City Hall enjoys host’s humorous campaign. If talk show host Conan O’Brien wants a street named for him in Van Nuys, he better be ready to do some good first. The red-haired funnyman’s request to City Hall for West Ramer Street to become Conan O’Brien Boulevard has Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa turning to the Twitterverse to take suggestions on what O’Brien can do to earn the street designation. The Twitter account #ConanBlvd went active June 28 and will stay up through the Fourth of July weekend to give the public the chance to chime in, said mayor spokesperson Sarah Hamilton. The mayor’s office has enjoyed the bits O’Brien has done on his cable talk show, Hamilton said. “(Villaraigosa) is asking Conan to give back to the city first and make a contribution to Los Angeles by doing street cleaning… or cleaning up graffiti,” Hamilton said. Some tweeters are asking that O’Brien do more than just tidy up the city. “For starters he can buy the Dodgers & help get the NFL back in LA!!” wrote Twitter user MrPhil22. “Hospitality/city greeter for 80 hours dressed as a bear,” suggested GiggsyTheCorgi. O’Brien put his own playful twist on an honorary street by rejecting a location suited for a celebrity of his stature. He picked a short, dead-end street parallel to railroad tracks in an industrial area of Van Nuys. In his campaign, O’Brien offered to spruce up the area near a sporting goods store and a trailer park. As for the actual naming, if done temporarily, it only requires the approval of Villaraigosa and a city agency overseeing streets. Permanent designation requires City Council action. —Mark R. Madler
Mayor: Conan Needs to Earn Street Name
