable units along with supporting our WHCHC and their great work. Housing landlords and property owners that are irresponsible in their upkeep, improvements, are to blame for their lack to repair, replace or improve the longevity of their housing developments that are 30… Read more »