West Hollywood, California | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Ronda Apartments | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: WeHo | |
| Motto: "The Creative City" | |
| Anthem: Go Go | |
 Show West Hollywood Show Los Angeles County Show California Show the United States | |
 Location inLos Angeles County, California | |
| Coordinates:34°5′16.73″N118°22′15.49″W / 34.0879806°N 118.3709694°W /34.0879806; -118.3709694 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County |  Los Angeles |
| Incorporated | November 29, 1984 (1984-11-29)[1] |
| Named after | Location west ofHollywood |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Council/City Manager[2] |
| • Mayor | Chelsea Lee Byers |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | John Heilman |
| • Councilmembers[4] | Lauren Meister Danny Hang John M. Erickson |
| • City manager | David Wilson[3] |
| Area | |
• City | 1.89 sq mi (4.89 km2) |
| • Land | 1.89 sq mi (4.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 282 ft (86 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 35,757 |
| • Density | 18,900/sq mi (7,310/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 90038, 90046, 90048, 90069 |
| Area codes | 310/424,213/323 |
| FIPS code | 06-84410 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1652810,2412221 |
| Website | www |
West Hollywood is a city inLos Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to theSunset Strip, and located between the cities ofLos Angeles andBeverly Hills. As of the2020 U.S. census, its population was 35,757.[7]
Most historical writings about West Hollywood began in the late-18th century withEuropean colonization when thePortuguese explorerJoão Rodrigues Cabrilho traveled to and eventually laid claim on the region forSpain. Around 5,000 of the indigenous inhabitants from theTongvaIndian tribe canoed out to greet the ship. TheTongva tribe was a nation of hunter-gatherers known for their reverence for dance and courage. By 1771, these native people had been severely ravaged by the diseases brought in by the Europeans from across wide oceans. The Spanish mission system referred to the Tongva tribe as "Gabrielinos", in reference to theMission de San Gabriel. Early in 1770,Gaspar de Portola's Mexicanexpeditionary force stopped just south of theSanta Monica Mountains near what would become West Hollywood. Here they collectedpitch (brea in Spanish) fromtar pits which they used to waterproof their belongings and to say Mass.[8] The Gabrielinos are believed to have burned the pitch for fuel.[9]
By 1780, what became the "Sunset Strip" was the major connecting road for ElPueblo de Los Angeles, and all ranches westward to thePacific Ocean. This land passed through the hands of various owners during the next one hundred years, and it was called names such as "La Brea" and "Plummer" that are listed in historical records.[8][10] Most of this area was part of theRancho La Brea, and eventually it came to be owned by theHenry Hancock family.[9]
During the final decade years of the nineteenth century, the first large land reconstruction of the town of "Sherman" significantly accelerated the development of the region.[11] In what would later become West Hollywood—the town of "Sherman"—was established byMoses Sherman and his partners of theLos Angeles Pacific Railroad, aninterurbanrailroad line which later became part of thePacific Electric Railway system. Sherman became the location of the railroad's main shops,railroad yards, and "car barns". Many working-class employees of the railroad settled in this town.[12] It was during this time that the city began to earn its reputation as a loosely regulated, liquor-friendly (duringProhibition) place for eccentric people wary of government interference. Despite several annexation attempts, the town elected not to become part of theCity of Los Angeles.[13] In 1925 Sherman adopted "West Hollywood", "...a moniker pioneered earlier in the decade by the West Hollywood Realty Board" as its informal name, though it remained under the governance ofLos Angeles County.[13]
For many decades, the area that is now the city of West Hollywood was an unincorporated area in the midst of Los Angeles. Because gambling was illegal in the city of Los Angeles, but still legal in Los Angeles County, the 1920s saw the proliferation of manycasinos, night clubs, etc., alongSunset Boulevard (which starts near downtown Los Angeles and runs westward). These businesses were immune from the sometimes heavy-handed law-enforcement of theL.A. Police Department.[14]
Some people connected with movie-making were attracted to this less-restricted area of the County, and a number ofarchitecturally distinctive apartment buildings and hotels were built. Many interior designers, decorators and "to the trade" furnishing showrooms located in West Hollywood date back to the middle of the century.
