Meet ...
Joshua Baum
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Joshua Baum is a union researcher, community advocate, and proud West Hollywood renter committed to building a more affordable, stable, and inclusive city. Joshua brings deep roots, strong values, and over a decade of experience across housing, labor, and economic policy to public service. They understand firsthand the challenges West Hollywood residents face: rising housing costs, instability in the creative and service sectors, and the urgent need for stronger renter protections and long-term affordability.
Family Roots & Values
Joshua's connection to West Hollywood begins with their family history. Their grandfather lived in an apartment on Gardner Street—in what would become the City of West Hollywood. An English teacher and union member at Garfield High School in East LA, Joshua's grandfather bought a house in Van Nuys on a teacher's salary while putting both kids through college.
Those values—never crossing a picket line, standing unapologetically with workers, and building communities where everyone has a fair shot—were passed down to Joshua and remain central to their public service approach today.
Professional Experience & Community Leadership
Joshua currently works at SEIU Local 721, conducting economic research to support frontline public-sector workers, and is a union member through the staff union UUP. Joshua is also the Founding Principal of Hilgard Economics, a West Hollywood–based research firm whose analyses on housing, labor, and economic trends have been cited by local governments, advocacy organizations, and major media outlets.
Their experience includes supporting regional research for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, contributing to economic reports at Beacon Economics, assisting economic development strategy for the City of Fort Worth, and founding the Institute for Creative Workforce Housing—a research initiative focused on stabilizing housing for entertainment-industry workers.
Joshua has been deeply engaged in civic life, co-founding the North Westwood Neighborhood Council and participating in Democratic, housing, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts across Los Angeles and statewide.
They have served on West Hollywood's Transgender Advisory Board, completed the West Hollywood Civic Leadership Academy, and launched and served as the first President of the Westside Young Democrats.
Joshua is running to focus on the policies that matter most to West Hollywood residents: expanding affordable housing, strengthening renter protections, supporting the creative workers and small businesses that define our community, and ensuring West Hollywood remains a welcoming, inclusive home for everyone. They believe our city thrives when we lead with heart, champion workers and renters, and fight to keep West Hollywood affordable for all who call it home.
Why Joshua is Running
Joshua is running because West Hollywood deserves leaders who will take bold action on our most pressing challenges. With a decade of experience in housing policy, labor advocacy, and economic research, they're ready to fight for a city where working families, artists, and longtime residents aren't priced out—where we lead with heart, invest in our community's future, and remain a beacon of inclusion and progressive values for all who call West Hollywood home.
Family Roots & Values
Joshua's connection to West Hollywood begins with their family history. Their grandfather lived in an apartment on Gardner Street—in what would become the City of West Hollywood. An English teacher and union member at Garfield High School in East LA, Joshua's grandfather bought a house in Van Nuys on a teacher's salary while putting both kids through college.
Those values—never crossing a picket line, standing unapologetically with workers, and building communities where everyone has a fair shot—were passed down to Joshua and remain central to their public service approach today.
Professional Experience & Community Leadership
Joshua currently works at SEIU Local 721, conducting economic research to support frontline public-sector workers, and is a union member through the staff union UUP. Joshua is also the Founding Principal of Hilgard Economics, a West Hollywood–based research firm whose analyses on housing, labor, and economic trends have been cited by local governments, advocacy organizations, and major media outlets.
Their experience includes supporting regional research for the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, contributing to economic reports at Beacon Economics, assisting economic development strategy for the City of Fort Worth, and founding the Institute for Creative Workforce Housing—a research initiative focused on stabilizing housing for entertainment-industry workers.
Joshua has been deeply engaged in civic life, co-founding the North Westwood Neighborhood Council and participating in Democratic, housing, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts across Los Angeles and statewide.
They have served on West Hollywood's Transgender Advisory Board, completed the West Hollywood Civic Leadership Academy, and launched and served as the first President of the Westside Young Democrats.
Joshua is running to focus on the policies that matter most to West Hollywood residents: expanding affordable housing, strengthening renter protections, supporting the creative workers and small businesses that define our community, and ensuring West Hollywood remains a welcoming, inclusive home for everyone. They believe our city thrives when we lead with heart, champion workers and renters, and fight to keep West Hollywood affordable for all who call it home.
Why Joshua is Running
Joshua is running because West Hollywood deserves leaders who will take bold action on our most pressing challenges. With a decade of experience in housing policy, labor advocacy, and economic research, they're ready to fight for a city where working families, artists, and longtime residents aren't priced out—where we lead with heart, invest in our community's future, and remain a beacon of inclusion and progressive values for all who call West Hollywood home.