Election Day is right around the corner -- Tuesday, November 3rd. But remember, early voting is happening now! Please try to vote EARLY! The City is encouraging residents to vote safely at home and to either mail or drop off their Vote-By-Mail ballot. There are three Vote-By-Mail Drop Boxes in the City. The boxes are located at City Hall, Plummer Park, and the West Hollywood Library. Voters will also have the option of going to any Vote Center in Los Angeles County to cast their vote or to drop off their Vote-By-Mail Ballot as well. Plummer Park-Fiesta Hall will be a Vote Center for this upcoming election beginning October 30th through Election Day, November 3rd. You can also vote in-person on Election Day at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel and the Iranian American Jewish Federation Sapper Hall. Besides this being an important Presidential election, there are also two West Hollywood City Council seats on the line. Please do your homework - candidates have different views about the direction of the city.

As you all know, COVID is still with us, and we need to continue to follow LA County and city guidelines. According to public health officials, the best protection against COVID-19 continues to be:

• Wash your hands frequently, 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, 
• Self-isolate if you are sick, 
• Practice physical distancing, and 
• Wear a clean face covering when in contact with others from outside your household. 

For more information and county updates, visit LA County's Public Health website: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

To access information on resources for residents, tenants and businesses in the City of West Hollywood, visit the City's website here. 

Even though it's October, the summer heat is still with us as well. For tips on Coping with High-Heat Days during Safer At Home Orders, click here. If you have immediate concerns about the impact of hot weather on yourself or a loved one in the City of West Hollywood, the City’s Social Services Division may be able to coordinate assistance for community members who are older adults or are vulnerable to high-heat conditions. Please call (323) 848-6510 for information.

How about some good news?

What follows are some initiatives I sponsored or co-sponsored third quarter of 2020 that were adopted by Council...

COVID-related:

• Sponsorship of a Panel Discussion on Novel Coronavirus - directed staff to organize a panel discussion about the COVID-19 health pandemic — what is known about the virus, the current response, and future outlook. This virtual event took place on September 23, 2020. You can watch it here.
• Additional Protections for Renters with Companion Animals - directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to clarify that renters are protected from eviction based on the presence of either permanent or temporary companion animals under their care during the COVID-19 emergency; directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to require all publicly-funded housing to allow companion animals in their facilities and housing units for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency and encourage the City’s service providers offering supportive housing, transitional housing, and shared housing to adopt pet-friendly policies during the COVID-19 emergency; and, directed the City Attorney to analyze the development of an ordinance requiring all rental units in the City to be pet-friendly housing. Also directed staff to partner with local nonprofit organizations to provide grants for emergency boarding during COVID-19 hospitalizations or recovery. Thank you Councilmember Duran for asking me to co-sponsor.
• Healthy Living Tips During Covid-19 - directed staff to post weekly healthy living tips on the City’s social media channels during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The healthy living tips are intended to encourage community members to take small steps towards increasing overall health and well-being during this period.
• Notice and Signage Regarding COVID-19 Health Orders and Protocols - directed staff to send a notice to property owners, home sharing license holders, hotels, homeowners associations, local realtors, management companies, and other similar stakeholders informing them of the current County public health orders that ban gatherings and require masks and social distancing while in public. This item also included requiring signage with this information to be posted in highly visible areas in apartments, condominiums, hotels, and home sharing sites (including the online posting). Thank you Councilmember D'Amico for co-sponsoring.

Quality of Life:

• Financial Literacy  - directed staff to develop a program to increase financial literacy among older adults, specifically focusing on retirement planning and budgeting on a fixed income. 
• Subsidized Recreation Programming for Low Income Households - directed staff to evaluate creating a program for low-income households to participate in recreation programming in West Hollywood at a subsidized rate.    

Public Safety / Social Justice:

• Proposal to Conduct a Report on Policing in West Hollywood - directed staff to hire an independent expert in policing to review best practices and provide recommendations to promote justice and equity in policing. Thank you Councilmember D'Amico for co-sponsoring.

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Remember:

• Stay at home as much as possible.
• If you leave your home, wear a facial covering or mask. The City of West Hollywood requires the use of cloth face coverings (or masks) in public.
• Practice social distancing.
• The City will post updates on its Coronavirus info page and encourages community members to follow @wehocity on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and turn on notifications for up-to-date information regarding details in the City of West Hollywood.  

For City News and Top Stories, check out the City's website. For upcoming City meetings and events, check out the City Calendar. For the latest City Council meeting agenda, visit the WeHoTV page on the City's website.

You can follow me @meister4weho on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Opinions are my own and not necessarily official city positions.

Stay safe!