Actually, one can fly over most of LA not talking to anyone VFR. Hollywood sign? As long as you're below 5000ft. Sure, you're squeezed by Burbank's C to the north, KSMO's D to the south and LAX B above you. Downtown? Same thing, just below 2500ft this time.
There is a Mode C xpndr veil around the whole of LA, so you need to have that thing on squawking VFR, but other than that you wouldn't even need a radio. You could be based at Compton airport, fly all over LA and not have to put one in at all.