The story of LA can be found in these fragments of highly visible yet rarely noticed land, sometimes left-over pieces of urban planning and traffic management. While many people don't notice these seemingly banal places, they do have a history, stories of how they have been used in the past and today that gives us a lens through which to see this city and to reconsider the use and availability of public space. If you have a story to share, please post it or email it and any links/images to info AT islandsofla DOT org and it will be posted. Some of these stories are also posted on the blog. (Note: the stories below do not include Islands of LA projects other than this gathering of the lore of the islands.)

• Many traffic islands throughout Los Angeles are the result of the Streetcars (Pacific Electric Railway and Los Angeles Railway) that were dismantled. This story is featured in the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, and is sometimes referred to as the Great Streetcar Scandal.
• The islands along San Vicente near the beach in Santa Monica, Westside LA are contested. Joggers and other folks engaged in various sorts of exercise commonly use the islands. The local residents are bothered by this and complain about various things such as noise, trash and parking problems.
• In West LA exists an island gated by the city. This was a $28,000 solution for the presence of social elements that are not desired by the city (i.e. homelessness, violence, illegal drug dealing). The inside is now dilapidated and residents stand waiting on the island sidewalk for the bus. This island is also the location of an installation by Heavy Trash. They created stairs to get over the gates.
• "Prisoner Island," is in Downtown LA across the street from the Metropolitian Detention Center. It is a small island used by people on their way to and from the MDC and the immigration courthouse. It is also used by family and friends of those in holding cells at the MDC. They stand there and wave, leaving flowers and balloons on the island or nearby corner.
• Animosity between Buddhist Groups in Los Angeles was discovered while doing an activity on an island in West Hollywood. A Buddhist group called SGI contacted me to collaborate on cleanning up a traffic island. During the activity called Clean Trade, members of Nichiren Shoshu, another Buddhist group that has a temple a half block away, came by and was upset. Apparently, these groups which practice a form of Japanese Buddhism used to be together. There remains a lot of animosity, particularly on the part of Nichiren Shoshu which claimed we were there to antagonize them during their event.
• An intersection in Boyle Heights on the Eastside LA is the location of two islands with several stories. The name of the traffic island area is contested. Is it called Cinco Puntos (5 streets intersect), the Mexican American All Wars Memorial or Morin Memorial Square? Additionally, there are plans to spend $7 - 11 million to redevelop including installing a new statue. The Department of Cultural Affairs wasn't aware of this so I arranged a meeting on site.
• Circle Park, traffic circle in Beverlywood. A denitst told me that when he was a kid in this neighborhood and someone wanted to get in a fight, they would tell the other kid, :meet you at circle park." He also told me that kids would huck a puck of laundry detergent (back in the day detergent was commonly sold in hockey puck like discs) into the fountain in the middle of the island.
• Save Leimert got started on a traffic island, passing out signs. "The organization was created members of the community of Leimert Park in Los Angeles to share our story, the beauty, unique character and challenges we face in preserving and building on the assets that make Leimert Park a place of pride." To learn about a local issue currently happening, consider the building of MTA's Expo Line. Check out what a site affiliated with Save Leimert.org that finds the plan for the expo line unfair and wants it fixed is saying and what the proponents of the expo line are saying.
• First Supper after a Major Riot, by Harry Gamboa was a site-specific performance in December, 1974 during rush hour on a traffic island at Arizona Street and Whittier Boulevard. This island was the scene of a bloody police shooting. The performance, which was a picnic held by a Chicano Performance group called Asco, intended to remove the negativity caused by the shooting.
• On an island in Echo Park, a homeless man named Larry hangs out with his dog Baily. He talked to me about the island, the drought tolerant plants that were put in and his problems and complaints of loosing his job as a video technician because immigrants came and are stealing jobs. A little further away, Miguel and his friend sell fruit and coconut drinks. This island on Glendale blvd is along a major artery to get to Los angeles. Originally, the 2 freeway was supposed to contine but residents blocked it.
  
• Sharon, Wilshire and Cresent heights, Mid-Wilshire LA - a homeless signer and artist sells her drawings from an island
• Jaime, an immigrant sells cherries in Northeast LA
• Juan, a 71 year old immigrant takes a rest on an island while selling pillows and Efren and Mari sell flowers for Mother's day on an island in Boyle Heights
• Transit Pavillion in Glassell Park, Northeast LA - interview with Helene Schpak, community activist, at Temporary Installation on a traffic island. Helene and others have been working on obtaining funding to develop an approved bus transit pavillion that would give people a place to sit and wait comfortable for the bus. 5 different bus routes stop at this traffic island.
• Firefights in Echo Park use an island along Glendale Blvd to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. The firefighters hung up banners, stood on the islands holding out their boots and walked between the cars when traffic was stopped, boots in their hand hoping for donations
• Personal Memorial, Huntington Drive, El Sereno. A memorial was installed by friends and family of a driver who died when a tire blew out.
• The Winward traffic circle in Venice Beach is rumored to have been used to protest the current war in Iraq. It is also the location of a statue that has been the subject of a lot of debate. The statue created by Robert Graham is the torso of a woman and was donated by collector Roy Doumani. Many residents are not happy with it.
  
• A protest about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict happened on a traffic island in Hollywood at Sunset and Holloway.
• There is a recently built island in downtown that has 3 large, half globes on it. Unfortunately, it seems the Department of Cultural Affairs didn't know anything about it. I heard it was done by some local architecture firm. Someone's vision of beauty. This is at S. Main and S. Spring. There isn't an island on the google map but I will add one soon so you can see what was put on the newly built island.