El Dabe Sherif on July 14, 2011, at 11:07PM – #1

Terrible accident. I pray for the families involved.

Jeremy Liu on July 15, 2011, at 03:12AM – #2

That's horrible.

I wish they would just close down the streets to cars during art walk.

The police have been out there giving a lot of people jay-walking tickets. It probably would take the same number of police to close off those sections of Main and Spring to cars. I think that would make it safer and more enjoyable for those attending art walk.

Prayers go out to the driver and all the victims.

on July 15, 2011, at 07:16AM – #3

Closing down the street will do several things. 1) Allow for a freer movement of the crowd 2)Eliminate jay walking 3)Creates a more festive mood 4)Most importantly ... safer.

Chris Loos on July 15, 2011, at 08:29AM – #4

Sadly, this was just a matter of time.

Perhaps this terrible tragedy is the catalyst that turns Artwalk into a car free event. With 50,000+ people attending each artwalk, handing out jaywalking tickets to attendees is probably not the smartest way to keep people safe.

1. Shut down Spring from 3rd to 7th as well as its side streets, 1 block in each direction from Spring. Residents will be inconvenienced, but at this event shows, this is literally a matter of life and death. A single life saved trumps a evening of minor inconvenience for the whole a neighborhood.

2. Encourage non-Downtown residents attending artwalk to come via mass transit.

3. For those that drive, they can park outside of the outside of the pedestrian area. There's literally hundreds of acres of parking on the periphery of the Historic Core.

4. Enjoy your new safe, rationally planned Artwalk. Not only have you made pedestrians safer, you've demarcated a vast new swath of temporary public space for vendors, artists, public performances, as well as improved circulation.

crystal on July 15, 2011, at 08:53AM – #5

agree that it should be a closed street event. the sidewalks just can't handle the flow of people.

give residents a chance to get home though. have closures start about 7:30/8 when its picking up or give us a way to get in beforehand.

John Swartz on July 15, 2011, at 09:36AM – #6

THEY NEED TO START CLOSING DOWN THE STREETS FOR ART WALK!! THIS IS YOUR PROOF! THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE STREETS OPEN!

sunny on July 15, 2011, at 09:40AM – #7

As a 6 year resident of downtown these once a month Thursday night fiascsos accompanied by police sirens, helicopters and rude people urinating on my building has become unbearable. Downtown is a residential district and this event shows total disrespect for the residents. We're not all work at home artists - a lot of us have corporate jobs and it's difficult to try to sleep with the mayhem taking place until late into the evening. They should just move this to either Friday or Saturday or stop pretending it's about art and just call it food truck and beer fest. I feel bad for the mother and her child but the last time I walked down Spring I did not feel safe. The sidewalks are jammed with drunk people and creates an atmosphere of potential danger and criminality.

Kim Cooper on July 15, 2011, at 09:49AM – #8

I am sickened by this awful news.

The crowds at Art Walk have been out of control for a long time, and a year and a half ago I warned the readers of Blogdowntown that somebody could be hurt at this exact intersection.

http://blogdowntown.com/2010/01/5019-art-walk-wrap-january-2010#c24784

There has long been a need to actively disperse crowds away from the historic centers of Art Walk (5th and Main / 4th and Spring), and this is what my husband Richard Schave and I did, with input from LAPD Senior Lead Officer Joseph, when we put the Art Walk into a non-profit, before being forced out of its management in November 2009. At that time, this direction was abandoned.

If the Art Walk were, as it was conceived as a non-profit (see Mission Statement link below), a series of curated official events spread throughout the Historic Core, the numbers of people who attend Art Walk could be safely sustained, and the sidewalk bottlenecks that are the fundamental challenge of Art Walk could be avoided.

But the commercial element at Art Walk takes advantage of these bottlenecks, setting up to sell their wares and exacerbating the dangerous situation. The Art Walk's official "lounge" and map distribution center is also steps away from where this child was fatally struck.

For shame if this is what it takes to make the basic, intelligent crowd control changes needed to make Art Walk a safe event for the community.

* Making the Case For the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk (Mission Statement, October 2009)

http://www.archive.org/details/RichardSchaveMakingtheCasefortheDowntownLosAngelesArtWalk_1

DenOfLosAngeles on July 15, 2011, at 10:08AM – #9

I agree with Sunny. Art Walk needs to be a weekend event and not during a work week day. I live in east Hollywood and if neighbors here were having a loud party during a work week night many of us will certainly call the police

Oscar on July 15, 2011, at 10:36AM – #10

I hope somebody sues the meter company.

