Meet W4Ev Member Jonny
In this member interview series, we’re asking the people behind Westside for Everyone to share their personal stories about what got them into housing advocacy and why it matters to them.
Meet Jonny! He’s a UCLA public interest law student, a photojournalist, an active W4Ev member who’s been educating folks on housing policy, and a viral advocate for crosswalks to support pedestrian and cyclist safety.
What's your housing story?
I got involved in housing advocacy because I'm a young person and I want a future here in the state I'm from, doing work that I find meaningful. I don't want to sell my soul to live, nor do I want to have to compete with working people for limited affordable housing supply. I see this work as a chance to bet on my own future and the future of my community. It's easy to be cynical these days. Getting involved with Westside For Everyone is something that has given me hope.
What do you hope for the westside/LA's future?
I hope that this is a place where people of different backgrounds, professions, and social groups can live up to their full potential. There's this idea that drives our perception of Los Angeles, that this is a magical place where anybody can come to chase their dreams and make it big. It's why many of us moved here. I hope that through sustained advocacy for more housing and a lower cost of living we can ensure that Los Angeles lives up to its promise.
Why are you a member of W4Ev?
I think it's important to be civically engaged and to participate in local groups and organizations. Working with Westside For Everyone allows me to understand what's going on in my community and have an impact on it, which gives me a sense of agency even when the world's problems seem too big to solve. Seeing the victories we've achieved -- watching ED1 projects break ground in Sawtelle, helping get SB79 passed through the state legislature -- makes larger goals like having a functioning democracy seem more plausible.
What is your favorite part of the westside?
I love Stoner Park in Sawtelle. It's been the center of a lot of my introduction to community advocacy. I go there often with my dog and love meeting my neighbors. We painted crosswalks at Stoner Park to protest the city's failure to provide timely infrastructure improvements. When the city removed them, my neighbors emailed their local leaders and went to the media to express their support of the crosswalks. The city ended up repainting them just a week later. The whole saga demonstrated the need to have accessible third spaces like parks where people can hang out, chat, and get to know their community.
What is one thing people can do to make housing more affordable/sustainable?
Participate in local politics. Support local journalism and develop a nuanced understanding of the issues that affect your neighborhood. Realize that you have the power to make a measurable change in your community. Always ask "why".
Fun fact: Jonny went so viral that he inspired his very own West LA meme
More on the stories referenced in the interview:
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