Public confidence in the political process at all levels of government is abysmally low. We suspect, with good reason in too many cases, that decisions are made not for the public's benefit but to advance the interests of those with enough money to buy influence. Even at the local level, where the stakes are lower in terms of money, but often high in regard to the impact on our lives, suspicions abound that policy matters are unduly influenced by campaign and other contributions to elected officials.

The pool of candidates is too limited by virtue of the process for electing officials. Ordinary citizens, for whom our system of government was designed and counted upon are kept out of the political process. Most people do not want to go through the endless cycle of raising funds to run for office. Most members of the city of West Hollywood Council report this is a nearly constant process and is unecessarily demaning.

To restore confidence and improve decision making we need to adopt laws similar to those in Pasadena and Santa Monica, among others.

We urge the adoption of:

1. Public Campaign Financing and reform. We need public financing of campaigns to remove the need to raise large sums from developers and those intent on changing our city into Manhattan.  We believe that the pressures placed upon those running for elected office to raise campaign funds inevitably poisons the political process. The large sums of money now felt necessary to be elected to the Council raising in excess of $150,000 to run necessarily makes office holders beholden to the highest bidder. The voice of the average resident is ignored in favor of those who pay to elect our Council.
2. Ethics Reform. In addition to campaign financing reform, we need a strong ethics law that would prevent any member of the City Council and its boards and commissions from voting on any matter in which a person or organization who has given money to that member has an interest. We ask that this Council voluntarily make this pledge today.
3. This City is unique in that it was founded for the very purpose of serving the residents. This purpose has become subverted to favor business development over neighborhoods and residents. Examples abound throughout the city and each of you no doubt has your own example in mind. We ask that they city be returned to its RESIDENTS and that the sale to the highest bidder stop now!

The purpose of this group of residents known as Take Back WeHo is to bring us together for fundamental reforms. We will be an effective and vocal participant in the upcoming elections in March 2007.

• We ask all candidates running for city Council this coming May to endorse our platform for reform, both campaign financing and ethics reform. Our position is that only candidates genuinely committed to our positions should be elected to the Council.

This is grassroots.  It's about what you can do. Contribute your e-mail list, organize your block, speak at council meetings, or help us raise awareness. We want to provide residents with ways to communicate and organize block by block to meet the onslaught of money that will be thrown into campaign flyers an mailings. We have what no money can buy: YOU the alert, energized and committed residents of West Hollywood.

Join with us. Register on this site for news alerts and opportunities to take action. Volunteer to participate in the upcoming campaigns.

Affordable housing has rapidly declined in recent years with a significant percentage of such rental units being converted to condo developments and other projects taking them out of the affordable housing stock. We are losing 8 units of affordable housing for every new one created. This will radically change the very nature of our city and flies in the face of why we came into being.

In part this is the result of state-wide legislation. But it is also a result of decisions made by our City government which have encouraged large developments. We have seen decision after decision, even by some of our leaders who talk the talk of affordable housing but who end up voting in favor of developers and those who pay for their election campaigns.

The influence of these developers and campaign contributors, nearly all of whom reside outside West Hollywood and are only interested in how much money they can make here is undeniable. Most amazing is the fact that while members of the boards and commissions of the City are prohibited from participating in any decision in which they have any financial interest, members of the City Council have no such prohibition.

Our City Code has only the most primitive provisions regarding campaign financing and ethics. In fact, we have virtually no ethics provisions at all to regulate the conduct of our elected officials. It is time to change this now.

Decisions made by our City Council must be made on the basis of what is good for the residents of the city. They must be free of the influence that money given to Council members brings. The “for sale” sign must be taken down from City Hall.

We demand that the City Council pass comprehensive campaign financing reforms this year, in time for the March 2007 City Council elections. 

In adopting such a voluntary pledge the Council can begin to reassure the residents of this city that they will fairly and honestly represent our interests.  They will show in deeds what they claim in words. We demand that the City of West Hollywood be returned to its residents.

We urge everyone to join our campaign to take back Weho. Register now and remove the stench of big money from our government.