John M. Erickson, the Mayor of West Hollywood, in Paris

John M. Erickson, the dynamic mayor of West Hollywood, recently arrived in Paris for the Olympic Games. Accompanied by his team, he immersed himself in this global event with a clear objective: to gather valuable information to refine the city’s preparations for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Erickson and his team explored the bustling streets of Paris in search of innovative ideas and best practices to integrate into West Hollywood. Their mission? To ensure that the city is ready to successfully host this monumental event.

Elected to the West Hollywood City Council on November 3, 2020, John M. Erickson is committed to building a community that celebrates diversity and tolerance. Among his priorities are the creation of affordable housing, the protection of tenant rights, and the reduction of traffic through alternative transportation solutions. But that’s not all! The mayor is also a strong advocate for combating climate change, promoting sustainability initiatives that will give West Hollywood a greener future.

约翰·M·埃里克森（John M. Erickson），是西好莱坞充满活力的市长，他最近抵达巴黎参加奥林匹克运动会。在他的团队陪同下，他全心沉浸式体验这一全球盛事，他们的目标非常明确：收集巴黎奥运的有关信息，以完善为2028年洛杉矶奥运会的准备工作。埃里克森和他的团队在巴黎的街道上寻找可以融入西好莱坞的创新理念和最佳实践，以确保为成功举办2028年奥运这一重要活动做好准备。

约翰·M·埃里克森于2020年11月3日当选西好莱坞市议会市长，他致力于建设一个倡导多样性和宽容的社区。他的优先项目包括创建市民可负担得起的住房、保护租户权利和通过不同替代交通解决方案减少市区交通拥堵。但这还不是全部！市长还是抗击气候变化的坚定倡导者，推动可持续发展倡议，为建设西好莱坞的绿色未来铺平道路。

Exclusive meeting with

the Mayor of West Hollywood,

John M. Erickson

What are you doing in Paris?

Since my arrival on Tuesday, I have had the opportunity to explore Paris and enjoy a truly enriching experience. I was fortunate to attend several Olympic events and witness how the city prepared to host these Games. I watched artistic swimming and women’s basketball. In addition to the sporting competitions, I familiarized myself with the Paris transport system, particularly the subway, which is very efficient. I took the time to enjoy everything that Paris offers its visitors. The food here is simply wonderful, the wine is exquisite, and all the elements that make this city so beautiful have been captivating. My stay in Paris has also allowed me to gather many interesting ideas on how we can leverage arts and culture, particularly through various installations. I am actively focusing on how I can take the inspirations I observed here in Paris and bring them back to Los Angeles and West Hollywood.

During the Olympic Games, Paris became a car-free city, allowing people to walk and bike. Do you like this initiative?

I love it! Yesterday, I rode my bike everywhere. Personally, I dislike driving in Los Angeles, but unfortunately, you often have to drive a lot there. I try to use public transport as much as possible and prefer to walk or bike in West Hollywood. In Paris, it’s so easy for me to hop on a bike. I really enjoyed it!

So what can you tell us about West Hollywood?

When we mention Hollywood, West Hollywood is usually the first city that comes to mind. This city is known for its iconic brands and attractions, particularly in the fields of fashion and culture. Notable places such as Melrose Avenue, Sunset Strip, and Santa Monica Boulevard, add to its charm. West Hollywood is primarily an LGBTQ+ city with an incredibly diverse community. It considers itself the cultural capital of Los Angeles.

Is it easy to live in West Hollywood?

West Hollywood is a city with about 35,000 residents. But every evening, our population increases significantly. We can go from 35,000 to maybe 45,000 or 50,000 people. Everyone comes to West Hollywood to enjoy dinner, attend concerts, or stay in our hotels. The city is always lively. We have a vibrant nightlife that attracts people from all over the Los Angeles area. Even though getting around LA can be a challenge, people still want to be in West Hollywood. In West Hollywood, we strive to keep costs as low as possible by providing housing for those who live, work, and have fun here. We focus on building as much as possible in West Hollywood so that more people can come and experience the city. One thing we discussed earlier is that with the introduction of several new airlines offering direct flights from Paris to Los Angeles, the cost is now comparable to traveling to other destinations like Miami, New York, or San Francisco. This makes West Hollywood even more accessible for international visitors.