Eventually, the area and its extravagant nightclubs fell out of favor. The Sunset Strip and its restaurants, saloons, and nightclubs continued to be an attraction for out-of-town tourists. During the late 1960s, the Sunset Strip was transformed again during thehippie movement which brought a thriving music publishing industry coupled with the "hippie" culture. Young people from all over the country flocked to West Hollywood.
After thedissolution of the Soviet Union, thousands ofRussian Jews immigrated to the city. A majority of the 5,000 to 6,000 Russian Jews settled in two major immigration waves, 1978–79 and 1988–92.[15] Other than New York, West Hollywood's Russian-speaking community is the most concentrated single Russian-speaking region in the United States.[16]
The Gauntlet was abody piercing business founded byJim Ward in West Hollywood that is considered the first business of its type in the United States[17] and was the beginning of the body piercing industry.[17][18][19] The Gauntlet began in November 1975, with its original location in Ward's West Hollywood home, but on the evening of Friday, November 17, 1978, it celebrated the grand opening of its first commercial location at 8720 Santa Monica Boulevard (also in West Hollywood).
_1982_West_Hollywood.jpg)
Due to the expiration of rent control protections in LA County, a coalition of gay men, Russian Jews, and the elderly successfully held a vote to officially incorporate the City of West Hollywood in 1984. Voters elected a city council with an openly gay majority and it immediately passed a series of rent control measures to protect its longtime citizens.[20] West Hollywood then immediately adopted one of the strongest rent control laws in the nation.[21]
The city of West Hollywood gave the keys to the city toStormy Daniels on "Stormy Daniels Day", May 23, 2018.[22]
West Hollywood is bounded by the city ofBeverly Hills on the west,[23] and by neighborhoods of the city ofLos Angeles:Hollywood Hills on the north,[24]Hollywood on the east,[25] theFairfax District on the southeast, andBeverly Grove on the southwest.[26] The city's irregular boundary is featured in its logo; it was largely formed from the unincorporated Los Angeles County area which had not become part of the surrounding cities.[27]
West Hollywood benefits from a very dense, compact urban form with small lots, mixed land use, and a walkable street grid. According to Walkscore, a website that ranks cities based on walkability, West Hollywood is the most walkable city in California with aWalkscore of 89.[28] Commercial corridors include the nightlife and dining focused on theSunset Strip, alongSanta Monica Boulevard, and the Avenues of Art and Design alongRobertson Boulevard,Melrose Avenue, andBeverly Boulevard.
Residential neighborhoods in West Hollywood include theNorma Triangle, West Hollywood North,West Hollywood West, West Hollywood East, and West Hollywood Heights, all of which are only a few blocks long or wide. Major intersecting streets typically provide amenities within walking distance of adjacent neighborhoods.
West Hollywood has a coolsemi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification:BSk) with a pronounced Mediterranean influence in its yearly precipitation patterns.
It possesses generally sunny, year-round mild to warm weather with generally moderate humidity moderated by thePacific Ocean, and occasional spells of high heat and very low humidity from inlandSanta Ana winds. The record high temperature of 111 °F was recorded on September 26, 1963, while the record low of 24 °F was recorded on January 4, 1949.Rainfall is sparse (only 13 inches annually) and falls almost entirely during the winter months, with no precipitation for months at a time during summer months being a common occurrence.Snow is extraordinarily rare in West Hollywood, with the last accumulation occurring in 1949.
