Hollywood Locals Sore Over Tourists
Hollywood Hills residents are finding the constant presence of tourists irritating, and they’re searching for a way to curb crowding in the streets in front of their homes.
GPS systems and tour buses that transport visitors to the neighborhoods near the Hollywood sign are the main cause of the problem, residents say.
“GPS is a major issue for people like us,” said David Schaefer, who lives with his wife Frederique in a home located directly beneath the famous sign. “The directions in the system point them directly to the cul-de-sac we live on, and we get tons of people out in front constantly.”
The Schaefers say they often cannot back their cars out of the driveway because of constant tourist presence.
“I have to wait there for [the tourists] to come back,” said Frederique Schaefer. “I see them walking around, but there’s nothing I can do.”
“You try and be cordial and nice, but at some point it’s like, come on.”
Not every resident of Hollywood has been so welcoming. One lot near the base of the sign has a chalk sign that reads “Tourists Go Away,” and several signs have been posted around the neighborhood with similar messages.
“I can see how it would be bothersome,” said Stuart Slater, a tourist from Australia. “Especially if people are walking around being disrespectful to property.”
Hollywood residents like the Schaefers have met with city officials to debate how to best combat the crowds of sightseers.
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