Los Angeles Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado revealed this Tuesday a series of seven measures for the recovery of Boyle Heights residents and small businesses affected by the Lineage Logistics Inc. warehouse fire on June 17.

If passed, the legislative package would require immediate relief from odors and pests, personalized care for affected residents and businesses, state support to accelerate cleanup efforts, legal and regulatory safeguards regarding reconstruction permits, public disclosure of final water quality results, and the creation of a permanent Environmental Justice and Advocacy Advisory Commission made up of members of affected communities.

However, among the responses to the public health crisis of the so-called “Fire Recovery and Environmental Justice Package”, there is no official request from the representative of Los Angeles District 14 to force Lineage to clean up the homes and businesses of Boyle Heights residents, affected by the infestation of rats, cockroaches and flies.

“It's a difficult question,” Jurado said during a meeting at City Hall. “Lineage is taking care of the cleanup of the warehouse and that private property.”

“Our responsibility as a city covers public roads, that is, everything that is on the street and around that area,” described the councilor. “I know that LA Sanitation has been stepping up: They are installing insect traps in street lights and other facilities, and trimming trees.”

They “explore” a millionaire fund

Part of the package of motions includes the exploration of a $10 million fund to mitigate sources of pest reproduction, especially in deteriorated infrastructure.

Said response and mitigation fund would be funded with the city's unallocated balance to support residents. According to Jurado, no specific deadline was established for the disbursement of said funds.

Asked if she required Lineage to take charge of cleaning the homes, she responded that week after week she has requested that pest control measures be intensified, even in the patios of the homes.

“That's something we need to do, with the consent of the property owners,” said Jurado, who said he will work to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to deploy additional resources to bolster current sanitation operations.

“It is a chemical company”

Mark López, a member of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice in East Los Angeles, considered that Boyle Heights residents are experiencing “environmental racism.”

“We have lived it for generations in the city, the state and the country,” López said. “Everyone saw the smoke, but they have to see the pain we have in the community.”

López emphasized that the problem will not end with a single announcement, but with the work that will be done to respond to the disaster: “The companies that pollute us exist in our community because they arrived at a time where racism was part of the [power] structure, and we want to end that.”

The activist criticized that Lineage has requested a reconstruction permit when it has not completed the cleaning of the 411,000-square-foot refrigerator warehouse located at the intersection of Union Pacific Avenue and Indiana Street.

"It's insulting. It's offensive. Lineage does not recognize at all the damage they have caused in our communities, but it is what these companies are used to," he said. "Lineage has tried to present itself as just a food storage company. No, Lineage is a chemical company. They use anhydrous ammonia in those facilities to keep food refrigerated."

The question of language

While Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Hilda Solis has stated adamantly that she opposes renewing Lineage's reconstruction permit and Mayor Karen Bass has said the same, one of the seven motions presented by Councilwoman Jurado is aimed at a “no to routine reconstruction” to protect Boyle Heights.

“The Los Angeles City Planning Authority is requested to prepare a provisional [non-final] control ordinance that prohibits granting permits for large cold storage and distribution facilities near Boyle Heights homes, schools, parks, day care centers and libraries,” the motion says.

Additionally, it suggests that reconstruction permits be suspended until the Fire Department concludes its investigation and confirms that all evidence preservation requirements have been met, and that recommendations be required for a thorough environmental and discretionary review of any proposed future uses of the [Lineage] property.

Lineage Logistics reported Monday that approximately 80% of food waste has been removed from the warehouse, and that the company has set a goal of completing the removal of bulk waste from the site next week.

The priorities of the legislative package

The fire recovery and environmental justice package in Boyle Heights is built around three priorities:

1: Immediate help and cleanup. Manage the creation of a dedicated Response and Mitigation Fund of up to $10 million, from the unallocated balance of the City budget, to fully restore the public health, well-being, and local environment of the communities of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles.

2: Accountability, transparency and security measures on the site. Direct the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) to recommend significantly more severe financial penalties—ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000—for serious violations that cause widespread harm to communities.

3: Long-term supervision and community empowerment. Promote the creation of an Environmental Justice and Defense of Rights Advisory Commission so that affected communities contribute to defining the City's environmental policy, emergency response, and recovery processes.

Businesses in trouble, help comes

Concern for the future of their businesses is what identifies both Artemisa Flores, owner of a car battery business in Boyle Heights, and Emilia Ramos, owner of La Indiana Tamales.

As a result of the fire that destroyed the Lineage Logistics warehouse, Artemisa told La Opinión that customer visits and monthly sales have decreased by 50% since June 17.

The two will have the possibility of requesting financial assistance from both the city of Los Angeles and the county. They and others in a similar situation can call the County Office of Small Business (844-432-4900) or email (osb@opportunity.la-county.gov).

“Since the fire, the Department of Economic Opportunity has conducted outreach efforts in affected communities to assess business needs and connect homeowners with available resources,” said Kimberly Ortega, spokesperson for the chairwoman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

"As relief funds become available, the department will continue to collaborate with businesses to facilitate their access to recovery assistance. At this time there is no official date for the start of the distribution of almost a million dollars," he noted.

“They didn't even want to help me with an air purifier,” said Flores, the battery saleswoman born in Colima, Mexico. “They told me that since I was a business owner, these devices were only for residents of the city of Los Angeles.”

Likewise, to mitigate the smell of putrefaction that comes from Lineage, at its 'Super Star Battery' business, located at 3950 East Olympic Boulevard, it installed three fans. “Only that way the stench goes away,” he said, although he complained that the clientele has not returned in several weeks and the distributors do not want to visit them either because of the environmental pollution.

“I've already lost between $5,000 and $7,000 in sales,” he said. “I don't know how I'm going to pay the rent for the premises, although I already told the owner not to even stop to collect because there is no money.” His monthly income amounts to $2,500.

For her part, Mrs. Ramos, owner of La Indiana Tamales, which is located at 1142 south of Indiana Street, believes that her clientele has decreased by 10%.

“They're just coming back, because all of a sudden it still smells really bad,” he said. To make up for lost income, he cut one day of work for each of his 15 employees. La Indiana Tamales was purchased by the founding family in 1979 and has been in operation for over 40 years.

Both Artemisa and Emilia could have the possibility of applying for financial assistance that would be included in the $10 million mitigation response fund announced by Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado.

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