Los Angeles proposal seeks study of volunteer crosswalk painting

A Los Angeles City Council proposal would ask LADOT to study a pilot program allowing volunteers to legally paint crosswalks, street-safety advocate Jonathan Hale told ABC7 Los Angeles. Hale said his group will pause its painting efforts while awaiting the city's response.

The proposal could create a legal framework for volunteer work that has drawn both support and concern from Westwood residents. It follows Hale's arrest about a year earlier over crosswalk painting; the vandalism charges were later dropped, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Hale, founder of People's Vision Zero, said Councilwoman Yaroslavsky introduced the motion the previous week with a colleague whom ABC7 Los Angeles identified as Councilmember Eunisses Martinez.

According to Hale's account in the report, the motion calls for LADOT to assess whether an official volunteer painting program would be feasible. That would be a study of a possible pilot, rather than immediate permission for residents to paint crosswalks.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that Hale was arrested at a Westwood location before finishing a crosswalk. His advocacy focuses on street safety for people walking, bicycling and using public transit.

Westwood resident Joseph Robinson said residents should have a proper legal framework before undertaking such work, according to the report. Another Westwood resident, Jason Lai, said volunteer involvement could help safety improvements move faster.

Hale said his group hopes any future crosswalk painting can take place through an official program. The city did not respond to ABC7 Los Angeles' request for comment.