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Friday, March 28, 2008

Welcome to H-E-I-D-I-W-O-O-D

According to US Weekly via MSNBC, this season’s celeb wannabe snore Heidi Montag recently requested changing the iconic Hollywood Sign to "Heidiwood" in honor of Montag's impending Los Angeles fashion show. (...snore indeed...)

What was more interesting by far was Tom LaBonge’s response. LaBonge has been the chair of the Council's Arts Parks Health and Aging committee for what seems like an eternity to a lot of Angelenos. When Montag’s people made the request, LaBonge reportedly responded “We rarely accept alterations of an historic monument."

For a man rumored to have a photographic memory, LaBonge's apparently failed him on this. It was just a little over eight years ago when the Mayor and the Clowncil decided to have Hollywood Sign lit up for New Year’s Eve, 2000 as part of the City's widely-panned $6 million Millenium celebration.

In 2001, Eric Garcetti requested that the Hollywood Sign be turned Red, White, and Blue in honor of Veteran’s Day.

In 1987, the Hollywood Improvement Association filed an appeal to stop the Rec and Parks Commission from allowing the Fox Network to alter & illuminate the Hollywood Sign for a period in April as a commercial promotion. City Council didn’t bother to hear the motion until well after FOX’s promotion occurred.

In 1992 the same group filed suit to stop Rec and Parks Commissioners once again from selling out the sign, this time to advertise the film “Cool World”. The lawsuit contended that LAMC 63.44 -- which is the LAMC that outlines most dos and donts in City parks -- prohibits this kind of use. The City Council had the LAMC changed to make it clear that the City can indeed do this, and then proceeded to do it. A giant cartoon character from the film was then unceremoniously stuck on the sign, cheesing up the icon for months.

There are many more documented changes to the sign, both official and unofficial. So...hmmm. Maybe Montag's people didn't offer enough in campaign contributions?

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10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Tom "bong" LaBonge is one cool, merry making, surf daddy. He shares his bong, unlike others.

March 28, 2008 10:14 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Tom "bong" LaBonge is a "Tie" man. Always picks ties that say, "I'm here, look at me." His ties distinctly say, "Shaker and mover", ...on the dance floor that is. When Tom walks, women swoon.

March 28, 2008 11:41 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Get this Petra Fried Chicken Nut off Mayor Sam!

March 28, 2008 12:32 PM  

Blogger Mayor Sam said:

Could you imagine Bloomberg selling up ads on the Statue or Liberty? Or Newsom doing promos on the Golden Gate Bridge?

But this is LA, Heidi, open up your checkbook and get back to Tom LeBong.

March 28, 2008 12:45 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Who cares that some "snore" called Heidi can't have the Hollywood Sign changed to promote herself for a day.

The Millenium and Veteran's Day are hardly the same thing. I don't approve of the other commercial uses, but still, some blockbuster event of national interest is a MAYBE...in this time of city financial crisis. Depends how much they'll pay.

March 28, 2008 1:28 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

How very important.

March 28, 2008 1:41 PM  

Blogger LA Daily Blogger said:

Oh man, a THREE (3) HOUR Dog & Pony show at LA City Council meeting today. That's right, they didn't start public comment and the agenda items until 3 hours and fifteen minutes into the meeting.

I posted a run down of the stupidity and some other things today at Zuma's Blog.

March 28, 2008 2:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

GO AWAY Zuma

and take Jerk Hoff with you.

March 28, 2008 2:12 PM  

Blogger Debbie said:

I liked it when the pranksters changed the sign to "H-O-L-L-Y-W-E-E-D". That was classic.

xoxo

March 28, 2008 3:37 PM  

Blogger Red Spot in CD 14 said:

Does that include open space in Griffith Park??

March 28, 2008 4:06 PM  

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