Dixon on July 15, 2011, at 10:43AM – #11

Ed Fuentes also has coverage of this on his blog View From a Loft http://viewfromaloft.typepad.com/

Ed appears to have left blogdowntown. He's covering things on his own blog (artwalk preview, etc.) that used to be covered here.

Alec Mitchell on July 15, 2011, at 10:56AM – #12

I can't believe all the victim blaming that's happening on this thread. A driver was parallel parking, jumped a curb, knocked over a parking meter and hit pedestrians critically injuring them. Somehow people seem to think that the problem was that there were too many people on the sidewalk! Frankly, that's abhorrent.

This sort of thing could happen at any time, and that's an argument for more pedestrian oriented street designs and street parking restrictions and/or closures during large events, not for ending Artwalk. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that people think the proper way to avoid these kind of incidents is to have fewer people on the sidewalks, but I wish that weren't the case.

Does this really seem like an appropriate venue for people to be venting long-held beliefs about Artwalk itself?

My deepest condolences to all those affected. Hopefully, we can make downtown's streets safer for everyone, during Artwalk and all other times.

Glenn Primm on July 15, 2011, at 10:59AM – #13

Even though I live at the corner of 5th & Spring, the noise level of Art Walk has never been personally affecting, although lately it's been harder and harder to get into the lobby of my own building! Even so, I don't mind that much, Art Walk having been one of the things that drew my attention to living in the Historic Core in the first place. So, my vote would be for a move to a weekend night, which I feel would less stressful to the more delicate among us urban dwellers.

Dawdling police presence aside, after the unfortunate accident last night (and my heart goes out to the parents of the struck child as well as the other victims of the accident) I observed six motor cops standing in the middle of Spring just south of 5th doing absolutely nothing. What was that all about?

But the key issue is this: tens of thousands now attend this event in a very confined space. This makes the non-closure of the local streets sheer insanity. As this event has grown, the city seems to be allowing it to spiral out of control, and all parties - civic and commercial - may be on the verge of criminal negligence when it comes to public safety. It has become imperative that a more rational approach to traffic control for this rather important downtown event is implemented immediately, and before anyone else gets hurt.

If the city can afford to have police officers passing their time guarding an empty street, surely they could be put to better use directing traffic out on the edge of the Core and thus doing what they are actually paid for, which is Serving and Protecting.

Kevin Haah on July 15, 2011, at 11:01AM – #14

My heart is just broken by this event. My prayers are with the baby and the family. Our church, New City Church of LA, would like to hold a prayer vigil where it happened. We just want to be there and pray for the baby and the family. I'll let you know when as soon as I have a chance to find out a little more information.

downtown vibe on July 15, 2011, at 11:07AM – #15

For those of you that think you can just "close down the street" ..not so fast... maybe if this was just an entertainment district, like in Austin, but this City has tried to develop a "mixed use" neighborhood. That means you have thousands of people living on top of the bars and restaurants. Residential properties must have access to their driveways. You can't just lock them out once a month (or whenever you want)for a street party.

The fact is nobody is in control of Art Walk.

That is the reason why it has attracted so many partygoers, not art buyers. They thrive on the chaos, get drunk, and party in the streets.

I'm thinking that if somebody doesn't figure out how to control this mess, LAPD is going to work with the City to either, charge somebody a butt-load of money to manage it, or shut it down.

Jamie Delgado on July 15, 2011, at 11:35AM – #16

THANK YOU, SUNNY. Those are my words exactly. Closing down the streets for drunken moochers who break into lofts to party on the rooftops or pee on the streets? I don't think so.

So sad that a situation like this had to occur...Praying for the baby and the family.

The solution is NOT to close down the streets or punish whomever...it's to get Art Walk OUT of this city.

() on July 15, 2011, at 11:39AM – #17

From my blog this morning...

In reading tweets this morning there were questions about why was a 2-month old out and about at 9 p.m. - let along out during Artwalk. Questions about why wasn't Spring Street closed to auto traffic. Questions about "should Artwalk continue".

Here's one mother's take - aka MINE.

1) Why was a 2-month old out at 9 p.m. and Artwalk. With all due respect, Iolani didn't miss an Artwalk during the first 6 months of her life. We walked, enjoyed the bright lights and the galleries. Key word: galleries. During our last Artwalk, Iolani enjoyed the street music, Syrup, and seeing the neighbors.

When you live in Downtown - 9 p.m. is late evening, but it isn't late. Especially when as a parent you know that a late bed time should mean a late wake up the next day. When you live in the neighborhood, Artwalk is when you see the neighbors. Artwalk to Iolani is just a Thursday evening in the neighborhood. I am sure that other DT parents would agree - Artwalk to families isn't a pedestrian booze cruise.

