Council Eyes Volunteer Crosswalk Painting Pilot
A motion would have the Los Angeles Department of Transportation study a program using volunteers to repaint city-approved crosswalks.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Civic Engagement
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Los Angeles Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky introduced a motion Wednesday asking the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of a community volunteer crosswalk-painting pilot. The motion must still be voted on and approved.
Why it matters
The proposal follows more than a year of crosswalk painting by People's Vision Zero, a group that acted without city approval after a lack of painted crosswalks near a park on Stoner and Nebraska avenues. Founder Jonathan Hale has been arrested for the work, and a video of the arrest went viral.
The motion asks the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to study a program limited to repainting existing, city-approved crosswalks rather than creating new ones. Whether the council will approve the study remains unresolved.
The players
Katy Yaroslavsky
Yaroslavsky is a Los Angeles City Councilwoman who introduced the motion to study the volunteer crosswalk pilot program.
Jonathan Hale
Hale is the founder of People's Vision Zero, a group that has painted crosswalks across Los Angeles without city approval and was arrested for doing so.
Los Angeles Department of Transportation
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation is the city agency the motion asks to study the feasibility of the volunteer crosswalk pilot program.
The details
The program would use community volunteers to repaint existing crosswalks already approved by the city. People's Vision Zero began its unpermitted painting after residents noticed missing crosswalks near the park at Stoner and Nebraska avenues.
Timeline
Wednesday: Yaroslavsky introduced the crosswalk volunteer pilot motion.
Less than a year ago: Hale was arrested for crosswalk painting and a video of the arrest went viral.
More than a year ago: People's Vision Zero began painting crosswalks illegally.
Legal Context
The motion turns unpermitted crosswalk painting by People's Vision Zero into a possible city-sanctioned pilot limited to repainting existing approved crosswalks. Whether the council approves the study will determine if the group's approach becomes an official avenue for community-led street safety work in Los Angeles.
If approved, the pilot would let trained community volunteers repaint existing city-approved crosswalks rather than leaving that work to city crews alone. Residents would not be able to paint new crosswalks under the proposal as described.
The takeaway
Los Angeles residents who want faster street-safety fixes may soon have an official path to help, rather than relying on unpermitted action. Watching how the council votes on the study will show whether community volunteers gain a formal role in maintaining city crosswalks.
Further reading
For more on how residents shape local decisions, explore Civic Engagement coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Southern California.
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Should Los Angeles let volunteers repaint existing crosswalks in your neighborhood?