| Climate data for West Hollywood, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) | 92 (33) | 91 (33) | 105 (41) | 101 (38) | 107 (42) | 102 (39) | 103 (39) | 111 (44) | 106 (41) | 100 (38) | 91 (33) | 111 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 69 (21) | 69 (21) | 73 (23) | 73 (23) | 77 (25) | 80 (27) | 81 (27) | 80 (27) | 77 (25) | 72 (22) | 68 (20) | 74 (23) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 46 (8) | 47 (8) | 49 (9) | 52 (11) | 56 (13) | 59 (15) | 62 (17) | 62 (17) | 61 (16) | 57 (14) | 51 (11) | 46 (8) | 54 (12) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 24 (−4) | 31 (−1) | 32 (0) | 32 (0) | 32 (0) | 43 (6) | 47 (8) | 49 (9) | 45 (7) | 40 (4) | 33 (1) | 30 (−1) | 24 (−4) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.19 (81) | 3.05 (77) | 2.66 (68) | 0.58 (15) | 0.26 (6.6) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.02 (0.51) | 0.07 (1.8) | 0.08 (2.0) | 0.33 (8.4) | 0.94 (24) | 1.90 (48) | 13.12 (333) |
| Source:[29] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 28,870 | — | |
| 1970 | 34,622 | 19.9% | |
| 1980 | 35,703 | 3.1% | |
| 1990 | 36,118 | 1.2% | |
| 2000 | 35,716 | −1.1% | |
| 2010 | 34,399 | −3.7% | |
| 2020 | 35,757 | 3.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[30] 1860–1870[31][32] 1880-1890[33] 1900[34] 1910[35] 1920[36] 1930[37] 1940[38] 1950[39] 1960[40][41] 1970[42] 1980[43] 1990[44]2000[45] 2010[46] 2020[47] | |||
West Hollywood first appeared as an unincorporated place in the1960 U.S. census as part of the Los Angeles census county division;[41] and then as acensus-designated place in the1980 United States census[43] and as a city in the1990 U.S. census[44]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[48] | Pop 2010[49] | Pop 2020[47] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 28,913 | 26,793 | 25,397 | 85.41% | 77.89% | 71.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 206 | 1,052 | 1,302 | 0.61% | 3.06% | 3.64% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 46 | 46 | 49 | 0.14% | 0.13% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 2,031 | 1,826 | 2,273 | 6.00% | 5.31% | 6.36% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 37 | 30 | 41 | 0.11% | 0.09% | 0.11% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 79 | 90 | 309 | 0.23% | 0.26% | 0.86% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 784 | 949 | 1,889 | 2.32% | 2.76% | 5.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,756 | 3,613 | 4,497 | 5.19% | 10.50% | 12.58% |
| Total | 33,852 | 34,399 | 35,757 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that West Hollywood had a population of 35,757. The population density was 18,939.1 inhabitants per square mile (7,312.4/km2). The racial makeup of West Hollywood was 73.8%White, 3.8%African American, 0.3%Native American, 6.5%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 4.8% fromother races, and 10.6% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.6% of the population.[50]
The census reported that 99.6% of the population lived in households, 0.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.1% were institutionalized.[50]
There were 23,576 households, out of which 5.1% included children under the age of 18, 16.3% were married-couple households, 9.7% werecohabiting couple households, 34.1% had a female householder with no partner present, and 39.8% had a male householder with no partner present. 59.7% of households were one person, and 13.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.51.[50] There were 5,351families (22.7% of all households).[51]
The age distribution was 4.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% aged 18 to 24, 48.9% aged 25 to 44, 26.3% aged 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.2 males.[50]
There were 25,821 housing units at an average density of 13,676.4 units per square mile (5,280.5 units/km2), of which 23,576 (91.3%) were occupied. Of these, 20.0% were owner-occupied, and 80.0% were occupied by renters.[50]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $94,844, and theper capita income was $88,026. About 9.2% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line.[52]
The2010 United States census[53] reported that West Hollywood had a population of 34,399. The population density was 18,225.6 inhabitants per square mile (7,036.9/km2). The racial makeup of West Hollywood was 28,979 (84.2%)White (77.9% Non-Hispanic White),[54] 1,115 (3.2%)African American, 103 (0.3%)Native American, 1,874 (5.4%)Asian, 34 (0.1%)Pacific Islander, 1,049 (3.0%) fromother races, and 1,245 (3.6%) from two or more races. There were 3,613 residents ofHispanic orLatino ancestry, of any race (10.5%).
The census reported that 34,290 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 109 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 22,511 households, out of which 1,141 (5.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,060 (13.6%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together, 852 (3.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 431 (1.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,094 (4.9%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1,321 (5.9%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 13,434 households (59.7%) were made up of individuals, and 2,606 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.52. There were 4,343families (19.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.42.
