Web Notes on LA

Some things to note about Los Angeles on the last day of November in 2006...

Some claim the Farmer's Market is "The Vortex of Los Angeles" - I'm not sure if I agree.

BloggingLA celebrates victorious emergence from the Terrible Twos.

LA Observed quotes Eli Broad regarding the LA Times - what strikes me about the article is that they spell our origin moniker "Angelino." We're not Italian here, we're from LA - we are Angelenos!

tykejohnson at MetroRiderLA proposes that buses have the right of way. I don't know about that one...

LA Taco says Pie & Burger is awesome, especially the Pie. I totally agree. (I know, it's not in the City, but I still like good pie even if I have to cross over into a City that merely borders Los Angeles. Yes, Pasadena shares the very northeast border of LA City at the communities of Eagle Rock and Garvanza.)

My muse worked!

So, I know you all wonder what I do in my free time. Ok, no one does. Well, I'm not sure if Tony finished his 50,000 word novel yet, but I wanted to thank all of you who kept reading this site even when I wasn't posting as often as usual.

See, this City Nerd spent the last 30 days working on cranking out a draft novel for NaNoWriMo. Yep, I was busy writing a very rough draft of a novel that will take months and probably years to edit to the point of even sharing it with close family members. Some day, maybe I'll post an excerpt or two. Ok, that's the one personal post I'll make this year.

Anyway, now it's time to return to the City that inspires us all and which I claim as my muse.

LA City Slogan

When you go to most cities, they have mottos or slogans that define who they are. In the past, this City as had official adopted and commonly used slogans. I'm not talking nicknames, but actual, official slogans. For instance just to name a few, Victorville's is "The Key to High Desert"; Long Beach's is "Welcome to the International Hometown"; Culver City's is "The Heart of Screenland"; and Palmdale's is "“A Place to Call Home."

Remember not too long ago in the late 1990s, Riordan had marketing folks come up with "Together, we're the best: LA!" Some say this was in part to stave off the growing secession movements across the City, but it also promoted the City as "the best." It was never officially adopted as the City's Slogan, and faded into the past when Riordan left office.

But, technically, we do have an official City slogan dating back to the early 1980s. Around the 200th Birthday celebration for the City, "LA's the Place" was adopted by the City in 1981 at the urging of the LA 200 Committee. It was actually approved to be used on all City letterhead, and once the 200th anniversary was completed, the slogan was provided to the visitors & conventions bureau to continue to be used as the official slogan in the promotion of the City.

So, we still have that 1981 slogan as official until another one is officially adopted. In 2005, New York City adopted "The World's Second Home" as a new slogan; perhaps it's time this City officially took action to re-affirm that "LA's the place" or find something new to tout to the world.

Lost LA: Sherman Oaks Real Estate

When a midblock building is torn down, voila: an instant window to the past. Here, you can see a former real estate office on Ventura Boulevard at Colbath on the south side of the street. Was this the tract office fro the subdivisions of the 1930s, 40s, & 50s? What happened to it? Was is a precursor to Re/Max?


On the other side of the now vacant lot, you can see remnants of a hardware store's sign:


Yes, Ventura Boulevard was one of the Valley's "Main Streets" 50 years ago... as it continues to be today (with a lot of other streets claiming the same title depending upon which community you're in.)

I wonder what will be revealed if the Ventura Club, just up the street, is ever torn down for development. Behind the buildings we see today are links to the Lost LA. We do have a history here in Los Angeles and even (gasp!) in the Valley... if you know where to look for it.

Where in LA?**corrected**

Today, LA Frog posts about "Santa Monica's Muscle Beach." Well, there must be some confusion. Santa Monica doesn't have a "muscle beach"; Venice does. So, the image being referenced must be either in Venice or not at Muscle Beach.

Note: LA Frog is written by a Parisian transplant to LA, so I guess it could be confusing.

Note after posting: See Eric's comments below. I stand corrected. (To err is human, after all.)

Hospital High: Not in Granada Hills

I've just received word of a community protest alert. I've seen nothing of it online or in the media, so I thought I'd share. Now ,for perspective, Granada Hills is one of the most active neighborhoods in Los Angeles. For years, the community has banded together to fight the Sunshine Canyon Landfill. They are also home to the largest Charter High School in the nation: Granada Hills Charter High School.

