Wednesday, August 26, 2009
GENERAL DEMOGRAPHICS
This data was taken from the 2000 Census and data as reported in the West Hollywood Speaks Community Report from 2006, which is a random survey of 4,000 West Hollywood Citizens conducted in November 2005.
Population: about 36,000*
Breakdown by target population
Gay/Bisexual Men: 39%
Seniors: 21%
Families with children: 7%
Immigrants from former Soviet Union: 8%
Women: 43%
Households affected by HIV/AIDS: 10%
People living with disabilities: 23%
Breakdown by ethnicity
African-American: 2%
Latino/Latina: 5%
Other Anglo/White/Caucasian: 87%
Pacific Islander: 4%
Other: 1%
Gender
Male: 57%
Female: 43%
Transgender: 1%
Age
18 - 24: 2%
25 - 34: 18%
35 - 44: 27%
45 - 54: 18%
55 - 64: 14%
65 - 80: 16%
80+: 5%
Income
Less than $25,000: 24%
$25,000 - $49,000: 22%
$50,000 - $99,000: 31%
$100,000+: 23%
* According to 2000 census, the population was 35,716. West Hollywood has experienced an average growth rate of 1.15% each decade since 1980, so the projected population for 2010 would be roughly 36,109.
West Hollywood has large gay, and Russian Immigrant populations. These populations are prevalent in the community. The presence of the gay population is made visible by the display of rainbow flags, the many gay bars, and an empty store front that used to be “A Different Light Bookstore.” “A Different Light Bookstore” carried Gay & Lesbian literature, books, magazines, and movies. The Russian population is made visible by the Russian transcription on store fronts along Santa Monica Blvd and monuments in Plummer Park.
Representation of the two most prevalent populations in West Hollywood:
Population: about 36,000*
Breakdown by target population
Gay/Bisexual Men: 39%
Seniors: 21%
Families with children: 7%
Immigrants from former Soviet Union: 8%
Women: 43%
Households affected by HIV/AIDS: 10%
People living with disabilities: 23%
Breakdown by ethnicity
African-American: 2%
Latino/Latina: 5%
Other Anglo/White/Caucasian: 87%
Pacific Islander: 4%
Other: 1%
Gender
Male: 57%
Female: 43%
Transgender: 1%
Age
18 - 24: 2%
25 - 34: 18%
35 - 44: 27%
45 - 54: 18%
55 - 64: 14%
65 - 80: 16%
80+: 5%
Income
Less than $25,000: 24%
$25,000 - $49,000: 22%
$50,000 - $99,000: 31%
$100,000+: 23%
* According to 2000 census, the population was 35,716. West Hollywood has experienced an average growth rate of 1.15% each decade since 1980, so the projected population for 2010 would be roughly 36,109.
West Hollywood has large gay, and Russian Immigrant populations. These populations are prevalent in the community. The presence of the gay population is made visible by the display of rainbow flags, the many gay bars, and an empty store front that used to be “A Different Light Bookstore.” “A Different Light Bookstore” carried Gay & Lesbian literature, books, magazines, and movies. The Russian population is made visible by the Russian transcription on store fronts along Santa Monica Blvd and monuments in Plummer Park.
Representation of the two most prevalent populations in West Hollywood:
BOUNDARIES
The City of West Hollywood has odd geographical boundaries due to forming from what was an unincorporated area of Los Angeles. To the west is the very affluent Beverly Hills while to the east is the historical lower class Hollywood neighborhood. Upon entering the city, we feel an immediate sense of pride emanating from the small, approximately two square mile city. The atmosphere of West Hollywood transforms from rainbow pride flags in the west of the city to rundown strip malls lettered in Russian store signs in the east.
To the west, West Hollywood appears vibrant and lively with cafes, bars and clubs:
To the east, West Hollywood is primarily a Russian community and is mostly made up of strip malls with small shops:
The city has two very different cultures, one of a strong LGBT community and the other of former USSR immigrants. In the past, the residents were also the same people employed in the community. However as housing prices skyrocket, more and more of the former residents are forced to move east to Hollywood while commuting to their West Hollywood workplaces. The trend appears to be that second generation immigrants move out of West Hollywood to the Valley, leaving behind their elderly parents who then rely heavily on the social services provided by the city.