There were 1,578 residents (4.6%) under the age of 18, 2,407 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 16,228 (47.2%) aged 25 to 44, 9,061 (26.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,125 (14.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 129.9 males.
There were 24,588 housing units at an average density of 13,027.4 units per square mile (5,029.9 units/km2), of which 4,976 (22.1%) were owner-occupied, and 17,535 (77.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. 7,874 people (22.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 26,416 people (76.8%) lived in rental housing units.
During 2009–2013, West Hollywood had a median household income of $52,649, with 15.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[54]
As of 2019[update], gay men were 33% of the city's population; a 2013 survey had estimated the gay male population at 39%.[55][56]
According to the City's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[57] the top employers in the city were:
| No. | Employer | No. of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority | 559 |
| 2 | Target | 289 |
| 3 | CityGrid Media /InterActive Corp | 288 |
| 4 | City of West Hollywood | 240 |
| 5 | 1 OAK | 200 |
| 6 | Laz Parking | 200 |
| 7 | Pavilions | 180 |
| 8 | Argyle Hotel | 165 |
| 9 | Andaz West Hollywood | 161 |
| 10 | Whole Foods Market | 153 |
Under the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis, the city plans to issue 40 licenses to either operate a dispensary, consumption lounge or delivery service. Eight licenses are planned in each of the following categories:
State law does not allow local governments to regulate adults in growing, using, or transporting marijuana for personal use but commercial activities, such as growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction may be regulated by each city by licensing none or only some of these activities.[59] West Hollywood's first four dispensaries, Alternative Herbal Health Services, Los Angeles Patients and Caregivers Group, Zen Healing andMedMen WeHo, were granted temporary extensions in June 2019 to operate as retail businesses through the remainder of the year.[60][61]
In July 2019, the West Hollywood Business License Commission approved a cannabis consumption license forLowell Herb Co. In September 2019,Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe opened with a menu ofcannabis for consumption, THC-infused drinks and meals for cannabis-enhanced sense of taste and smell.[62] It is the first cannabis cafe in the United States and will include the expertise of cannabissommeliers, known as "budtenders" on site.[63][64]
On August 20, 2020, theOriginal Cannabis Cafe (previously known as The Lowell Cafe in West Hollywood) became America's first restaurant allowed to serve legal marijuana to open in California. It became one of eight establishments granted a cannabis consumption license in West Hollywood. There were reportedly over 300 applicants, and the Original Cannabis Cafe states it was granted the first license.[65]
Christopher Street West is an LGBTQ pride parade and festival that was first held in June 1970 inHollywood to commemorate the first anniversary of theStonewall Riots inManhattan. After incorporation, the event moved to West Hollywood for many years and was typically held the second weekend in June until it relocated back to the City of Los Angeles in 2022.[66]
The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is an event that takes place annually on October 31. Once a larger event, participation has dwindled dramatically since theCOVID-19 pandemic, further compounded by budgetary cuts from the city of West Hollywood, the event's sponsor.
