Ethics Signs Snarled by Red Tape

Kindness requires a city permit in Pacific Palisades.

That’s what organizers of an unusual campaign to improve local ethics discovered when they began posting 3,500 signs along neighborhood roads to promote community values.

Some of the stake-mounted placards bearing the words “love,” “courage,” “respect,” “integrity,” “passion,” “good works” and “kindness” were being confiscated by Los Angeles street-use inspectors as fast as volunteers could hammer them into the ground.

The weeklong “celebration of our shared values” begins today. It will feature a series of forums for adults and activities for teenagers aimed at stimulating discussion of common social goals in the community.

Ten churches and temples in Pacific Palisades are sponsoring the nondenominational program. Today’s launch includes the 10:15 a.m. unveiling of a wall in the business district on which children can post messages about their hopes and dreams. Adult discussions on integrity and respect are planned for 7:30 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church and Kehillat Israel Synagogue, respectively.

The simple, 22-inch-wide signs are the source of the buzz in Pacific Palisades, however.

Besides advertising the event, the seven words and phrases posted along roads and in frontyards are setting the parameters of the week’s program, organizers say.

The community values crusade was launched after Kehillat Israel leaders set out to find a way to make their synagogue’s 50th anniversary an interfaith event. Four years ago, the Methodist Church and the Palisades Lutheran Church had donated office and meeting space while a new synagogue was being built.

Soon, Calvary Church; 37th Church of Christ, Scientist; the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Corpus Christi parish; Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church; the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine; and the Parish of St. Matthew were involved.

A 100-voice choir composed of members from each will join Wednesday evening at the Corpus Christi Parish. They will drive home the point that “we are all one,” Cantor Chayim Frenkel said Monday as he and other religious leaders helped youngsters from Calvary Church place some of the signs outside Kehillat Israel.

“You won’t find any religion that doesn’t teach values,” said Brother Achalananda of the Self-Realization Fellowship. Added Lutheran Pastor Walter Mees: “It takes a lot of drive to live in the Palisades. Every once in a while you have to slow down.” Nodding was Christian Scientist Carole Carter. “I think we’ll change lives this week,” she said.

Values campaign head Neil Selman, a lawyer who is a member of the synagogue, said the city Department of Public Works advised him that permits were needed for the signs to be on the public right of way. He said he managed to retrieve 30 of the about 100 placards that were seized from Sunset Boulevard. They are being put back up after an appeal to Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski’s office for some, well, respect.

Because of the unusual circumstances, Victoria Minetta, an aide to Miscikowski, said Monday: “We asked the street-use inspectors to turn the other cheek.”