2) Why wasn't Spring Street closed? That is a very good question. Artwalk is big enough that closing Spring Street between 4th and 6th (and maybe even down to 7th) should be happening. I know there are garages that access Spring, and maybe make it local access (management nightmare), but as residents - let's have that discussion about what it means to improve the pedestrian environment.

3) Should Artwalk continue. Um, fucking hell yes. I might not make it to Artwalk every month, there may be a bunch of non-neighbors hanging out - but they are spending their money in the bars, restaurants, and maybe even a gallery or two. The money and pedestrian activity is worth it. The vacant apartments, the lofts for sale benefit from the one-a-month frenzy of potential residents. And with Carmageddon here - it is kind of nice to gloat over the fact that we have tremendous (and growing) transit access, we have the new school buildings, we have great redevelopment and infill development going on.

Last night a horrible thing happened. But maybe through the boozing, chatting, giggling during the morning after, we can take the next step in nurturing our residential neighborhood. We must keep the impacted families in our thoughts and prayers and do what we can to ensure that no other people get hurt during Artwalk.

Chris Loos on July 15, 2011, at 11:44AM – #18

@Alec - Welcome to Los Angeles. Pedestrian fatally struck by a car? "There's too many people!" Cyclists hit by a car? "There's too many cyclists!"

Maybe, just maybe...ITS THE CARS

Chris Loos on July 15, 2011, at 11:56AM – #19

I'm with Ginny. Artwalk should absolutely continue. Personally, it was the excitement of Artwalk that encouraged my wife and I to move Downtown in the first place. Seeing all the streetlife, the commerce, the gallery openings- we had this sense that we were looking into the future of Downtown. We don't want to live in some quiet suburb...the rest of LA is filled with those kinds of places.

But this tragedy is a wakeup call. Spring St needs to be closed during Artwalk. Yes it will be inconvienent for residents trying to park. Yes you'll probably have to get home early that one day a month to park your car, or otherwise leave it in lot a few blocks away until morning. But isn't this small inconvenience one day a month worth it if it saves lives?

Barbara Hamaker on July 15, 2011, at 12:05PM – #20

I have lived and worked in West Hollywood for 40+ years. Needless to say we have numerous special and recurring events similar to your Art Walk, some attracting more than 200,000 to our tiny area--with all the issues your other comments describe.

I would hope that those deciding the future of Art Walk for downtown Los Angeles will bring to the discussion table our LA County Sheriff's Department officials and the City of West Hollywood Public Safety Department. Their experience with several hundred different, difficult and successful events over the last 25 years would provide valuable insight to both broaden and focus a discussion that could easily get as out of control as this event seems to have gotten.

Closing down streets seems to be the first step in providing pedestrian safety, which could not be easily accomplished during the week. I am assuming capturing week-day people before they go home is the reason for holding it during the week. A weekend event would bring traffic and attendant parking issues back into the mix and a big part of the problem. And then the question is "would people come back on a weekend?" And then the ready availability of alcohol, mixing fun with inappropriate behavior of a few, exacerbates everything.

Both the LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Departments along with City officials learn from each other at times like these, and can often rewrite the books with better ways to do things. One would also hope that we, the people, can also learn. Close down the event until a better plan is in place.

The revitalization of urban cores are vital, exciting outgrowths of our society in the 21st Century. Intelligent decisions cannot be made by a select few clouded by a tragic event that brings out extreme views at either end of the spectrum. Listen to everyone.

My heart goes out to the family of the infant who has been lost and the many other people affected and injured, including the driver of the vehicle who will have to live with this death the rest of her/his life, just as much as the family will live with the death of their infant.

Former Planning Commissioner, City of West Hollywood

Sharon Floyd McCracken on July 15, 2011, at 12:12PM – #21

This is simply horrible accident. Our prayers are with the family and all those involved. I also pray for the Art Walk. There are many things wonderful about the event, but there are also things that need to be improved. We pray for wisdom for the leaders of the event and our government.

Megan Blaine () on July 15, 2011, at 12:23PM – #22

Hey guys - here's an idea. Let's ALL email the Artwalk board of directors and tell them we want Spring Street closed to vehicle traffic from 7-10pm during Artwalk. I don't want it to turn into a drunken street party, but for the safety of everyone who lives here we've got to get those cars off Spring St. Write the board directly and tell them we need some change.

bigphatcatlover on July 15, 2011, at 12:25PM – #23

So, the Art Walk debate continues. Yes, it's complicated and everyone has their point of view, commercial and private interests, and opinions. Everyone and no one seem to have the answers.

