A South Bay dad is slated to repaint a crosswalk, add stop signs near a children’s park

A longtime El Segundo resident was arrested earlier this month after he posted unauthorized stop signs at a neighborhood intersection that he said had become too dangerous for children.

Joseph Brandlin, 44, who has lived in El Segundo for more than four decades, said he is taking matters into his own hands after months of failing to get city officials to address safety issues at the intersection of Loma Vista Street and Acacia Avenue.

The intersection is now a two-way stop and is adjacent to Acacia Park, which is a reopened children’s park across the street. preparation in 2021.

“I’m very concerned about the safety of the neighbors and the families that live here,” said Brandlin.

Brandlin expressed concern about the intersection last year. He and other residents sent a petition with nearly 50 signatures asking for more stop signs. The city later said it had conducted a traffic inspection, but residents were not notified at the time and there was no physical evidence of it, according to Brandlin.

The city ultimately decided the intersection didn’t meet the traffic volume needed to get more stop signs, Brandlin said.

But residents say the city’s ranking does not reflect the truth.

“There’s a park right there, and it’s a magnet for kids,” said Gary Sanders, 62, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years. He noted that drivers approaching intersections often speed up and may not expect pedestrians to cross.

On weekends and after school, the area gets very busy with families and parked cars, according to Sanders.

He said: “It could be a disaster. I wonder if it has to be a disaster for the city to do something about it.”

A resident walks his dog at the intersection of Loma Vista Road and westbound Acacia Avenue in El Segundo, where resident Joseph Brandlin has installed two stop signs and painted a white “Stop” sign on the road.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

In the weeks before his arrest, Brandlin said he witnessed several near misses, including incidents involving children.

She described a close call involving her son, who was nearly hit while riding his bike because of poor visibility at an intersection.

“That was the last straw,” he said.

Brandlin spent about $1,000 of his own money on commercial-grade equipment, including 30-inch illuminated stop signs similar to others on the road. He began installing them himself to replace the yellow signs placed at the intersection on the morning of March 14, according to the El Segundo Police Department.

The police arrested him around 1:30 in the morning while he was working on the second side of traffic. Brandlin said the arrest was excessive, and said he was cited for multiple charges, including harassment.

Charges include interfering with a traffic control device, grand theft, and vandalism over $400, Sgt. Paul Saldana of the El Segundo Police Department said.

Joseph Brandlin said he attended several El Segundo City Council meetings asking the city to install stop signs, but the city ignored his concerns. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

He was taken to a nearby jail and released the morning of March 14, with a citation, according to police. His court date is scheduled for June.

Despite the legal ramifications, several residents expressed support for Brandlin’s action and expressed broader concerns about safety.

“I think it’s a big deal,” said Amanda Pruett, a local babysitter and parent. “The safety of our children is very important.”

Pruett said he often sees unsafe driving in the area and believes more stop signs can help reduce the risk.

Several residents told a Times reporter that they have seen dangerous vehicles passing through that intersection for years, and one said their cat was hit by a car.

After Brandlin’s arrest, residents quickly organized. Brandlin collected 73 letters in 24 hours from nearby homes urging the city to take action.

On March 17, he presented these letters to a City Council meeting he was arrested days after his release.

“I’m asking the council to take direct action to install stop signs at the intersection of Loma Vista Street and Acacia Avenue, or a full and open investigation with the public,” said Brandlin.

The incident sparked a debate about how cities respond to public safety issues and what happens when residents feel neglected.

El Segundo resident Joseph Brandlin was arrested earlier this month after he posted unauthorized stop signs at a neighborhood intersection that he said had become too dangerous for children.

(Joseph Brandlin)

Brandlin said he has contacted city officials but has yet to receive a response.

He said: “The city was not listening.

El Segundo officials did not respond to The Times’ request for comment.

Brandlin’s case is not an unusual incident. Across Los Angeles, residents and activists have increasingly taken street safety into their own hands, often out of frustration at the city’s slow response.

In Sawtellemembers of the public have painted crosswalks near Stoner Park after raising concerns about the safety of pedestrians in an area often closed to families, schools and daycare centers. The city initially removed the signs, citing accessibility requirements, before reversing the route and installing permanent crosswalks following public outcry.

Similar efforts appeared in the Koreatownwhere a group of activists painted the road at the intersection where a 9-year-old boy was hit by a car. The action was part of a broader movement of residents who say security improvements often take too long or don’t happen at all.

Tensions between residents and city officials have led to arrests.

In Westwoodan activist from the group People’s Vision Zero was cited for vandalizing property while painting a crosswalk without a permit, highlighting the legal risks of unauthorized security efforts.

As Brandlin’s lawsuit moves forward, the intersection remains unchanged, and residents continue to push for the installation of stop signs.