Mr. Ferris Wehbe
Businessman, Educator, Community Leader
For over two decades, Ferris Wehbe has dedicated his life to tackling the tough issues that affect our quality of life in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles' 4th district. Crime prevention and safety, protecting our most vulnerable citizens, kids and seniors, and ensuring that neighborhoods receive their fair share of funds for city services have all been high priorities for Ferris.
In 1988, drug dealers, gangs and prostitutes had overrun his neighborhood. Ferris responded by co-founding the Hollywood Sentinels Neighborhood Watch program. For over 6 years, Ferris led his mighty band of street soldiers on a nightly patrol of the area until local families had taken back their streets. Ferris' efforts at neighborhood crime control earned national attention and serve as an example for neighborhood empowerment in Los Angeles citywide. His efforts have dramatically diminished gang activity in Hollywood. The LAPD attributes many of Ferris' efforts to a 60% reduction in youth related local crime. Furthermore, Ferris raised over $200,000 to replace outdated LAPD computers, equipment for the LAPD Bike Patrol and other vital equipment needed to protect our neighborhoods. He is currently an advisor for the Central Hollywood Neighborhood Council.
Frustrated by the profound lack accountability for problems in local neighborhoods, Ferris served as President of Hollywood VOTE, a group formed to explore the feasibility of forming an independent City of Hollywood. Hollywood VOTE collected 38,000 signatures to put the issue to the voters on the 2002 ballot. Ferris truly believes there is great room for improvement with the new administration in City Hall.
A long-standing promoter of school reform before it became politically popular, Ferris and his family founded and owned the acclaimed Hollywood Schoolhouse, which serves grades K-8 and is a national model for creative learning, and he also was on the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Hills School. Ferris has spearheaded several programs that elevate awareness and invest in our children. As a founding member of the Board of Governors of the Hollywood Neighborhood Charities www.hollywoodneighborhoodcharities.org Ferris was instrumental in raising over $300,000 for youth activities to better occupy their time. He launched the Hollywood Youth Collaborative that provides greater services and after-school activities for children. Additionally, as the former president of the Hollywood Police Activities League, Ferris expanded the membership from 25 to an impressive 1,300 children with four full-time officers in six community locations. The League is an interactive program of police officers working as mentors and friends to engage youth rather than alienate them.
Ferris and Debbie, his wife of 25 years, reside in Hollywood where they have raised their four children: Ethan, Eric, Laila, and Nadia. Since 1987, they have together operated the F&D Properties Company, developing Real Estate mainly in the Hollywood Area. Ferris also served as the President for the Hollywood Rotary Club 2005-2006 and currently is the Senior Assistant Governor in charge of special projects www.rotaryclubofhollywood.org and is a founding member and one of the three captains that worked on creating the Media District.