Crosswalks Erased
Hello
On May 20, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation sent crews to Koreatown and removed painted crosswalks at dangerous intersections. Community members had created those crosswalks because the city hadn't. LADOT removed them without notice, without explanation, and without any plan to replace them.
Residents who participated in the painting received citations.
What Happened
Koreatown has intersections with heavy foot traffic and no marked crossings. Residents painted crosswalks to fill gaps in pedestrian safety infrastructure. LADOT removed them with heavy machinery on May 20 - no community outreach, no public comment, no replacement timeline.
Why It Matters
Many of Koreatown's streets fall within LA's High Injury Network - corridors with the highest rates of traffic deaths and serious injuries in the city. The community painted crosswalks because the need was obvious and the city hadn't acted.
Removing them - and citing the people who made them - sends a clear message about whose input the city values when it comes to street safety in Koreatown.
What We're Asking
- Drop or refund all citations issued for the crosswalk painting
- Explain publicly why the crosswalks were removed
- Install replacement crosswalks at the affected intersections
- Establish a community input process before making changes to pedestrian infrastructure in Koreatown
Questions for LADOT
- Who ordered the removal?
- Why was heavy machinery used to remove safety infrastructure?
- What is the current process for residents to propose crosswalk installations?
- When will the affected intersections get permanent crosswalks?
Who to Contact
- LADOT General Manager: Saleta Reynolds
- LADOT Slow Streets: Kevin Ocubillo, Clare Eberle
- Your council district office
Add Your Voice
If you've been affected by unsafe crossings in Koreatown or have photos and video of the removal, share your experience at feedback.ktown.team.
Community documentation is how we build the case.