So, the community of Granada Hills will be coming together again, this time to fight the LAUSD. The school district had purchased the former Granada Hills Hospital at Balboa and Devonshire to build a high school, but the community is fighting the district saying they have lied to the community, they don't have the students from the local community to attend the school, that there are traffic and parking issues the District has refused to address (and may not be able to), and that a hospital there better serves the community.

The community will be holding a press conference tomorrow at 9am at the location of the proposed high school/former hospital. What follows is the text of the media alert:

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release: November 22, 2006

School Board Candidates, Neighborhood Councils and Chamber of Commerce Hold Joint Press Conference Calling on LAUSD to Stop Proposed High School in Granada Hills

Granada Hills: Monday, November 27 at 9:00 am, Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council, Old Granada Hills ResidentsÂ’ Group and Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce will call on the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board to vote against building a proposed high school in Granada Hills.

The community groups will be joined by Councilmember Greig Smith, whose 12th District includes the proposed school site, many of the opposition candidates running for Board Member of LAUSD District Three, and community residents. They have all joined together in urging the LAUSD Board to vote on November 28 against building Valley Regional High School #4 in Granada Hills.

LAUSD has failed to provide the community the formally requested demographic and quantitative data specifically justifying the need for the school on the site of the former Granada Hills Community Hospital. LAUSD proposes building this $100-million school where it is not needed, while many communities throughout the region have a great and urgent need for new schools and while LAUSD claims it doesnÂ’t have enough money to complete the schools it planned to build with its $20 billion bond.

Residents have conducted their own analysis that disputes LAUSD'’s claim that a high school was needed at that location, so Councilman Smith submitted a Freedom of Information Request to the LAUSD School Board on behalf of the community seeking specific data justifying the need for the school. He also sent letters urging the LAUSD School Construction Bond Oversight Committee to investigate whether the school should be built there.

The proposed high school also takes away a hospital with an emergency room at a time when the entire region is facing an alarming shortage of emergency room beds, resulting in serious delays in providing emergency healthcare and placing lives at risk.

WHO: Neighborhood Councils, Chamber of Commerce, LAUSD candidates, elected officials, residents

WHAT: Press conference, groups urging LAUSD Committee to reject proposed high school

WHERE: 10445 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills 91344 (1 block north of Devonshire)

WHEN: Monday, November 27, 2006. 9:00 am

VISUALS: On the steps of the closed Granada Hills Hospital

CONTACT: Dave Beauvais, President, Old Granada Hills Residents'’ Group

(818) 831-2318 // Cell: (818) 634-1511 // davebeauvais@verizon.net

Celebrating Christmas in L.A. like they used to..

With talk of Holiday Pageants around town, it is good to mention the way things were. Heritage Square Museum will be hosting their 12th Annual Holiday Lamplight Celebration this weekend, December 2nd & 3rd.

From the Heritage Square site:

"Costumed hosts will transport visitors back in time to Christmas, during the '“Gilded Age.'” Traditional dance, music, and Victorian games will enliven the night, as guests discover exactly how the Victorians partied! Of course, no Holiday Lamplight Celebration would be complete without a tour of our exquisite Victorian homes, beautifully decorated for the holidays. A special visit from Father Christmas and author Georja Skinner round out this incredible holiday program."

Advance ticket purchase is required, so call the Heritage Square Box Office (323225-2700 ex. 224) to celebrate the holidays the way they did 100 years ago in Los Angeles. This is also a great time to check out the Heritage Square Museum, if you've never been there. With their relocated & restored Victorian homes & buildings, visiting is like no other experience in Los Angeles.

Due to the historic nature of the facility and structures, no wheelchairs, strollers, or child carriers are recommended. Also, the Holiday Lamplight Celebration is not recommended for children under six years of age.

Check out a movie of last year's event here.

Check their website for more details: www.heritagesquare.org

Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street below Montecito Heights in Highland Park, off the 110 Freeway at Avenue 43.

Hollywood Christmas Parade

As MetroRider reported and others reminded, the Hollywood Christmas Parade was back tonight for year 75!

Tonight's Grand Marshal was two: George Lopez and Regis Philbin as the Diamond Anniversary Grand Marshal.

Since 1978, only two men have served as grand Marshal twice: the iconic Bob Hope and... the Italian Tony Danza.


Yep, Tony Danza has been Grand Marshal twice. Who's proud to be in Hollywood now?