* Boundaries identified by people who live in West Hollywood
- Doheny to the west, La Brea to the east and Sunset to the north with a bizarre spattering in the south.
- Gay friendly community vs. not as gay friendly community.
- Russian speaking community vs. non-Russian speaking community.
* Boundaries identified by people who do not live in West Hollywood
- Colorful, flashy nightclubs
- Very affluent area
- High end retail shops
- Sex shops
- Lack of awareness to the prevalent Russian community
A map of West Hollywood:
To the west, West Hollywood appears vibrant and lively with cafes, bars and clubs:
To the east, West Hollywood is primarily a Russian community and is mostly made up of strip malls with small shops:
The city has two very different cultures, one of a strong LGBT community and the other of former USSR immigrants. In the past, the residents were also the same people employed in the community. However as housing prices skyrocket, more and more of the former residents are forced to move east to Hollywood while commuting to their West Hollywood workplaces. The trend appears to be that second generation immigrants move out of West Hollywood to the Valley, leaving behind their elderly parents who then rely heavily on the social services provided by the city.
* Boundaries identified by people who live in West Hollywood
- Doheny to the west, La Brea to the east and Sunset to the north with a bizarre spattering in the south.
- Gay friendly community vs. not as gay friendly community.
- Russian speaking community vs. non-Russian speaking community.
* Boundaries identified by people who do not live in West Hollywood
- Colorful, flashy nightclubs
- Very affluent area
- High end retail shops
- Sex shops
- Lack of awareness to the prevalent Russian community
A map of West Hollywood:
MUTUAL AID
The city of West Hollywood has a great and extensive Social Service Guide that is available to all residents. This Guide is always current, reprinted several times a year as service providers and volunteer opportunities are added or deleted. In this guide, community members are given a list of services ranging from financial support to mental health services. Unfortunately, many of these services do not have offices within West Hollywood. Examples include financial assistance from the Department of Public Social Services and mental health services such as Cedars Sinai Mental Health Although the printed guide is English only, contact numbers are provided for information in Russian and Spanish.
Residents can also seek out services or assistance at the West Hollywood City Hall. City Hall is open to the general public and residents of West Hollywood to aid in areas such as public housing assistance and business permits. The city also houses several community centers including the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park. The Gay and Lesbian Center that sits just outside West Hollywood’s borders also provides endless services to “WeHo” residents. Both of these centers offer a gamut of services for all ages, from children to the elderly.
Aside from formal services, residents of West Hollywood turn to their neighbors and friends for mutual aid. Word of mouth is an excellent form of aid used among the Russian-speaking community of senior citizens. They inform each other of important dates and when food coupons are available at the West Hollywood Community Center.
Residents can also seek out services or assistance at the West Hollywood City Hall. City Hall is open to the general public and residents of West Hollywood to aid in areas such as public housing assistance and business permits. The city also houses several community centers including the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park. The Gay and Lesbian Center that sits just outside West Hollywood’s borders also provides endless services to “WeHo” residents. Both of these centers offer a gamut of services for all ages, from children to the elderly.
Aside from formal services, residents of West Hollywood turn to their neighbors and friends for mutual aid. Word of mouth is an excellent form of aid used among the Russian-speaking community of senior citizens. They inform each other of important dates and when food coupons are available at the West Hollywood Community Center.
LOCAL FACILITIES
Few of West Hollywood’s social service agencies are located within city limits, but instead are located in nearby areas of Los Angeles, such as western Hollywood. Although these locations are less convenient for some clients than locations in West Hollywood would be, they are largely accessible by bus. Some agencies, such as the West Hollywood Comprehensive Service Center, provide services so rare (Russian-speaking case managers for seniors, in this case), that they draw clients from as far away as Long Beach, so a location within West Hollywood proper is perhaps less critical.
West Hollywood features a number of shopping areas, including along Robertson Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, and Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards. Much of the retail along these corridors comprise high-end clothing and furniture retailers, along with restaurants and bars with outdoor sidewalk seating. Storefronts along Santa Monica Boulevard, and especially along the western half of, around Robertson Boulevard, offer goods and services specifically targeted to the LGBT community.
