My new favorite U-turn criminal, Toks, sent me this Gary Leonard photo of Aaron Donovan painting his Chicken Corner mural Moron back in the earliest years of the millenium, or even the latest of the 20th century. Some of the kids are assisting Aaron, while others idle their rides. Most if not all of these kids will be voting age by now. As we all know, this corner looks quite different in 2008. There are awnings and hipsters, a different mural, El Batey has long since moved over into a narrower space next door. Even the light is about to change, as condos are under construction across the street.

Photo: Gary Leonard/Los Angeles Public Library Collection

2008: A new generation of kids on wheels has a place to hang these days, with the opening several blocks north on Echo Park Avenue of bike shop (1900 block) in the space that used to be occupied by the troubled Richard Leigh/Barnes, who whitewashed a 33-year-old mural on the building. He was evicted for his actions, and the good news is we have the bike shop. Yesterday I saw about five kids with their bicycles parked in front.