What's redeeming about the list of past Grand Marshals is that George Peppard was Grand Marshal in 1983, the year that A-Team came on the air and forever changed the world's perception of the "Los Angeles Underground" (no, not this underground).

I love it when a plan comes together.

5 Reasons to be Thankful for Los Angeles

Since it's the Thanksgiving weekend, I'll leave you with this for the next few days:

5 Reasons to be Thankful for Los Angeles

1. We've hosted two Olympics

2. The famous food.

3. Los Angeles Innovation

4. We're the entertainment capital of the world (even if some contest the capital therein!)

5. There is always something interesting and new to do here.

What are your five reasons?



(Don' forget to send your nominations in for the 2006 City Nerd Awards!)

History Lesson from Downtown...

Here's a another reason for the Valley to feel connected to the City... especially Sherman Oaks.

Nice article, Eric.

Photo from YouAreHere.com.

Thanksgiving = Free Street Parking!

Just in case people were wondering...
On Thursday and Friday of this week, the City will not be operating any of the posted street sweeping routes. This also means you can park where it is posted for weekly street sweeping without fear of a ticket.

Also, you can park at LA City parking meters on Thursday only without paying... and for as long as you want. IN fact, none of the time restrictions will apply on Thanksgiving, so park out in front of Honeybaked ham for as long as you want!

To clarify all the details, check out the official policy here.

Happy Free Parking!

I found the stars!

People from outside of Los Angeles sometimes look down at us because they come to our City and don't see any stars (the heavenly body kind, not these kind).

Well, with the opening of the Griffith Observatory, the world can once again see the stars in LA! But not unlike these stars, to seem them, you must look down, and not up.

Behold the stars from The Griffith Observatory:

You see, in Los Angeles, the stars may not always be visible in the sky; but who needs sky when we have the uniquely Los Angeles "Scattergood Constellations."

Citywide Calendar: use it!

Well, on a sad note, both Adrienne st LA Brain Terrain and the LA City Nerd missed the LA as a Subject First Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar. Now, I knew about it but couldn't go because of work; but in her post, she brings up an excellent point:

"So many conferences, how can one keep up? Is there a master calendar for all conference events in the SoCal area?"

She's right to ask, but this is a daunting task. She points out the LA Convention Center site, which is a good start, but there is so many more venues even beyond the hotel conference centers and ballrooms where events meetings, and conferences are being held. So, as a City Nerd, I know it must be done: some needs to set up a true LA City (at least to start) Master Calendar.
Sure, we have ExperienceLA which claims to be LA's Official Cultural Calendar. (But, really, what does official mean?) And, that only has a portion of what's going on, too.

Even this weekend, there was so much going on, but you could only find out about it all by going to many different sites. And even, then, I missed that the DooDah Parade was today.

So, I want to point out an under-utilized resource...

The City of Los Angeles Citywide Calendar.

Now, if in the budget, the Mayor would place and the Council approve a "Calendar Master" to scout the City and post the events, meetings, etc., this calendar could be the one-stop source of event information for the City. What's sad is that the city departments don't use it already. For instance, Cultural Affairs could use it to promote their events and the events they co-sponsor. The framework is there for a great resource for the people... if someone is willing to do the work!

The City should have a searchable master calendar for the City at one location for anything the City sponsors, funds, is affiliated with, hosts, or has any connection or relevance to the City and/or Angelenos.

Busy weekend, LA! **UPDATED**

Lots going on this weekend...

First, who's going to Watts? If you've always wanted to check out the Promenade of Prominence or the Rodia Towers but were too shy, join the anticipated 5000 Angelenos on Saturday for the Mayor's 12th Day of Service in Watts. There will be 62 projects to choose from, and contrary to others' statements, the City is still planting palm trees, at least on 111th Drive. All the details are here.

Saturday at 2pm is when they'll be hosting a community event in Atwater Village: the Dedication of the Acresite Gate. Partially funded through the City, this is another addition to the growing list of neighborhood initiated beautification projects.

In Hollywood on Saturday, you can find the Urban Film Festival, which is co-sponsored by the City. It's at Barnsdell Art Park.

