2025 Annual Westside Mayors Forum

Participating Mayors

• Mayor Chelsea Byers, City of West Hollywood 

• Mayor Lana Negrete, City of Santa Monica

• Mayor Dan O'Brien, City of Culver City

• Mayor Lester Friedman, City of Beverly Hills

Moderator

• Jeff Hall, Founder of the Brentwood News

WUF proudly presented our annual Westside Mayors Forum, bringing together mayors of the Westside cities for a discussion of their land use priorities for 2025 and the ways cities are responding to immediate and long-term challenges, including: 

• The regional response to the Palisades and Eaton Fires, including increased pressure on the housing market

• Climate resilience: how the Westside cities are preparing for the impacts of a changing climate including extreme heat, drought, flooding, and wildfires

• Federal funding in the current political landscape; 

• How sanctuary city, social and racial equity, and land use policies may potentially be impacted; 

• Local sustainability, including reducing emissions and addressing water insecurity and stormwater management;

• infrastructure improvements

• Prepare for major international events including the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and Olympics in 2028;

• Reducing homelessness and increasing access to safe and affordable housing, in collaboration with federal and local partners; Address the large inventory of vacant office and commercial spaces, including potential conversion to housing;

• Collaborate with lawmakers in Sacramento on land use, housing, water, infrastructure, and disaster recovery policies.