Mother leads boycott of mall

A local mom who wants parents to ride South Coast Plaza’s carousel Thursday instead of visiting Fashion Island said the one-day boycott will be an informal affair.

Keree James, a mother of two, is organizing the boycott to protest the Irvine Co.’s plans to do away with a carousel at Fashion Island.

James wants parents to ride the carousel at South Coast Plaza at any time of day Thursday in protest. There will be no planned demonstrations or speeches during the one-day event, she said.

An online petition James has started to save the carousel had gathered almost 950 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon. The petition can be accessed at www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethecarousel/index.html. The Carousel Carnivale, as it’s known, has been at Fashion Island since 2003.

The Irvine Co. announced plans to remove the ride later this year as part of ongoing renovations at the 42-year-old shopping center. The two-year project includes adding Italian-inspired fountains and 150,000 square feet of additional retail space, as well as old-world-style streetlights and paving stones.

The carousel is being dismantled to make way for 4,000 square feet of extra retail space, additional seating and a new fountain in Pacific Court at Fashion Island.

Irvine Co. officials say renovation plans are underway, and that it’s likely too late to save the carousel. The company has not announced when the ride will be dismantled.

— Brianna Bailey