Also on Saturday, Franklin Avenue will be"Walking the Walk"... the entire length of Wilshire. Remember, this is the same Wilshire that hundreds of thousands marched on earlier this year, where the Ambassador once stood, and where at Veteran has often been called the busiest intersection in Los Angeles. Remember what it was like? Also, don't forget to check out the new signs. So much to see, if only I could attend... perhaps I'll drive by & honk!

Realizing that Wilshire was once known as Orange Avenue when it cut through the swamp land that became MacArthur Park... it's a nice transition to Sunday SATURDAY, when you can head out to pick oranges (and other citrus), as LAist's Zach points out. They will never run out of fruit on the trees, but my suggestion is to walk past the first few trees and survey the whole of the City-owned park before starting to pick. The grounds are quite unique and worth the moment or two of exploration (go BEHIND the buildings to the less crowded picking locations).

Also on Sunday, see Miss Boyle Heights and her court at the Boyle Heights 2nd Annual Multicultural Parade & Festival, presented by the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council (who have no available website). More information (and some other events) can be found at LatinoLA.com's Calendar page.

"Big Brother" is us

The past few days have revealed that our society, which complains that cameras from the LAPD on Hollywood Boulevard and in MacArthur Park (and other areas) would be intrusions into the private lives of citizens, has more cameras at more opportune times than the government will probably ever be able to have.

I don't think we should ever hear a complaint of "Big Brother" again because this week just proves a growing suspicion: we're all voyeurs. Forget police videos (LAPD or otherwise), the public is obsessed with the private lives of others. From YouTube to true Reality TV (from the game show contestants to those in need), the general public loves to watch.

We are Big Brother. Not the government or the police; American society - LOS ANGELES - is Big Brother.

And to that, I say: so be it.

Now, as an LA City Nerd, I really can only speak to the issues in LA. So, looking at the latest, riveting (we're all voyeurs, remember? even yours truly) video of police confrontation, what is evident to me is that the people around the situation who are filming are trying to capture the moment. Why? For their friends? To show the arrestee later on? As evidence because they see something awry? But many students were snapping photos with camera phones, and the main camera person was obviously trying to get a more clear view. I'm not saying what took place was appropriate based on what is evident from the clip; but I'm intrigued by the reaction of those watching and, really, those filming. The real reactions of the people on the screen stir emotions in the viewer from the safety of their computer. (I had to laugh when the student yelled out, "We want your badge number!" What people should really ask officers for is their serial number. The badge number is not really that commonly used for identification.)

Are these amateur videographers, or cell phone cinematographers, trying to capture a moment for the sole purpose of YouTubing it? In a disposable society like ours, where digital media can be erased if unneeded, everything is worth capturing. There are no mistakes anymore - nothing is forgotten unless deleted.

And so, what was the top videos today on YouTube? You guessed it: the UCLA Taser video posted yesterday. (There are two different versions, ranked 2 & 3, but combined they were viewed more than 10,000 times more than the #1 clip: a Fast Food Nation "Behind the Scenes" [read: voyeuristic] clip.)

I think we can look no further than this webpage. People visit blog pages of individuals because they can read into someone else's "personal" & "private" life. Do people visit LA City Nerd because they want to learn about getting their street paved or who to call in LADOT to get the walk time extended? Maybe. But aren't there people who want to know if they can find some inside information about what goes on in politics. That's what made Mayor Sam thrive early on, and so many other personal blogs, too. What's up with the now-Blogger Toddler, or how is that view from a loft? What's really happening a The Daily News and on set?

People want into the life of others.

2006 City Nerd Awards

So, as we start to look at the dawn of a new year, it's time to look back at the year that was. What better way to reflect on the last 12 months than to think of about the best of times (and sometimes, the worst).

In doing so, LA City Nerd will be presenting the "2006 City Nerd Awards" in January. Now, it could easily be the LACN braintrust that just picks winners, but we'd like to have some input.

So, based on the following criteria, we'll be selecting the winner (and there may be a vote involved in some of the categories):

- passion for Los Angeles
- knowledge of Los Angeles
- promotion of Los Angeles
- actual positive contributions to Los Angeles

These are the general criteria, of course, so some may apply more in certain instances and other may only be relative to a portion of the City. (And don't forget our definition of LA!)

Now, onto the City Nerd Award categories....

1. 2006 City Nerd Blog (any kind: group, individual, municipal, etc.)

2. 2006 City Nerd Blogger (not me, but all of the other ones)

3. 2006 City Nerd Elected Official

4. 2006 City Nerd Elected Official Staff Member (I have some nominees from the original post, but new ones are welcome.)

