Enlightenment

If you want to conjure up the image of Paris, you show the Eiffel Tower. If you want to portray Washington in a picture, you show the Capitol. For New York, it’s the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building. And for Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign is this city’s graphic symbol.

The sign was repainted barely two weeks ago, but it is already being covered by new graffiti, which seem to be one of the plagues of contemporary life. It is disgraceful that the city must stand by helplessly as hooligans willfully destroy this civic landmark.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. During the Olympic Games the sign was lighted at night in a subdued and tasteful way, and many people, ourselves included, would like to see it lighted that way again. Some of the neighbors who live on Mt. Lee near the sign fear that lighting it would make it an even more attractive nuisance, drawing more vandals to their community.

Providing protection for the sign in exchange for lighting it is a good idea that would accomplish two worthwhile goals. It would spare the sign more defacement, and would make it visible after dark. The city should try to achieve both ends. But in any case the sign needs protection. What would Parisians do if hoodlums were spray-painting the Eiffel Tower?