The annual One City One Pride event was an LGBTQ Arts Festival held over a 40-day period from Harvey Milk Day, May 22 through the end of Pride Month, June 30.[67] In 2023, the "One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival" became the "WeHo Pride Arts Festival" to align with the new WeHo Pride brand. In 2024, the WeHo Pride Arts Festival downshifted from 40-days of programming to a unified weekend of programming from June 14 through June 16.[68]
Since 1993, the City of West Hollywood and its LGBTQ+ Advisory Board have presented over 173 Rainbow Key Awards to those who have made outstanding contributions to West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ community. These contributions, by an individual or a group, maybe in many forms, including the arts, community action, humanitarian action, sports, medicine, armed services, leadership potential, benefit to the global LGBTQ+ community, or other ways. Past honorees have includedBruce Vilanch, Abbe Land, Kenneth Hahn,Tom of Finland,Sheila Kuehl, David Cooley,Chaz Bono, West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, Project Angel Food,Jazzmun,[69][70][71] andNahshon Dion.[citation needed]
The West Hollywood Book Fair has been held in the fall since 2001. Past participants have included Andrew McCarthy, Deepak Chopra, and Rocco DiSpirito.[72]
FrontrunnersLGBT Pride Run is a 5 km/10 km run/walk held on the Sunday morning ofLGBT Pride.[citation needed]
The City of West Hollywood sponsors pet appreciation days including walks throughout the year, which have in the past featured pet psychics and dog activities. During Halloween, the week before October 31, animals can participate in a costume contest in West Hollywood Park. West Hollywood is nearRunyon Canyon Park's hiking trail and dog park in Hollywood.[citation needed]
TheElton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party has traditionally been held at thePacific Design Center. It is a multimillion-dollar fundraiser for the foundation.[73]
West Hollywood has many ongoing programs to celebrate the arts and culture of the city. The literary community is acknowledged with the year-round author series WeHo Reads, featuring new and noteworthy authors at the West Hollywood Library with a full-day literary event each fall.[74] An annual PowPow is presented by AIDS Project Los Angeles Red Circle Project and the City of West Hollywood. This event, held atPlummer Park promotes HIV awareness and prevention among the Native communities and features dance, music, food, and educational resources.[75]
West Hollywood inaugurated the first City Poet,Steven Reigns, during the regular City Council meeting on October 6, 2014.[76]
Pickle Drag Queen became West Hollywood's firstdrag laureate on International Drag Day, July 16, 2023.[77]
Approximately forty percent of the population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.[78] West Hollywood has become one of the world's top gay vacation spots for LGBTQ travelers and is at the center of gay California nightlife, including spas, shopping, and dining.[79]
The city maintains expansive historical records of the LGBTQ community. The West Hollywood Library has an extensive collection of LGBTQ records, literature, and history, including theJune L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, and the Ron Shipton HIV Information Center.[80] According to anLA Times article, the ONE Archives Gallery and Museum is the first museum in Southern California exclusively dedicated to gay history.[81]
In 2018, America's first city-wideBi Pride event was held in West Hollywood.[82]
The city government is headed by a five-member city council, including a Mayor and a Vice Mayor who serve one-year terms. The positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor are largely ceremonial positions which rotate between the councilmembers, and both positions are largely not re-elected in concurrent terms. However, councilmembers serve multiple non-concurrent terms in both offices. The five councilmembers are Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers, Vice MayorJohn Heilman, John M. Erickson, Lauren Meister, and Danny Hang.[83]
West Hollywood was the first city in the country to have a city council with a majority of gay members.[84][85]
With West Hollywood being one of the most prominent gay-friendly cities in the United States,Proposition 8 had a higher rate of rejection than it did in any other city in Los Angeles County: 86% of the city voted against the amendment, which restricted marriage to heterosexual couples.[86]
In theCalifornia State Legislature, West Hollywood is inthe 24th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Ben Allen, and inthe 51st Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Rick Zbur.[87]
On December 20, 2021, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission voted 14-0 in favor of a new state Assembly and Senate district maps and delivered those maps to the secretary of state on December 27, 2021. These maps take effect for California's 2022 state legislative elections, changing West Hollywood's Assembly District to AD 51 and Senate District to SD 24.[88]
In theUnited States House of Representatives, West Hollywood is inCalifornia's 30th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Laura Friedman.[89]
All of West Hollywood is part of theLos Angeles Unified School District.[90] The area is within Board District 4.[91]
Elementary schools that serve sections of West Hollywood include:
(Some areas jointly zoned to Rosewood and West Hollywood)
Most[citation needed] of West Hollywood is zoned toBancroft Middle School.[98] Some portions in the south[citation needed] are zoned toJohn Burroughs Middle School.[98] Students living in the Los Angeles area known asBeverly Hills Post Office,[citation needed] usually attend West Hollywood Elementary but then go toEmerson Middle School.[98]
In 2005 the zoned high school wasFairfax High School.[98]
Private Schools in West Hollywood:
All of West Hollywood is zoned toFairfax High School; some areas are jointly zoned to Fairfax High School andHollywood High School.