5. 2006 City Nerd Department Head (remember this?)

6. 2006 City Nerd Neighborhood/Community (This could also be a cultural or social community.)

7. 2006 City Nerd Project (You tell us what you think would qualify.)

8. 2006 City Nerd Neighborhood Council

9. 2006 City Nerd Citizen of the Year

And the highest honor, which may not be given out every year:

10. "The LA City Nerd Award"

(Is there a category missing?)

Submit your nominations NOW (with any additional information you'd like regarding your nominations). They must be emailed in by DECEMBER 15th. Email us at lacitynerd@gmail.com

Winners will get a detailed article in the new year and hopefully a fancy award (if we can get it to them) suitable for public display.

Is LA an "Art City?"

even with all that is being done to enhance the arts in LA, people still sometimes perceive Los Angeles as a city without great culture. And, unfortunately, perception is often a reality for the perceivers.

Well, we can change that.

Over the next few months, American Style Magazine will be conducting their 10th Annual poll to find the top 25 "arts destination" cities. The magazine touts itself as "the nationÂ’s premier arts lifestyle magazine for enthusiasts, collectors and travelers." They are asking the public to vote for their selections. All you need an email address to fill in, and an understanding that the reason this is being posted on LA City Nerd is because you should be voting for Los Angeles - and ONLY Los Angeles. If you go to their site, just click on the "American Style TOP 25 Art Destinations" button at the bottom right of the screen. Again, vote only for Los Angeles.

Last year in the 2006 poll, LA was #12 of the top 25, but look at who beat us out:


Category 1: Big Cities
(Populations of 500,000 and over)
1. New York, N.Y.
2. Chicago, Ill.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. San Francisco, Calif.
5. Boston, Mass.
6. Seattle, Wash.
7. Baltimore, Md.
8. Philadelphia, Pa.
9. Columbus, Ohio
10. Portland, Ore.
11. Austin, Texas
12. Los Angeles, Calif.
...

Columbus, Ohio? Portland,Oregon? We're the creative capital of the world. The goal for 2007 is that we at least make it into the Top 10. Right? And in 2008, we should move to within the Top 5. Realistically, we should be #1 or #2 - only because New York is a bigger city - it's a fact we cannot deny.

So, get out and vote!

LA Zoo turns 40!

What a month for Griffith Park!

First, the Observatory re-opened, and now, the Zoo is celebrating itself!

It was 40 years ago this month that the current Los Angeles Zoo opened, ending the days of what is now known as "The Old Zoo" in Griffith Park. The 1.5 mile move of animals was led by Gita the Elephant, who was then seven years old. 80,000 people attended the opening, and when it opened, the zoo was the first major one in the US that didn't let guests feed the animals. From that opening day, Methuselah the alligator is still living at the zoo. (More information about the opening with Mayor Sam Yorty can be found here.)

The LA Zoo is offering a celebration this week at the Zoo, so take part with 40% off coupons to celebrate the events and entertainment.

November 2006 is Griffith Park Month! I wonder what's next...

Q: How do you Measure R? A: With 4 more years.

Question: How do you Measure R?
Answer: With 4 more years.

With the passage of Measure R, currently seated LA City Councilmembers will be able to serve three four-year terms and not just two - as long as the measure is upheld in court. So, that's potentially six more years (instead of two more) for Janice Hahn, Dennis Zine, Ed Reyes, Eric Garcetti, Jack Weiss, & Jan Perry - council members who currently are serving their last term under the pre-R rules. These folks would have been termed out of their council seat in 2009 because they are 17 months into their second term. Well, not anymore.

That means that they have to more politically conscious of how they vote and what they do, and no longer do they have the controls that really allow them to do what's right - they potentially have to worry about their next election for the same seat.

Also, if the measure is upheld in court, most of those on City Council right now will be involved in redistricting which starts in 2010 - that means that politics will really influence the districts because the seated members will potentially have 3 to 5 years AFTER the redistricting (not including the potential CD7 replacement and if Rosendahl wins his next two elections, which would put those three-termers in office until 2021 & 2017, respectively. Yes, folks, there is a potential for whomever wins Alex Padilla's vacated seat to serve a total of 14 years!

