If you're out for a stroll along Hollywood Boulevard you may come across a short walkway filled with a few benches and trees nestled between an apartment complex and optometrist storefront. Standing watch in front of this promenade like some sort of sentinel for the city of Hollywood is a statue of Joseph W. Young, its first mayor.

If you're not paying attention, it may fade into the background in favor of the sights along the boulevard but if you stop to examine the statue you'll notice something a bit off about it. The statue, not cast in bronze or made of marble like most others, appears to be molded from a sort of plastic. The shoes look like someone decided to cut some corners by spray painting a pair, and over time it seems this likeness of Mr. Young has become rather windswept, tilting back in an awkward stance as if gail force winds have tried to knock him from his station.…