Sign of Our Time

A friend writes: “I live on the slope of Mt. Lee just below the HOLLYWOOD sign, where the neighborhood has been in a tizzy lately over the renting of the sign to Rupert Murdoch & Co. for a stunt that involves making it read FOX and lighting it for a few days. In exchange, Fox will spend $27,000 refurbishing the real sign.

“Leaving aside the commercial aspects of this deal (which, frankly, don’t bother me), the real issue is about lighting the sign at night (which, frankly, I like). The neighbors are concerned, however, that once the camel gets its nose under the tent the sign will then be lighted at night all the time, making it a more attractive magnet for rowdy teen-agers than it already is. The reason the sign has to be refurbished is that it is in a losing battle with graffiti. People spray-paint their names all over it.

“But I would like to see the sign lighted at night, and the solution, I think, is to provide security to prevent anyone from going up to it after dark. Two security guards at night could bar access to the sign, which would keep it from being an attractive nuisance.

“In fact, the city should establish such security even if the sign is not lighted. Oddly enough, the HOLLYWOOD sign is Los Angeles’ most recognizable landmark. It deserves to be protected.”