What do you plan to do for the Olympic Games in four years?

I want our project in West Hollywood to reflect each of us. The Olympic Games are not just about sports; they are also a celebration of diversity and community. We must seize the opportunities presented by the presence of Pride House in West Hollywood. We need to position ourselves as a welcoming home for all LGBTQ+ athletes, their families, and the communities wishing to celebrate this richness and diversity. My vision is to make West Hollywood the capital of arts and culture for the Olympic Games. With all the movie stars and studios present in and around West Hollywood, it is essential to capitalize on this drawing power.

So what are your projects for the 2028 Olympic Games?

We’re primarily working with Pride House to transform it into the LGBT cultural center for the Olympic Games. We will launch a call for proposals to attract organizations and artists who will contribute to the diversity and integration of our artistic scene in West Hollywood. Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels included and represented, especially within the LGBTQ community. I saw that in Paris, they managed to create spaces and activities related to the Olympic Games, and I think we should replicate that in Los Angeles.

In an unstable world marked by war and pollution, could the Olympic Games offer an opportunity to promote a new way of living together on our planet?

The Olympic Games indeed have the power to bring together communities from around the world in a unique setting. In the current context, it is important to consider the environmental challenges our planet faces. How can we ensure that the Olympic Games are sustainable and contribute to achieving environmental goals? West Hollywood is a city that promotes walking and is committed to sustainability. The commitment of the Games goes beyond just investing in greener infrastructure; it also involves minimizing the environmental impact of such a large-scale event. It is therefore essential that we all focus on how we can leave this Earth in better condition.

What is the real importance of the Olympic Games for you?

The Olympic Games hold a profound meaning that encompasses community, cultural, and sporting aspects. They celebrate excellence in sports and pay tribute to athletes who possess that special magic. But beyond that, the Olympic Games are also a celebration of community and culture. The Olympic Games are also an opportunity for cultural exchanges, allowing new people to experience new cities and present new ideas about the future. Traveling in general allows you to meet others, visit different cities or countries, and understand something different from yourself. This experience helps you better understand other perspectives and the world as a whole. I believe this is one of the true benefits of the Olympic Games. For me, the true meaning of the Olympic Games lies in celebrating sporting excellence, valuing culture and community, and fostering cultural exchanges.

您在巴黎做什么？

自从我抵达巴黎以来，我便开始了解巴黎，体验了一次真正丰富的感受。我有幸参加了几场奥林匹克赛事，亲眼目睹了这座城市为举办这些运动会所做的措施。我观看了花样游泳和女子篮球比赛。除了体育比赛，我还感受了巴黎的交通系统，特别是地铁，非常高效。我还有时间享受巴黎为游客提供的一切。这里的食物太美妙，葡萄酒非常精致，所有使这座城市如此美丽的元素都让我着迷。我的巴黎之行还让我收集了许多有用的想法，特别是通过各种装置如何展示艺术和文化。我正在思考如何将我在巴黎观察到的灵感带回洛杉矶和西好莱坞。

在奥林匹克运动会期间，巴黎成为了一座无车城市，让人们可以步行和骑自行车, 您喜欢这个举措吗？

我非常喜欢！我骑着自行车在巴黎到处走。就我个人而言，我不喜欢在洛杉矶开车，但不幸的是，那里往往不得不需要开车。我尽量多使用公共交通，并更喜欢在西好莱坞步行或骑自行车。在巴黎，骑自行车对我来说太简单了。我真的很享受这个！