I agree that this was a tragedy waiting to happen. I've been a Spring Street resident, right in the heart of it, for more than seven years and have seen the major changes, improvements and the evolution of Art Walk. To those who think that closing down the streets is the answer, and that since it's "only one night a month" - I ask to you to broaden your vision. We who live here have to tolerate ALL of the "one day/night events" that seem to continually go on here. From the constant filming closures, to protests, marches, bike days, marathons, police actions, etc., etc., etc., to Art Walk. It's NOT just a one-night-a-month affair to us. We have our lives, work and activities, too. We deserve to have access to our buildings, garages, and yes - even our cars.

Joe's Parking jacks the parking rates up three or four times the usual rate, so they are making tons of money on the cars. They will fight the closures. Many of the businesses that make money do so on people who drive to DTLA, not just the residents. Yes an argument can and should be made for mass transit.

I agree that this should be a weekend event, and why not make it a daytime event? People will still get drunk, but maybe not as many. If it ends at 6 or 7 PM, maybe the trouble makers will go home, or better yet not show up at all. And maybe, just maybe it will be an event about ART!

Just my 2 cents.

Lisa Johnson on July 15, 2011, at 01:35PM – #24

I was at the scene of this accident, approx. a mere 20 feet away. I was slightly injured (bruised knees, sprained ankle) from the rush of the panic-stricken crowd as the accident occurred. My friend was almost pushed down a flight of stairs, and another friend was crushed against a wall. I can honestly say beforehand, I did NOT feel safe on those crowded sidewalks, and I will definitely not feel safe attending Art Walk again until I hear that the city has mandated that they close down the streets during this event. This could have been prevented! And while I find Art Walk to be an enjoyable and enriching event (I was having fun until it got overly crowded), it needs to have better crowd control.

KJ1 on July 15, 2011, at 02:07PM – #25

There is someone in charge of the Artwalk, correct? Has this person made an official statement regarding this? If not, there should be an official and very public explanation as to how this type of tragic event can be prevented in the future.

Katherine

() on July 15, 2011, at 02:27PM – #26

From DT News - they have a quote:

“We’re deeply saddened by the occurrence,” said Joe Moller, Art Walk executive director. “Our deepest sympathies are extended to the individuals and families involved.”

Brian Tompkins on July 15, 2011, at 02:31PM – #27

Grieving the loss of this little one. Praying for the safety of all of our children. This is often a tough community for families, but it's a community with families nonetheless, full of caring neighbors. There is a discussion that should continue to take place about the issues raised here and others. Right now though, I'm just heart-broken...and hopeful that this mother and this place will receive peace.

Chris Loos on July 15, 2011, at 02:48PM – #28

“He was trying to parallel park, and he entered to parallel coming in nose first, which is not what you do,” Vernon said. “Somehow he jumped that curb hit that parking meter, which kicked it over, and several people got struck. Then he backed up and ended up hitting a cop. It’s a tragic accident.”

Do they not teach parallel parking anymore?

Alisa Rivera on July 15, 2011, at 03:51PM – #29

This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to that poor baby's family. But I want to remind people that in 2003 an out-of-control driver killed 10 people, including a 7-month-old infant, at a Farmer's Market in Santa Monica. This despite the fact that the event took place in the morning and the street was closed for the event. Yet the Farmer's Market was not shut down and continues to this day.

http://articles.latimes.com/2003/dec/04/local/me-farmers4

I support street closures and better management of Art Walk, but this tragedy does not mean the event has to be shut down.

downtown vibe on July 15, 2011, at 04:19PM – #30

Santa Fe has an Art Walk... This is more like a Rave.

downtown vibe on July 15, 2011, at 04:32PM – #31

Downtown would be far healthier if we had a fraction of these people downtown every night of the week. The businesses would be more stable and you would have people coming to relax.

We've outgrown the 2nd Thursday concept...Too many people on just one night!

You don't need a special police force or street closures...both of which are going to cost a small fortune. Just change the concept to more days a month...spread it out and combine it with other cultural activities...IE program the historic theaters on Broadway.

And no you can't block my driveway. You don't know when I will get home from work and it is not your business.

