Hollywood Threatens Los Angeles With Independence

It has the best known sign in the world, and now it may have its own municipality to go with it, independent of Los Angeles.

The possible secession of Hollywood is hailed by its supporters as a victory for the little guy and denounced by its opponents as a damaging and potentially sinister blow to the second biggest city in the US.

After a stormy meeting in which everything from pornography to child abuse was thrown into the debate, a local commission agreed to let LA voters decide in November whether Hollywood can become an independent city with its own mayor, council and police force.

Hollywood was once independent - for seven brief years at the beginning of the last century - but it was incorporated into LA in 1910, after being threatened with having its water supply cut off. Since then it has become synonymous with film-making, although the big studios have long since moved away.

The independence campaign is aimed at restoring the run down, graffitied and crime-ridden district to its former glory. "We have gone from being a city in its infancy to becoming the abused child of a giant metropolis that fattened itself at the table as its foster children starved," said Joe Shea, president of a local community association supporting the break.

"Hollywood's history is a tale of a journey interrupted, a destiny unfulfilled, a hope unrealised. Instead of the proud city of the hills, Hollywood is a bastard child of a broken home."

Gene La Pietra, a nightclub owner who is leading the campaign, was confident of the vote's outcome and said inde pendence would "put the pride back into Hollywood".

He believes that its 20 million annual visitors often leave disappointed by the sometimes tawdry display they find. Many of the shops offer tatty souvenirs, tattoos or "hooker" fashions.

But opponents at the commission hearings argued that there was a hidden agenda. One said that Larry Flynt, the publisher of Hustler magazine, which is based locally, wanted to open a casino and turn the city into "pornopolis".

The mayor of LA, Jim Hahn, was dismayed by the commission verdict. If his electorate gives both Hollywood and San Fernando Valley the independence they want on November 5, his city will shrink by 40%.

He told the 180,000 Hollywood residents that it would mean higher taxes and reduced policing and refuse collection.

Yesterday Hollywood was going about its normal busi ness, giving a star on its Walk of Fame to Morgan Freeman - a privilege which costs the beneficiary about $15,000 (over £10,000).

If independence does come, the famous sign will belong to the new city.

And the city already has its own museum, Frederick's, which claims to include the world's only lingerie museum, with everything from Cyd Charisse's silk stockings to Robert Redford's boxer shorts.