[OSM-newbies] Controlling label position

[Matt Maxon]

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=34.25555&lon=-118.25489&zoom=17&layers=B000FTF

This is an example of an unreadable label

Is there someway to control the position of the label?

One kludge I have used is to create a line that has a name but won't 
render, like this....
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=34.33732&lon=-118.2698&zoom=16&layers=B000FTF

Suggestions, comments, etc appreciated

Matt