Which Way, L.A.?

Hollywood Secession

The film and fantasy capital of the world has become a diverse, complex metropolitan area, but does Hollywood have what it takes to survive and prosper all on its own? Although neither the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce nor State Controller Kathleen Connell have stated their opinions, the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, says that it could, so there's a good chance that Hollywood secession will be on this November's ballot. The proposed city of 165,000 residents would be bound loosely by Lankershim on the north, Melrose on the south, Hoover on the east, and La Brea on the west. We hear arguments for and against cityhood from Gene La Pietra, President of Hollywood Vote, and businesswoman Christi Van Cleve. Reporter's Notebook: The Views from Playa Vista Even as the environmental battle rages in court, the first residents are settling into the biggest development in the history of Los Angeles. Among them is Prince Rawlings. While the Loyola Marymount University student discounts environmental concerns and praises Playa Vista for affording him "more bang for the buck," environmentalist Marcia Hanscom, of the Wetlands Action Network, cautions that the battle's not over yet. Acknowledgement: When we interviewed Mr Rawlings, we did not know that he was a part-time, paid employee of the developer. A listener has since called to tell us that. We checked it with our guest, and he confirmed it.