The supermarkets in town include Ralph’s Fresh Fare and Bristol Farms on Beverly Boulevard, and Pavilions and Gelson’s on Santa Monica Boulevard. We visited the last two, and found them to have a good selection of food. Much was made of the Pavilions in our conversations with local residents and others in the community; it opened last month to much fanfare (and free food giveaways), and it is very attractively designed. Notably, all four of these supermarkets are upscale brands, with higher-priced groceries. The lack of more economically priced stores might be a hindrance to lower-income residents moving to the city, or to seniors and others on a fixed income.
There is a public library in central West Hollywood, near the Sheriff’s Station, and it is in good repair, and offers free WiFi. Banks/ATM machines are located along Santa Monica Boulevard as well. West Hollywood has two public elementary schools (which have a total enrollment of less than 500), but for junior high and high school, students attend LAUSD schools in the surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located in the heart of West Hollywood on Beverly Blvd. and is first class, comprehensive medical and wellness facility. There are over 2,000 physicians at cedar Sinai from almost every clinical specialty. The hospital employs a total of 10,000 people and consistently recruits 2,000 volunteers. The Cedars-Sinai website has a page outlining how it cares for the vulnerable and underserved populations in and around Los Angeles. The hospital also has extensive services for seniors which it outlines on its website as well.
The West Hollywood city hall is the go-to place for residents and business owners in Los Angeles. The city hall has an active schedule of advisory board and committee meetings. Agendas from these boards are posted on a regular basis. The city services offered through the city hall range from information on animal control and care, to information on domestic partnerships, recycling and a host of social service agencies.
There does not appear to be a courthouse within the city of West Hollywood. During the Community Immersion program the West Hollywood sheriff mentioned that people arrested or charged in West Hollywood were then sent to the Beverly Hills or the Los Angeles courthouse.
It appears that every single gas station chain has representation in the city of West Hollywood. The Sunset strip, Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Ave are all destination points. Therefore, gas stations are in high demand in West Hollywood. Finally, there are two public bus transportation systems in the city of West Hollywood. There is the Metro Rapid Line that just travels East and West along Santa Monica Blvd. There is also the City Line that travels East and West but also veers off into smaller side streets. This line travels to Cedar Sinai Medical Center. Both lines seem to go as far East as Highland and continue to travel west past Doheny. A complete map of the West Hollywood public transit system can be found here. There is also a free transportation service called “Dial a Ride” for senior citizen and disabled residents of West Hollywood.
West Hollywood features a number of shopping areas, including along Robertson Boulevard, Melrose Avenue, and Santa Monica and Sunset boulevards. Much of the retail along these corridors comprise high-end clothing and furniture retailers, along with restaurants and bars with outdoor sidewalk seating. Storefronts along Santa Monica Boulevard, and especially along the western half of, around Robertson Boulevard, offer goods and services specifically targeted to the LGBT community.
The supermarkets in town include Ralph’s Fresh Fare and Bristol Farms on Beverly Boulevard, and Pavilions and Gelson’s on Santa Monica Boulevard. We visited the last two, and found them to have a good selection of food. Much was made of the Pavilions in our conversations with local residents and others in the community; it opened last month to much fanfare (and free food giveaways), and it is very attractively designed. Notably, all four of these supermarkets are upscale brands, with higher-priced groceries. The lack of more economically priced stores might be a hindrance to lower-income residents moving to the city, or to seniors and others on a fixed income.
There is a public library in central West Hollywood, near the Sheriff’s Station, and it is in good repair, and offers free WiFi. Banks/ATM machines are located along Santa Monica Boulevard as well. West Hollywood has two public elementary schools (which have a total enrollment of less than 500), but for junior high and high school, students attend LAUSD schools in the surrounding Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located in the heart of West Hollywood on Beverly Blvd. and is first class, comprehensive medical and wellness facility. There are over 2,000 physicians at cedar Sinai from almost every clinical specialty. The hospital employs a total of 10,000 people and consistently recruits 2,000 volunteers. The Cedars-Sinai website has a page outlining how it cares for the vulnerable and underserved populations in and around Los Angeles. The hospital also has extensive services for seniors which it outlines on its website as well.
The West Hollywood city hall is the go-to place for residents and business owners in Los Angeles. The city hall has an active schedule of advisory board and committee meetings. Agendas from these boards are posted on a regular basis. The city services offered through the city hall range from information on animal control and care, to information on domestic partnerships, recycling and a host of social service agencies.
