Corruption Report:
Erickson Threatened a City Commissioner Over an Endorsement
ConductAssemblymember Rick Zbur called Erickson’s behavior, “textbook public corruption.” Commissioner Tod Hallman said Erickson made a “clear and direct threat.”
West Hollywood Public Safety Commissioner Tod Hallman filed a complaint with the city attorney that Erickson threatened Hallman would lose his seat if he endorsed “the first Black city council member in our city’s history.” Hallman recounts that Erickson told him, "If you do this, you can no longer be my commissioner."
Assemblymember Rick Zbur, a fellow Democrat, called it "textbook public corruption under California law," writing that Erickson's conduct "exploits governmental authority for personal political gain." Zbur said he'd heard from other commissioners who felt similarly intimidated, notable given that West Hollywood commissioners can be removed at any time by the councilmembers who appoint them, making a threat like Erickson's more than just talk.
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Public Safety
Erickson Voted to Slash Public Safety Funding While Crime Spiked 137%
While West Hollywood residents were living through the worst crime numbers in years, Erickson voted to cut public safety measures that protected them. It took a "rash of crime" and public outcry from residents before he backtracked and voted to restore public safety measures.
Court Records
Erickson Was Sued Twice Over Unpaid Credit Card Debt
Records show Erickson was sued not once, but twice over unpaid credit card debt. A court ordered him to pay it back in 2021. It took until 2024, three years later, for him to finally settle up.
The record leaves an open question – if he couldn't manage $3,000, what makes him qualified to vote on the state budget of $349 billion?