The Center for Early Education andPacific Hills School are private schools in West Hollywood.
Traffic congestion,public transport and parking are critical issues in the city due to its location between access to areas such asGreater Hollywood to the east and theSan Fernando Valley to the north and the area of the Los Angeles West Side, with theHollywood Hills creating a natural impediment to the north.Santa Monica Boulevard andSunset Boulevard are critical east-west arteries in the metropolitan area, andLaurel Canyon Boulevard is a popular shortcut through the hills. Nearly 600 employees and 260 buses in the District 7fleet of the LACMTA are based in a large facility on prime real estate nearSan Vicente Boulevard andSanta Monica Boulevard. TheK Line extension to theHollywood/Highland station is likely to pass through, or along, the edge of West Hollywood.[102]
In August 2013, the City of West Hollywood launched a free Friday and Saturday night shuttle, the PickUp, connecting the eastern and western parts of the city. The goal of The PickUp is to provide an alternative to the automobile and bring an energetic and playful transit option to one of West Hollywood's busiest nighttime districts.[103] The Public Relations Society of America Los Angeles Chapter (PRSA-LA) has recognized the City of West Hollywood with a PRism Award of Excellence in the category of New Product/Service Launch for the city's kick-off campaign for the PickUp.[104]
In June 2018, the City of West Hollywood launched a new free shuttle service called The Sunset Trip.[105] This service focuses on shuttling riders on Sunset Boulevard, but also crosses the PickUp shuttle route to allow transfers.
TheLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the West Hollywood Station.[106][107]
TheLos Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Hollywood-Wilshire Health Center inHollywood, serving West Hollywood.[108]
Fire protection in West Hollywood is provided by theLos Angeles County Fire Department. LACoFD operates Station 7, the battalion headquarters, and Station 8, both in West Hollywood, as a part of Battalion 1.[109]
Emergency Medical Services are provided by LACoFD and McCormick Ambulance.
 | This sectionrelies largely or entirely upon asingle source. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page. Please helpimprove this article by introducingcitations to additional sources at this section.(October 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
West Hollywood, with a gay male population of about 39%,[56] has been disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic which has ravaged its gay male population since the early 1980s. The city funds or subsidizes an array of services for those living withHIV orAIDS. TheAIDS Healthcare Foundation parks a Mobile HIV/STD testing van outside of the city's busiest nightclubs on Friday and Saturday nights, and again on Sunday afternoons. This outreach attempts to intervene with those young people most at-risk for HIV infection.Project Angel Food receives city funding to deliver hundreds of fresh lunches and dinners daily which are prepared under the supervision of a registered dietitian who tailors the meals to meet individual client's nutritional needs.AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) is a national leader for AIDS policy and advocacy issues and provides assistance to clients navigating the maze of available public benefits. APLA also provides free dental, psychotherapy and pharmaceutical services. Aid for AIDS provides direct financial support by assisting clients with rent, utility and pharmacy expenses. The city also subsidizes agencies that help clients train for a return to the workforce. The city permits all residents living with HIV/AIDS to have up to two pets in his or her home regardless of a landlord's specifications in the property's lease.[citation needed]
West Hollywood subsidizes programs for its growing population of children through a partnership with theUSDA and local schools. "Healthy Start West Hollywood" is a program of the city's Social Services division that introduces pre-Kindergarten through High School age kids to the benefits of good nutrition through such activities as collective vegetable gardens and yoga.[citation needed]
The special needs of senior citizens are addressed through a variety of programs. West Hollywood either funds or subsidizes agencies that offer adult day care, a roommate matching service, and nutritious meals. The West Hollywood Senior Center provides recreational programs, excursions, and socializing as well as counseling and case management.[citation needed]
West Hollywood also seeks to address the health needs of residents who do not have adequate insurance by subsidizing the LA Free Clinic and TheLos Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. Residents can access free medical, dental, legal and mental health services between these two sites.[citation needed]
The West Hollywood's Public Safety Division publishes guides on sexual assault prevention, nightclub safety, and how to access rape services.[110]
