Year-end gatherings have made LA’s already severe “parking war” even worse. Residents are placing cones or trash bins in front of their homes to save curbside spots, while streets near restaurants and hotels often turn into unofficial valet zones at night.
Koreatown and Downtown generate the most complaints. Jisu Na, 26, said she often drives in circles without finding a space. She added that when she makes plans in Koreatown, she hopes it is close enough to walk.
A resident surnamed Kim ran into problems on the 6th when attending an event at a well-known Downtown hotel. Kim said the hotel’s valet fee was $40, so they attempted to park on the street a few blocks away. Although curbside parking was allowed nearby, Kim said valet workers placed cones on public streets and blocked access as if the spaces were private.
Parking disputes have translated directly into a surge of complaints. The Bureau of Street Services (BSS, LA City Public Works) reported that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, more than 4,000 complaints were filed over illegally reserved street parking spots.
According to the U.S. Census, Koreatown covers 2.9 square miles and has 112,491 residents. With a density of 39,091 people per square mile and limited parking relative to its mix of homes and businesses, competition for street parking has become part of daily life.
A recent online poll on the Instagram account “Americana at Brand Memes,” which has about 110,000 participants, also ranked Koreatown as the No. 1 neighborhood where parking is hardest in LA.
Social media has amplified the issue. A TikTok creator known as Cone King has gained attention for posting videos that document and report illegal cones placed on public streets across LA.
City law prohibits blocking public roads with cones, chairs, or trash bins without a permit. But enforcement is weak because the issue is not treated as a serious offense. BSS says fines can start at $50, yet police rarely respond. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) says it does not intervene in parking disputes unless there is violence or another criminal threat.
Experts say the shortage stems from multiple factors, including growth of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and new developments that provide too few parking spaces. John Davis, president of the Avalon Gardens Community Association, said some developers do not build enough parking and rising ADU construction has made the shortage worse. Some residents, he noted, now place trash bins in the street to save spots.
Ellen Schwartz, manager at the UCLA Transportation Policy Center, said public roads belong to everyone, and stronger enforcement or paid parking systems are unavoidable.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
