SYMBOLIC WIN FOR COUNTY NOW-DISCARDED SEAL BECOMES HOT COLLECTORS' ITEM.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

The decision to replace the Los Angeles County seal with a ``politically correct'' version has left county officials with a cross to bear.

In a growing backlash to the $700,000 project to replace the original county seal, which featured a tiny Christian cross, employees have refused to replace some of the old emblems or found creative ways to continue wearing them on their uniforms.

And at a county store and on eBay, shirts, hats, watches, lapel pins, medallions and flags emblazoned with the now-famous 1957 seal are selling like hotcakes.

``We've had a run on merchandise,'' said Victoria Pipkin, director of the Office of Workplace Programs & Marketing, which sells the items. ``People have been like, I'm going to get my collector's items now. I'll sell it on eBay. It will be worth a whole lot of money.

``I can tell you that no one has come in and asked for any merchandise with the new seal. They hate the new seal. They say, 'We don't like the new seal,' and other comments you can't print in a family newspaper.''

Among the hottest items on eBay are items bearing the original county seal. Items listed Monday included a ``Los Angeles County Seal - Large Metal Emblem! Rare!'' listed for $15 and two ``Los Angeles County District Attorney - Seal Pins'' for $7.50 each.

``I love it,'' said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who is supporting a ballot-initiative petition drive to retain the seal commissioned by her father - longtime county Supervisor Kenneth Hahn.

``People have lived the seal. They have worn the seal. They have raised their hand and taken an oath under the seal.

``They have carried out their jobs - whether they are janitors, sheriff's employees or clerks - wearing this seal, and replacing it really hurts the spirit of the county employees.

``I happen to have a big replica of the county seal in my office. Supervisor Don Knabe gave me one to treasure.''

County carpenter Ollie McLemore said he bought several hats bearing the original seal before the controversy erupted.

``I might get on the (eBay) bandwagon, too,'' McLemore said.

Top county managers recently bought 350 watches featuring the original seal.

``Some people say they are finding this stuff on eBay,'' county spokeswoman Judy Hammond said. ``The sales have been brisk. We had 1,250 lapel pins, and Supervisor Knabe bought them all. We still have pendants for necklaces.''

Knabe's spokesman John Musella said the supervisor bought the lapel pins for their ``historic value.''

``The supervisor wanted to ensure we had the old county seal lapel pins to hand out to folks in the community and visiting dignitaries who might want to have a piece of history,'' Musella said. ``There are a lot of people who support the old seal and want to proudly display it on their lapel.

``I think people underestimated the power of a small cross. I don't think this issue is going to die anytime soon.''

In several 3-2 votes earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors ordered the replacement of the seal on thousands of county buildings, vehicles and park signs - and on county uniforms - after the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California threatened to sue. The group argued that the seal was unconstitutional because the tiny cross - symbolizing the impact of missions in California's history - violated the separation of church and state.

Although it's not reached the point of a full-fledged revolt, some county employees are refusing to replace the seal, or are coming up with innovative ways to get around replacing it.

One county employee said that, when his uniform wears out, he'll cut the seal off and sew it onto his new uniform.

Last week, a county employee who helped replace two giant county seals on the front wall of the Board of Supervisors' hearing room proudly wore a hat emblazoned with the original version.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said he would not replace the seals in his office - despite several 3-2 votes by his fellow supervisors ordering him to do so.

``We have no intention of changing the seal in our offices or in our daily activities,'' Antonovich said. ``The response from county employees of every various ethnic and religious background has been one of total support for the cross remaining on the county seal because it reflects the history of Los Angeles County. They are all proud of the old seal.

``Replacing the seal is an attempt to be politically correct over the wishes of what is right.''

Bart Diener, assistant general manager of Service Employees International Union, Local 660, said that, if county employees were disciplined for refusing to change seals on their uniforms or other locations, the union would defend them.

``One of our roles is to make sure that employees get fair representation in all disciplinary matters,'' Diener said. ``This would be no different.''

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

MAKING THE PURCHASE

Merchandise bearing the original Los Angeles County seal can be purchased at the Office of Workplace Programs & Marketing, Room B-1, or the Public Information Office, Room 358, at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St. For more information, call [phone], or log on to the Web site at cao.co.la.ca.us/workplace/marketing.htm. For information about the petition drive to save the seal, log on to www.ourfirstamendment.org.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) This golf shirt bears the original 1957 county seal.

(2 -- color) T-shirts, hats and other apparel, all bearing the original 1957 seal of Los Angeles County, are available in the Hall of Administration.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

MAKING THE PURCHASE (see text)