County of Los Angeles Public Library operates the West Hollywood Library at 625 North San Vicente Boulevard.[111]
Until early September 2011, the library was based at 715 North San Vicente Boulevard in a building designed by architectEdward H. Fickett. On September 6, 2011, the City demolished that building, which aroused controversy among some community members, including the architect's wife.[112][113][114]
The current library building officially opened to the public on October 1, 2011.[115] The building, which was designed by architects Steve Johnson and James Favaro, received a favorable review in theLos Angeles Times that ended by calling it "...a tremendously encouraging achievement".[116] Exterior surfaces of the library building and adjacent parking structure are decorated with murals byShepard Fairey,Kenny Scharf andMarquis Lewis (aka Retna), and the interior incorporates design work by Fairey andDavid Wiseman.[117]
The issue ofpaparazzi chasing celebrities is raised regularly and the city participates in meetings with other nearby municipalities such asBeverly Hills and Los Angeles to discuss the problem and possible actions to better control the activity. The epicenter of theThirty Mile Zone lies just blocks to the south of the city, and is the basis for the name ofTMZ on TV, a paparazzi footage-based program. TMZ moved their operations from Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards to Los Angeles.[118]
On May 28, 2018, Mayor John Duran announced thatStormy Daniels would receive the "Key to the City" alongside her attorney,Michael Avenatti. “In these politically tumultuous times, Stormy Daniels has proven herself to be a profile in courage by speaking truth to power even under threats to her safety and extreme intimidation from the current Administration”, said the mayor.[119]
ActressDrew Barrymore grew up on Poinsettia Place until the age of 7, when she moved to Sherman Oaks; she moved back to West Hollywood at the age of 14.[120]
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "West Hollywood, California" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Alta Loma Road is home to theSunset Marquis Hotel with its 45-personWhisky Bar and NightBird Recording Studios, an underground music production facility. Alta Loma Road was one of the main locations for the filmPerfect. ActorSal Mineo lived on Holloway Drive in the 1970s; he was murdered in his carport just around the corner from Alta Loma.[128]
The western stretch ofMelrose Avenue, betweenFairfax Avenue andDoheny Drive, is notable for its trendy clothing boutiques, interior design shops, restaurants and antique stores. The west end of Melrose Avenue, near thePacific Design Center, is especially known for its exclusive furniture.[citation needed]
The area around Fountain Avenue, Harper Avenue and Havenhurst Drive contains a high concentration of landmark 1920sSpanish Revival andArt Deco apartment buildings by such noted architects asLeland Bryant. This historic district has been home to many celebrities and at one time theSunset Tower at 8358 Sunset Boulevard was home toFrank Sinatra,Errol Flynn, theGabor sisters,John Wayne andHoward Hughes.[citation needed]
Notable business and attractions in West Hollywood include:
Sometime in the 1940s, a sign appeared over the bar atBarney's Beanery that said "FAGOTS [sic] – STAY OUT." The message so offended locals thatLife magazine did an article on opposition to the sign in 1964, which included a photograph of the owner steadfastly holding on to it.[132] The owner died in 1968, and efforts continued to have the sign removed. TheGay Liberation Front organized azap of the restaurant on February 7, 1970, to push for its removal. The sign disappeared that day.[133] The sign was put up and taken down several times over the next 14 years, but the practice ended in December 1984, days after the city voted itself into existence. The then-mayor,Valerie Terrigno, the entire city council and gay-rights activists marched into Barney's and relieved the wall of the sign.[134] It was held byMorris Kight for many years and now rests in theONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives.[citation needed]
Jewel-Thais Williams, who owned the bar Jewel's Catch One, originally opened the bar in 1973 because she experienced discrimination in both heterosexual bars and gay bars because she was both black and a woman.[135]
A resident drew national attention during the2008 presidential election by including aSarah Palinmannequin hung in effigy in aHalloween display. The home's decorations also featured a doll ofJohn McCain surrounded by decorative flames in the chimney. Residents identified the display as ahate crime, but theLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department stated the display did not violate any laws.[136]
In March 2006, agents fromImmigration and Customs Enforcement and theU.S. Secret Service seized 250fake denomination notes, each bearing a denomination of $1 billion, from a West Hollywood apartment.[137]