那您能介绍下西好莱坞？

当我们提到好莱坞时，西好莱坞通常是第一个浮现在脑海中的城市。这个城市以其标志性的品牌和景点而闻名，特别是在时尚和文化领域。梅尔罗斯大道、日落大道和圣塔莫尼卡大道等著名地点为其魅力增添了色彩。西好莱坞主要是一个LGBTQ+城市，拥有一个极其多样化的社区，可以认为是洛杉矶的文化之都。

在西好莱坞生活容易吗？

西好莱坞是一个大约有35 000居民的城市。但每到晚上，我们的人口会显著增加，我们的人口可以从35 000人增加到可能的45 000或50 000人。每个人都来到西好莱坞享用晚餐、参加音乐会或入住我们的酒店。这个城市总是充满活力。我们有热闹的夜生活，吸引着来自洛杉矶地区各地的人们，尽管在洛杉矶出行可能会有挑战性，但人们仍然希望来到西好莱坞。在西好莱坞，我们努力尽可能降低生活成本，为在这里生活、工作和娱乐的人们提供住房。我们专注于在西好莱坞尽可能多地建设新居房，以便更多的人能够来体验这座城市。我们正在讨论的一件事是，随着几家新航空公司开通了从巴黎到洛杉矶的直飞航班，费用现在与前往迈阿密、纽约或旧金山等其他目的地相当，这使得西好莱坞对国际游客更加方便。

您计划在四年后的奥林匹克运动会中做什么？

我希望我们在西好莱坞的奥运项目能够反映出我们每一个人的参与。奥林匹克运动会不仅仅是关于体育，也是对多样性和社区的庆祝。我们必须抓住奥运期间在西好莱坞设立骄傲之家所带来的机会。我们需要将自己定位为所有LGBTQ+运动员、他们的家庭以及希望庆祝这种丰富和多样性的温馨家园。我的愿景是将西好莱坞打造成奥林匹克运动会的艺术和文化之都。考虑到西好莱坞及其周边地区有众多电影明星和制片厂，充分利用这一吸引力也是至关重要的。

那么您对2028年奥林匹克运动会有哪些项目？

我们主要与骄傲之家合作，将其打造成奥林匹克运动会的LGBT文化中心。我们将征集提案，以吸引能够为我们西好莱坞的艺术场景的多样性和融合做出贡献的组织和艺术家。我们的目标是确保每个人都感到被包容进去，特别是在LGBTQ社区中。我看到巴黎成功地创造了与奥林匹克运动会相关的空间和活动，我认为我们应该在洛杉矶复制这一点。

在一个被战争和污染所影响的不稳定世界中，奥林匹克运动会是否能促进我们探索在地球上共同生活的一个新方式的机会？

奥林匹克运动会确实有能力将来自世界各地的社区聚集在一个独特的环境中。在当前的背景下，考虑我们地球面临的环境挑战是非常重要的。我们如何确保奥林匹克运动会是可持续的，并有助于实现环境目标。西好莱坞是一座倡导步行并致力于可持续发展的城市。运动会的承诺不仅仅限于投资更绿色的基础设施；还涉及到尽量减少如此大规模活动的环境影响。因此，我们所有人都必须专注于如何让地球处于更好的状态。

奥林匹克运动会对您来说真正的意义是什么？

奥林匹克运动会涵盖了社区、文化和体育等方面，具有深刻的意义，奥运庆祝体育的卓越，并向拥有那种特殊才能的运动员致敬。但除此之外，奥林匹克运动会也是对社区和文化的庆祝。奥林匹克运动会也是文化交流的机会，让第一次来的人体验他们曾经不了解的城市，并提出关于未来的新想法。旅行常常让你能够结识他人，访问不同的城市或国家，并理解与自己不同的事物。这种经历帮助你更好地理解其他观点和整个世界。我认为这就是奥林匹克运动会的真正好处之一。对我来说，奥林匹克运动会的真正意义在于庆祝运动的卓越，关注文化和社区，以及促进文化交流。