Tensions in Boyle Heights reached a fever pitch Thursday evening as residents \u2014 fed up with exposure to toxic smoke, the smell of rotting food, and a lack of answers after the Lineage warehouse fire \u2014 made their frustrations known at a feisty town hall meeting.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass struggled to open the meeting over the loud boos and yelling of community members, actions that were repeated as other elected officials took the microphone. The crowd grew even louder when Lineage Chief Operating Officer Jeff Rivera took to the stage and was met with a chorus of \u201cLiar!\u201d <\/p>\n
Scores of protesters marched a mile from the site of the hazardous blaze to the meeting, chanting as they walked that the warehouse had poisoned their community and they wanted it removed permanently. More than 200 people who were turned away at the door as the venue reached capacity continued to rally outside with drums, whistles and signs that read \u201cLineage out\u201d and \u201cWe can see your greedy side.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are one community and city and are making sure we get the solutions needed,\u201d said protest leader Jazmine Garcia. \u201cThis is about quality of life. This is about not being ignored anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Firefighters for several days struggled to knock down a stubborn blaze that started on the roof of the Lineage cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights on June 17. <\/p>\n
Air quality has been a constant concern for the community since the incident began. Beyond the health hazards of breathing in smoke from a building fire, there was a brief, temporary scare when an ammonia line that helped keep the building refrigerated was compromised, though Lineage has said the chemical was not detected in the air. Additionally, 85 million pounds of food thawed, burned and spoiled inside, creating a terrible smell that emanated from the property.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the last few weeks have been extremely difficult,\u201d Rivera said at the meeting. \u201cI understand the uncertainty, the frustration, and the disruption that it\u2019s caused, and I am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of a pair of executive directives signed by Bass last week, city officials are requiring Lineage and the owner of the building, Chill Build, to submit a comprehensive cleanup plan to the city. The directives also require the companies to remove, within 45 days, the millions of pounds of rotting food inside the warehouse. <\/p>\n
Rivera said that cleanup began Monday and that the company is moving as quickly as possible with a goal of beating the city\u2019s 45-day timeframe to complete the process.<\/p>\n
Thus far, 1.4 million pounds of solid waste have been cleared, and 3.2 million more pounds are set for removal in the coming days, said Brian Martin, a representative for Clean Harbors, a company helping carry out the cleanup. Structural removal commenced Tuesday and is now 6.5% complete, and around 200 people are working on-site around the clock.<\/p>\n
Lineage has wrapped portions of the building with a temporary material that\u2019s meant to contain debris, reduce odors and dampen noise during the remediation process. Misting systems also are being used on the exterior to reduce smells from the rotting food, while air quality monitoring is continuing in eight locations. <\/p>\n
Rivera told residents that air quality monitoring results showed that the air was currently safe in the community. He also outlined resources Lineage would provide to residents living closest to the site during that cleanup. Those include grocery vouchers at Food4Less, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, cash assistance through prepaid cards and support for utility bills.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Mayor Bass, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and several local leaders met with company executives looking for answers as the cleanup is underway. <\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the urgency of the community\u2019s concerns, the company did not provide concrete public commitments, funding amounts, or implementation timelines for the relief and recovery measures requested,\u201d Jurado\u2019s office said in a statement Monday. <\/p>\n
According to the council member\u2019s office, local leaders pressed company executives about support residents could still need, including timelines for cleanup, relocation assistance, health support, small-business relief, and a dedicated claims process. <\/p>\n
In a statement after the meeting, Lineage officials said they were still looking to work with community leaders. <\/p>\n
\u201cNothing matters more right now than completing demolition and cleanup as quickly and safely as possible to protect the health and safety of Boyle Heights and East L.A.,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWe are working urgently to remove fire-impacted food and debris and are committed to this community every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n