'SOLA' As Proposed Nickname For South L.A. Generates Strong Opinions

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — What's in a name?

Apparently a lot if you ask one local lawmaker leading the charge to include the nickname "SOLA" on all city documents as a way to help reinvigorate the area.

Councilman Bernard Parks, who represents South L.A., says "SOLA" will give people another option by which to refer to themselves.

Parks writes: "No, this motion is not meant to shove 'SOLA' down people's throats and, no, it's not the first horse of the gentrification apocalypse … 'SOLA' will not be replacing the term of 'South Los Angeles.' It will be just another option for people to refer to themselves."

In 2003, the City Council officially renamed South Central Los Angeles to South Los Angeles because of the negative connotation.

But this proposal is receiving mixed reviews by residents many of whom aren't convinced another rebranding is needed.

"A name like SOLA has to grow on you because South Los Angeles is the real name," said Veronica Lay, a South L.A. resident.

But Charles Garnett, another South Los Angeles resident, said: "I think that could catch on. SOLA. Yeah, yeah, that's different."

Jasmyne Cannick, a South LA resident and community activist, questions who the name change is for.

"Are we doing this for South Los Angelenos or are we doing this to attract people who want to live here but don't want to live under the moniker of 'South Los Angeles?' " she asked. "This is South LA."

The motion for the official nickname is expected to go before City Council in the next few weeks.