'Joel Bloom Square' Proposed

Congratulations Joel. I sure am glad Joel is being recognized.

Here’s the list of City Squares as of last May.

According to the obituary printed in the Los Angeles Times, next year will see the addition of Albert J. Langer Square at 7th & Alvarado to the official list of city designated squares.

Albert J. Langer R.I.P.

Does this mean that the triangle parking lot that’s currently fenced off will be opened up and landscaped? That would make that area a lot more pedestrian friendly, especially once the Mura residents start moving in across the street. The current chain-link fence with barbed wire is pretty damn ugly.

Word is that Joel is not doing well. Keep him in your prayers. This comes from reliable sources.

Though I have known Joel my entire life, I continue to be amazed at what a very special human being he is. How many lives he has touched and helped! I am lucky enough to be Joel’s sister …

Thank you all for your concern and recognition. Joel’s brother,Michael.

Thank you very much for your thoughts and concern. It is greatly appreciated. He is truly a wonderful person. Joel’s niece, Dayna.

Congratulation Joel! And thanks to everyone that made this possible. Now we have another meeting place; you can’t miss me, I’ll be waiting on the North West corner of Joel Bloom Square… ;-)

Joel is my best cousin and I love him very much. Thank you for doing this for him he really deserves it.

I am Joel’s first counsin, living in Atlanta, grew up with him in Chicago. He and his siblings, Michael and Lynn, always had the most wonderful, warm personality as did their parents. I’m very happy he “bloomed” where he was planted in L.A. and gave so much to all of you out there. Take good care of Joel Bloom Square and love to all of you. Thanks so much for keeping an eye on him and welcoming him into your lives. - Joey

Thank you for recognizing Joel and welcoming him into your world. He has wonderful friends in LA. Joel’s sister-in-law, Susan.

Joel Bloom has done alot for our city. He helped to make the neighborhood livable, enjoyable, and walkable.

Before, I only knew Traction Ave. from those Crazy Gideon commercials of a deranged man smashing TV’s and being hauled away in a straight jacket. A dark corner of our city so far removed from the glitz and glamour image we identify with. Now Traction is one of my favorite streets in Los Angeles, and it is still growing as a community today.

Thanks, Joel, you’ve turned this sad place into something really special.

Ya gotta love it…..Morton Grove boy moves to LA, makes a place for himself, makes the place better for everyone else and then gets honored for all that he is and all that he has done.

Joel you make us proud. Bobbi

I too am very proud of the Morton Grove boy. Joel, thank you for making it better than it is today! You proudly demonstrate an important value of life. Bobbi’s sister Alana

Joel was one of the families that lived around the corner from us in Morton Grove. His brother Michael and my brother Bill were very good friends. Speaking for Bill(who passed away in Jan of 2006 of ALS)and myself we are very proud to see all of Joel’s wonderful accomplishments. He will not be forgotten. Barbara (Bloom)Jarol

Joel, you deserve this. You really deserve this. The immeasurable, undauntable passion you have devoted to nurturing this little patch of earth next to the L.A. river, as well as your support and encouragement for the dreams of those who have shared it with you, has inspired so many of us. Congratulations, Joel. -Paul M.(from Prague)

I am sorry to pass the news on. Joel passed away this morning.

He fought long and hard against the scourge of his cancer. Randy and I were so grateful to all of his friends who visited, called, helped, and generally made life easier for him and for us.

I am always astounded at the vast number of people whose lives he has touched. We are trying to plan a block party memorial for next Saturday. Please pass the news on.

Thank you.

As many will be, I am saddened by Joel’s death. We were friends for many years and I hope that his love, belief, and downright stubborness to make that little gray patch of Los Angeles a great place continues in the hearts and minds of every person who ever enjoys a moment there.

In the early 1990’s,when the Art Loft District was truely grity, Joel Bloom was living in the L.A Artcore building on Mateo Street, a block away from LACE and my studio on Seventh Street. I saw him daily as he walked his dogs, and together we doused small fires lit by transients during the L.A. Riot.

When the art scene began to sour, Joel was the only one who had the vision to hang on for Traction Avenue. He opened Bloom’s General Store and planted trees and even when Al’s Bar closed, there was still some magic left thanks to Joel.

Fortunately, Joel Bloom Square was dedicated before he died, and hopefully there will also be a park created in his memory. Without Joel, there would be few traces of a magical time and place in the Loft District, that he was able to preserve and nourish for a new generation.

Joel, you are one great guy. I never knew just how great. I love you and will miss you always. You will always be a part of our family. A very loved part. Cousin Audrey

Dear Joel,

Thank you for your persistence and leadership. I am privileged to have worked with you on resurrecting the “Little Tokyo/Eastside” Extension. It takes people like you to make meaningful things happen. You always made sure to make your voice heard above the “noise”. And what a voice! Thank God for that.

Thank You Joel.

With all my respect,

Robert Calix

I had the honor of interviewing Joel for my USC journalism coursework in 2005, and I found it the most fascinating interview of my professional career, both then and now. Gruff and compassionate, youthful and world-weary, artistic and gritty… in two short hours I glimpsed a complex personality at the heart of the Downtown community. I realized then I would never be able to write a story that captured the man Joel Bloom was, or the impact he’s had on the people around him. I will not be able to attend his memorial, but I wanted to share my moment with Joel with you all.

Did you record the interview? Do you still have it?