UPDATE: The mural is to be whitewashed by the city soon. Meanwhile, we're sure that other illegal signs have gone up and hundreds more have not been cited and remain in violation. Neighbors who are against the mural have admitted that their only problem with the mural is the style of the art-- essentially the city is acting as an art curator of private art on private property. The NoHo Arts District site is hosting a protest/funeral for the mural tomorrow. All the details are here.
Original story, 3/2/2011
The City of Los Angeles is littered with commercial signs that violate the city's sign code, from small businesses with unpermitted sidewalk signage to larger companies with illegal banners, and massive billboards originally built without permission that use the court system to maintain their ill-gotten profits. These violations not only blight the city, they put money directly into the hands of the people violating the code.
While those commercial violators continue their assault on the city's code with seemingly little or no retribution, a North Hollywood home-owner on a fixed income named Barbara Black has the city breathing down her neck demanding that she whitewash a mural she commissioned on her private property that in no way violates the code. The problem is that her mural is painted in wildstyle graffiti by local arts students. Discrimination against graffiti murals in Los Angeles is not new, but this may represent a new low for the biased policy, as the City is harassing a taxpayer who tried to support her community by giving students a place to practice their art. The NoHo Arts District is calling on all residents of Los Angeles to support Ms. Black. You can contact the city using the information below:
SAVE Barbara Black’s North Hollywood Graffiti Art Mural
Tweet: @paulkrekorian
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulKrekorian
Email: councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org
Call: (818) 755-7676
Fax: (818) 755-7862
In Person:
6350 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Ste 201
North Hollywood, CA 91606