Alexandra Leh on July 15, 2011, at 05:05PM – #32

as a DTLA resident for over 6 years, i'm with bigphatcatlover and downtown vibe on this. it's gotten out of hand, and this is our wake-up call. we have to find a balance between destination and community. for the most part, bars and restaurants are designed to create a destination for all but, in large part, for those who don't live here; homes and parks and shops -- places like the last bookstore AND target -- create a community for those of us who do. which group is valuable to the renaissance of DTLA as a living, breathing community? both, of course. those of us who live here every day, who have staked our lives here, who make a daily commitment to the neighborhood -- we are the ones who have planted roots, in the interest of growing a true community. those who come to visit are invited to share in the bounty, but absolutely not to the disrespectful detriment of our comfort and -- more important -- safety. the growth i've observed since moving down here from mt. washington in 2005 has been random, at best, and this tragedy is but one result of that lack of forethought.

i'm no hothouse flower -- i'm a native new yorker, raised as a baby, child and young adult in midtown manhattan. i have never felt as unsafe in that most urban of environments as i do on downtown los angeles "artwalk" evenings. there's a very different, and critical, sensibility required to live, work and play in such close proximity to each other and the assortment of dangerous transportation...there's an unspoken, intuitive responsibility, not just to ourselves and our best interests, but to each other. that takes conscious planning, and i believe that, until such a plan is made -- by a balanced combination of law enforcement, business owners, and residents -- the artwalk should be suspended.

() on July 15, 2011, at 11:05PM – #33

Closing the streets would destroy the event - and destroy the neighborhood. It would then no longer be an event celebrating our neighborhood and our art galleries and our other businesses - but a huge rave street festival with mobs of people that would make our neighborhood far less safe than is during the present Art Walk event.

The only way to fix the problem is to have fewer people - not far more as this proposal wants - and the only way to do that is to - on Art Walk night - ban any use of any parking spaces for other than parking cars - meaning no food trucks, no booths, and no parties - on Main or Spring - between 3rd and 7th.

That would remove most of the party crowd to neighborhoods that are now empty at night and spread out the footprint of the Art Walk.

Nicolas Cruz on July 18, 2011, at 10:57AM – #34

Hello!!! I was there last Thursday prior to the tragic incident!!! I would love to help!! I was enjoying the mode of everything and I was looking at the Safety on the streets and inside the Galleries!!! Who am I !! I'm a Safety Officer for the City of Los Angeles !! I have been trained !! I have a future with downtown !! I'm planning stages of building a restaurant/deli and I want to protect and shield my new home and friends from another incident !!! I love the lofts, and the pets and the buildings !! I would work for "Free" so this will never happen again!!! Please call me, e-mail, or bark !! ,,, CRUZ-N FOR A BETTER DOWNTOWN PAYFORWARD !! I'M SO SO SORRY LITTLE ONE MAY THE ANGELS PROTECT YOU !!!

downtown vibe on July 19, 2011, at 11:24AM – #35

Brady has the right idea. Increase the footprint of ArtWalk and use it as a tool for redevelopment in areas like Broadway.

Personally, I think it's time to shift from having a monthly "event", to a more general marketing campaign for downtown.

An "event" costs money and has liability.

However, a "large number of people coming downtown to experience all that the neighborhood has to offer", creates no special liability. The police will simply be deployed as needed. Costs will be absorbed.

on July 19, 2011, at 08:36PM – #36

Yes - it's definitely time to to close the crowded streets during Artwalk, especially Spring St. I was thinking that the night that this terrible tragedy occurred.

It's really a no-brainer. Street closures are common down here and it's not really a giant inconvenience for anybody to have the street closed for a few hours. It's sad that it takes something like this to get the organizers to consider it. Artwalk is great and it brings a lot of revenue and exposure to Downtown, but make some sensible changes to avoid things like this in the future.

My sympathies to the child and family of this unfortunate accident.

Christopher Eaton on July 20, 2011, at 12:58AM – #37

This accident was tragic and horrible. However, an error in driving judgment on the part of a 22-year driver, in my mind, has little to do with pedestrian conditions at the ArtWalk. The same thing could have happened anywhere in the city on any night of the week. I don't understand the logic of lambasting the ArtWalk because of this very sad incident.

downtown vibe on July 21, 2011, at 03:22PM – #38

It should be pointed out that the parking meters being on the "wrong" side of a one way street probably contributed to the accident.

The driver was obviously disoriented.

BobbyD on July 23, 2011, at 06:15PM – #39

I have done extensive work in at least a dozen major art museums in California and many smaller institutions- BUT I say the regular people are more important than all the art in the world. Art must put the people first- not expect them to bow down or get out of the way! Museum people can sit together in dark rooms saying to each how great they are for all I care about their (lack of)importance in society.

David Negrete on August 10, 2011, at 12:27PM – #40

Artwalk got rid of the poor winos and only brought in the rich winos.