“Enough is enough!” shouted dozens of victims of the health and environmental crisis caused by the Lineage Logistics fire on June 17, and threatened to vote against Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking reelection, if the city of Los Angeles grants a reconstruction permit to the multimillion-dollar company located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood.
“It would be a tragedy for us if that company operates here again,” said José González, 70, a Boyle Heights resident with stage four cancer, during a demonstration in front of the company, at the intersection of Union Pacific Avenue and Indiana Street.
"I'm really not sure if I'll vote for her again this time. It depends on what she does and how she urges our state representatives to declare this a state of emergency, to bring the Army Corps of Engineers here and clean this up today—today—because she talked about 45 days," he told La Opinión.
González recalled that at the community meeting held at Stevenson High School on July 9, Lineage representatives said they had removed 1.4 million pounds of that waste, which still leaves more than 80 million pounds of waste pending removal.
"It's impossible to do that in 45 days. Do the math. It totals about 400-something days; it's crazy to expect anyone to live in these conditions," the man said. “Whether we vote in favor of her [Karen Bass] will depend on the concrete help that comes from the mayor's office.”
On Friday, amid scorching sun rays that, combined with a light wind that spread the foul odor that has not yet been fully controlled by the company, angry protesters rejected the fact that the operators of the food and meat storage facility in cold storage have submitted a reconstruction request to the city of Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety received the permit application to rebuild the warehouse on Monday. So far it is not known when they would make a decision.
Lineage is silent
Melanie Mendoza, a spokeswoman for M Strategic Communications, the consulting firm hired by Lineage, declined to comment on the public pressure Boyle Heights residents are putting on both the company and Los Angeles government officials to not allow the company's planned reconstruction.
Lineage's adviser declined to explain how the company will ensure that an incident like the one on June 17 does not happen again.
There was also no response on Lineage's assurances for the safety of children once they resume regular classes in the coming days and whether the air they will breathe in classrooms will be clean.
Likewise, he ignored why Lineage has not begun environmental cleanup work in the homes of the affected residents.
At press time, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety had not issued reports on the status of Lineage's reconstruction petition.
Karen Bass puts a stop to the procedures
However, after a press conference, Mayor Karen Bass issued a third executive order to halt the company's plans to rebuild the facility.
Bass accused those running Lineage of failing to provide adequate support to residents of nearby communities, including a lack of resettlement assistance for those most affected.
“They did not adequately address the problem of unbearable odors,” the mayor said. "They did not prevent flies and rats from moving into the neighborhoods surrounding the warehouse. That is why today I am issuing emergency executive order number three, instructing city departments not to process the Lineage reconstruction plans until the city and citizens have had the opportunity to review the investigation."
He added that "Lineage's priority should be to finish this cleanup. I can't believe they would even consider starting the rebuilding process without having cleaned up the mess," he said. “It is a slap in the face for families who live daily with horrible smells, an ever-increasing infestation of flies and the constant uncertainty about when this hell will end.”
María Howie Olivares, a retired teacher and community organizer, demanded the permanent closure of the Lineage Logistics facilities due to its environmental impact.
“The fire started almost 45 days ago, and the community continues to suffer the consequences of what we consider a corporate environmental disaster,” he said.
He said in many ways the impacts are even worse today than on the first day of the fire.
“You can see it all around us: the flies, the smell, everything,” he said. "Lineage poses an imminent threat to public health. Residents were exposed to toxic black smoke for eight days, followed by an unbearable stench."
He added that the smell is still present, in addition to the continued spraying of deodorizing chemicals throughout the neighborhood, hundreds of diesel trucks driving on the streets, toxic water runoff and the health risks associated with increased rat and fly activity, including concerns about infectious diseases.
Howie Olivares believes that Lineage, a multi-billion dollar global corporation, has endangered the health and well-being of residents of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights.
"I believe that, if the city of Los Angeles grants the permit to Lineage, people are not going to vote for Karen Bass; people are going to get angrier, sadder and more afraid than they already are right now," he said.
"Lineage you can't hide; we can see your greedy side", "Can you or can't you? Yes you can. Yes you can!" and “The people united will never be defeated!” were just some of the battle phrases that the protesters chanted.
Mothers with their sick children attended the protest.
“My boy is only 10 years old and he already has to use eye drops every day,” said Patricia Vásquez, Mark's mother, who will be in fourth grade at Lorena Street Elementary.
“The doctor told me that my children lack vitamin D, and that it all had to do with being locked up at home all day since the fire occurred,” said Mrs. Brenda Wenger. “They go to Eastman Elementary School, and I would prefer not to send them until everything is completely cleaned up.”
Jazmín García, a member of the Eastside group against the privatization of schools, announced that parents and teachers of said organization will continue fighting for politicians to support them and remove Lineage from the community forever.
The activist pointed out that in the November elections a central character can change everything: the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.
"It will be difficult for her to be re-elected without the vote of our people in Boyle Heights; we need her to listen to us and take us into account, because she needs the vote of this community and we need her vote for Lineage to leave."
Elizabeth Hernández, a member of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), explained that the Latino community of Boyle Heights not only demands that Lineage Logistics disappear from the neighborhood, but also that the municipal authorities of Los Angeles “show that they really look at the benefit of the communities and not just the corporations.”
“Do the right thing”: Karen Bass
After learning that several Boyle Heights residents and community leaders said this morning that if Lineage gets a redevelopment permit from the City of Los Angeles, they would vote against Mayor Bass in November. La Opinion asked the mayor:
Would you agree with the company continuing to operate in Boyle Heights or not?
"Right now, my priority is the health, safety and future of the Boyle Heights community. That's why I issued another Emergency Executive Order directing City departments not to process Lineage redevelopment plans until we can fully analyze the site, proposed use and potential impacts to the community. Boyle Heights residents deserve answers, transparency and a process that puts their well-being first."
Would you be worried about having people against you? “My responsibility is not to make decisions based on politics; it is to do what is right for the people of Los Angeles. I understand the frustration and concerns of residents who have been affected by this fire, and I am committed to standing with the Boyle Heights community throughout this recovery process. My commitment is to the people of Boyle Heights, not Lineage.”
Do you have the power to reject, deny or veto an operating permit that comes from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety?
"As Mayor, building permits are evaluated and approved through the appropriate City departments and following established processes. What I have done is direct City departments to conduct a thorough review, ensure that all safety and environmental requirements are met, and ensure that community concerns are taken into account before any decisions are made.
I will also continue to demand that Lineage take full responsibility and that the site be completely cleaned before considering any decisions about its future. And, above all, the voice of the residents of Boyle Heights must have a fundamental weight in the final decision.”