In 1982,John Belushi died of a drug overdose at theChateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood, adjacent to West Hollywood. On the night of his death, he was visited separately by friendsRobin Williams (at the height of his own drug exploits)[138] andRobert De Niro,[139] each of whom left the premises, leaving Belushi in the company of assorted others, includingCathy Smith.[citation needed]
On Halloween night in 1993, actorRiver Phoenix died at age 23 of a drug overdose atThe Viper Room, a club that was opened that year and was partly owned by actorJohnny Depp until 2004.[140]
On January 8, 2006, New Zealand film directorLee Tamahori, dressed as a woman, was arrested for allegedly offering an undercover police officer oral sex on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Lodi Place.[141] He was convicted only of criminal trespass, having pleaded no contest in exchange for other charges being dropped.[142]
On November 17, 2006, during a performance at theLaugh Factory, acell phone video capturedMichael Richards[143][144] shouting "Shut up" to a heckler in the audience, followed by repeated shouts of "He's anigger!" to the rest of the audience[145] (using the word six times altogether), and also making a reference tolynching.[146]
West Hollywood hasinclusionary zoning laws governing development. The city established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 1986[147] requiring developers to either provide affordable housing in new projects or pay a fee in-lieu to the city which it directs towards other affordable housing projects.[147]
In 1993 the West Hollywood City Council voted for West Hollywood to become the first official pro-choice city in America.[148]
In 2006, the City Council passed amedicinal marijuana resolution, by a vote of 4–0, making it the first city inSouthern California to adopt a lowest law enforcement priority law for cannabis offenses. The resolution stated, "it is not the policy of the City or its law enforcement agency to target possession of small amounts of cannabis and the consumption of non-medical cannabis in private by adults".[149][150]
West Hollywood adopted one of the nation's first mandatorygreen building ordinances on October 1, 2007.[151]
City legislation bans the sale of handguns, prohibits smoking in public places, and restricts the city from doing business directly or indirectly (via vendors) with any country known to violate human rights. The city has banned the use of gas-poweredleaf blowers.[152]
As of July 2023, West Hollywood has the country's highest minimum wage, at $19.08 per hour.[153]
West Hollywood has been an early adopter of legislation to protectanimal rights andwelfare. In 1989, the city declared itself a "cruelty free zone" and banned the use ofsteel-jaw traps andcosmetic testing on animals.[154] In 2001, it updated references to "pets" in city policy to "companions" and "owners" to "guardians".[155] In 2003, the city became the first in the United States to ban thedeclawing of cats.[156] In 2009, the city council passed a resolution supportingCalifornia's ban on foie gras, which it called a "product ofanimal torture," and distributed a copy of the resolution to all restaurants in the city that served foie gras.[157]
In 2010, West Hollywood became the first U.S. city to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats, including frompuppy mills.[158] In 2011, it became the first city to ban the sale of newfur products; the ban took effect in September 2013 and was upheld following a court challenge in May 2014.[159][160][161] In 2013, the city banned commercial displays and performances of wild and exotic animals,[162] and in 2023 it banned the sale and use of glue traps for rodent control.[163] In 2024, it adopted a policy requiring that city events and institutions serveplant-based foods by default and only offeranimal source foods on request.[164] Later that year, it endorsed thePlant Based Treaty to addressgreenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture.[165]
In 1985, West Hollywood was the first city to create a same-genderdomestic partnership registration for its residents, as well as to offer same-genderdomestic partner benefits for city employees. West Hollywood's Domestic Partnerships are open to any two adults, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, place of residence, or length of relationship.[166] These unions are treated on an equal basis with legal marriages with respect to city-level benefits and services.
Legislation prohibiting discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation is widely recognized as the toughest in the nation.[167] The city is one of 225 jurisdictions in the country where it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or expression.[168][169]
We lived on Poinsettia Place in a tiny duplex[...]. As an adult, I was determined to get back to headquarters, and I moved back to West Hollywood.
Places adjacent to West Hollywood, California | |
|---|---|
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
%2c_West_Hollywood.JPG)