There does not appear to be a courthouse within the city of West Hollywood. During the Community Immersion program the West Hollywood sheriff mentioned that people arrested or charged in West Hollywood were then sent to the Beverly Hills or the Los Angeles courthouse.
It appears that every single gas station chain has representation in the city of West Hollywood. The Sunset strip, Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Ave are all destination points. Therefore, gas stations are in high demand in West Hollywood. Finally, there are two public bus transportation systems in the city of West Hollywood. There is the Metro Rapid Line that just travels East and West along Santa Monica Blvd. There is also the City Line that travels East and West but also veers off into smaller side streets. This line travels to Cedar Sinai Medical Center. Both lines seem to go as far East as Highland and continue to travel west past Doheny. A complete map of the West Hollywood public transit system can be found here. There is also a free transportation service called “Dial a Ride” for senior citizen and disabled residents of West Hollywood.
SOCIAL CONTROL
The types of social control exhibited within West Hollywood are very similar all the other services within the city. The city of West Hollywood contracts out its police services to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. They are the main social control facilitator from a law enforcement standpoint. The area is also governed by a set of and laws. With the vibrant nightlife and revenue associated with it there is some leeway as far as some laws are concerned. Therefore another factor of social control are the people and inhabitants of the city itself.
In West Hollywood, the local law enforcement officials at the Sheriff’s Department maintain social control. They are contracted with the city of West Hollywood to be the main police enforcement agency within the city. Additionally, neighborhood watch, community policing and outreach, and a high number of non-profit and community groups all serve and protect various populations within West Hollywood's city limits. Many populations also have their own set of norms and policies to police their territory. In particular, some of the elderly and Russian immigrant groups are very close knit and use social pressure to maintain control over their turf.
West Hollywood has a very noticeable police presence within the city. They cruise Sunset Blvd. to control drag racing, but they are also viably accessible from places like the downtown shops to the new Target/Best Buy Center. During city events, the West Hollywood Police come out to maintain order. Because the area that their Sheriff's Department serves is only 1.9 square miles wide, the WHSD is able to maintain a strong visual and community presence within West Hollywood.
Notice the city's unique shape and rainbow-colored logo on the car door.
In West Hollywood, the local law enforcement officials at the Sheriff’s Department maintain social control. They are contracted with the city of West Hollywood to be the main police enforcement agency within the city. Additionally, neighborhood watch, community policing and outreach, and a high number of non-profit and community groups all serve and protect various populations within West Hollywood's city limits. Many populations also have their own set of norms and policies to police their territory. In particular, some of the elderly and Russian immigrant groups are very close knit and use social pressure to maintain control over their turf.
West Hollywood has a very noticeable police presence within the city. They cruise Sunset Blvd. to control drag racing, but they are also viably accessible from places like the downtown shops to the new Target/Best Buy Center. During city events, the West Hollywood Police come out to maintain order. Because the area that their Sheriff's Department serves is only 1.9 square miles wide, the WHSD is able to maintain a strong visual and community presence within West Hollywood.
Notice the city's unique shape and rainbow-colored logo on the car door.
SOCIAL NETWORKS
The city of West Hollywood is comprised of a number of social networks. In our walks around the city and meetings with city officials and community leaders, we found there to be three major groups that stood out as representative of West Hollywood: The LGBT community, the elderly Russian immigrant community, and the homeless population. These networks are somewhat interwoven yet also segregated in some ways. We noticed an obvious divide between stores and restaurants that seemed to be owned and frequented by the LGBT community and those associated with the Russian community as we rode the bus along Sunset Boulevard. However, we also noticed homeless people sharing space in a local park with a number of older Russian men who were engaged in games of cards and dominoes. These groups are interwoven into the identity of West Hollywood in more complex ways as well. Several local residents mentioned that the city's population more than doubles on weekend nights because of the large number of people who are drawn there by the nightlife, a good percentage of which caters to the LGBT community. The nightlife has also helped West Hollywood to become a desirable place to live, and property values have increased accordingly. This increase has affected the homeless population because of the increased pressure on law enforcement to regulate the presence of homeless people in an affluent community. The Russian population is also shifting, as the original immigrants are aging and their children have grown and left the community for the most part. West Hollywood seems to be a complex and interesting place and it will be interesting to see how the social networks that form the community mature, develop, and interact, and how these factors shape the future identity of West Hollywood.
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