LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frustrated by the slow progress in painting crosswalks at intersections they believe are unsafe, activists in Los Angeles have been picking up paint rollers and doing it themselves. Now, one of them has been arrested on a vandalism charge.
In a video posted online, Jonathan Hale, wearing a bright yellow safety vest, was handcuffed by a police officer during a 'paint party' organized by his group, People’s Vision Zero, at a four-way intersection in West LA.
“You’re vandalizing city property without a permit,” the officer is heard saying, as a bystander protests, asserting Hale is doing nothing wrong.
The group has organized stealth operations across the city, painting crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety. They utilize barricades and yellow tape to quickly execute their task while claiming the markings are compliant with existing codes. Their actions build on the advocacy work previously established by another organization, the Crosswalk Collective.
Following his arrest, Hale expressed his disappointment towards the city, suggesting that public funds will be wasted to remove the markings which could have been prevented by actionable responses from officials.
Hale has been in contact with Mayor Karen Bass's office and the city’s Department of Transportation but has received little feedback concerning the enhancements to pedestrian safety in the city. He emphasized, “We won’t stop unless they condemn our actions publicly or take tangible steps to improve safety on our streets.”
In a response, Mayor Bass's office indicated their willingness to work with Hale and any Angeleno looking to improve street safety, though reiterated that Hale's choice to proceed without official approval was a violation of existing regulations.
Hale, facing misdemeanor charges, has a court date set for January 5, and the ongoing conversation about pedestrian safety continues to reverberate within the community as activists push for more immediate action.
