Thanks to the office of Councilmember Tom Labonge for spending another full day in the hot sun clearing the debris and overgrowth from our only park, Lake Hollywood Park. The area is getting nicer, and more open which means that those who have found their own way into Hollywoodland and want to take a photo of the Hollywood Sign don't have to stand in the street. Now, there's room enough for everyone.

If we had been given prior notice, our Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association board would have brought lemonade, water, and power bars and offered our assistance. But once again, the Council office's good work was done quietly and with no fan fare.

Some say that improving an area like this causes it to become a magnet for an increased number of tourists. We say, that kind of thinking ignores obvious facts:

Fact 1: The greatest magnet attracting tourists is the Hollywood Sign itself. The Hollywood Sign does not even belong to us. It's a national icon.

Fact 2:  There are other attractions in our neighborhood like Lake Hollywood, Lake Hollywood Park, and Sunset Ranch.

Fact 3: There are numerous websites and navigation tools that direct tourists up into our canyon over which we have no control. No one can stop that piece of information from getting out.

Fact 4: Lake Hollywood Park (and its Viewing Site) is part of Griffith Park.  It's a developed PUBLIC park and there is nothing that can or should be done to prohibit people from visiting it.

Fact 5: NO ONE, not Councilmember Labonge or any other entity, is promoting or even announcing that the Scenic View exists. While many internet sites speak of the Hollywood Sign, not one identifies the Scenic View as a viewing site. 

Fact 6: Only one web site http://overthehollywoodsign.com, admittedly operated by a group of renegade Hollywoodland residents who have refused to identify themselves, is directing tourists to view the Hollywood Sign from Deronda Dr.

Fact 7: Both the BCNA and the HHA concur in the need to develop additional viewing sites outside of Hollywoodland.

Again, we would like to express our gratitude to the office of Tom Labonge and his staff for their tireless efforts in our community. Please take a moment to say thanks by writing to Tom at Tom.Labonge@lacity.org.

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