Another issue that comes back is what about folks like Richard Alarcon, Laura Chick or Cindy Misacowski - they served their two terms under the previous term limit reforms - could they come back for a third term? Could Cindy unseat Bill Rosendahl for a term? Would it be worth it? And what about Laura Chick? She'll be termed out of her Controller's seat in 2009 - the same time that her old 3rd District seat will be up for grabs. Would she take on Dennis Zine to get four more years in office. That would be an interesting race, for sure.

If Measure R is upheld will the City really be able to move forward with the progress it has made in service delivery and focusing on the people (the turning of the horseshoe in the City Council Chambers, for instance, and Valley Council meetings) in the last 6 years? I hope so but I fear not.

No City Love for LAFD Nerd Blog

I mentioned earlier that the City of L.A. has embraced blogs via their website.

Today, I find that even more so the case with a specific, permanent link on the City's Homepage in their navigation bar at the right of the screen for blogs (see image).

But, what is very disappointing is that the best Municipal Nerd (blogger) in the City, the one who started it all, is not listed.

Yes, folks, as you can see from their "blogs" webpage & this screenshot, the LAFD Nerds are no where listed.

What's that all about? Who made that call or (hopefully) mistaken omission from the already meager list of Municipal Blogs?

Beverly Hills is named for whom?

Who is the Beverly of "Beverly Hills," "Beverly Glen," "Beverlywood," etc.? This is not an uncommon question for someone interested in the etymology of our region's places, streets, etc. Sadly, it's a very simple answer. I wish she was a roughneck pioneer of the late 19th century, but that woman's name was Maria Rita Valdez - owning this land about 75 years earlier. It wasn't a real estate tycoon's wife, daughter or girlfriend, either. No, the Beverly of this region was merely borrowed from the East Coast, as so much was in the development of Los Angeles, and then it took on a life of its own.

You see, in 1906 when the Rodeo Land and Water Company sold the land that would become Beverly Hills, the new developers envisioned a tranquil community. Beverly Hills was planned, developed, and named as such by Burton Green (of Burton Way fame). It is rumored that, after reading about Beverly Farms, Massachusetts (the location of President Taft's vacation retreat) in the newspaper, he & his wife thought "Beverly" sounded nice; so he pitched it to his associates, and they concurred. Then, with it being the only city between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, "Beverly" became the name of boulevards, streets, and adjacent communities. In fact, the naming of Beverly Boulevard, a direct route from Downtown to the ocean that was stalled for two decades, was able to be named "Beverly" because of the destinational proximity of that town to the rest of the developed region in the first decades of the 20th century.

So, there is no hard-nosed matron or would-be starlet named Beverly - it's not even someone's last name. If there was a person to associate it with, that person could be Mr. Green or President Taft... but no one named Beverly.

image from the Los Angeles Examiner via USC's digital archives.

McArthur Park is Melting...

I heard today on KNX1070 that there is a potential movement to rename the Westlake District - the area surrounding McArthur Park - to the "Historic Central American District." Councilman Ed Reyes was interviewed and supports the idea. Should we further eliminate the past of our City with this renaming in order to celebrate the current conditions? There is a public hearing process - will there be contention? Is this just another example of politics and special interest swaying the Councilmember's decisions a la Historic Filipinotown or Little Armenia or Thaitown? Does every foreign region require a district in Los Angeles? I'm not advocating either way, but these are real questions that our community and City need to consider.

There is an official process for community name changes and adoption, and three communities are currently in the process to define their boundaries: Brookside, Arroyo View Estates, and Lake Balboa.

The current effort to rename a small portion of Highland Park/Garvanza as "Arroyo View Estates" is quite interesting. The application states that the area has been historically known as such and calls attention to the fact that the don't want to be associated with the community south of Highland Park - they feel they are more closely aligned with adjacent Pasadena. The Planning Department says there is no historical planning record of such a community, but the documents from the Planning Department, found here, don't seem to have a firm grasp on neighborhoods. They refer to Valley Village as part of Van Nuys, whereas it was originally part of North Hollywood. I think the Department of Transportation says it best in their letter:

The Department anticipates a conflict in naming the Arroyo View Estates community if modifications are not made to the Highland Park and Garvanza community boundaries.

So, what's next for all these name changes? Will these changes be significant to the community or only to the community's property owners?

Will McArthur Park literally be melting in the dark? Will anyone notice or care?