Mayor Karen Bass today issued an Emergency Executive Order directing Los Angeles City departments to halt the processing of plans to rebuild the Lineage Warehouse in Boyle Heights, citing ongoing health, safety, and environmental concerns following a major fire.
The directive comes after a June 17, 2026 fire, the second at the facility in two years, which engulfed an estimated 85 million pounds of frozen food products near homes, schools, and parks. The community continues to suffer from "horrific smells, the growing fly infestation, and the constant uncertainty about when this hell will end," according to Mayor Bass, despite multiple abatement orders and code violations issued by various government agencies.
Specifically, Mayor Bass called for the Departments of City Planning and Building and Safety to lead a report investigating the Lineage site and its proposed uses. This report will recommend a discretionary review and approval process for future land uses, including environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). She also requested the City Council, led by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, to adopt an ordinance establishing a moratorium on large cold storage facilities near residential or sensitive areas.
"Lineage’s priority must be finishing this cleanup. I can’t believe they would even think about starting the rebuilding process while they haven’t cleaned up the mess," said Mayor Bass. Councilmember Jurado added, "Today’s executive order makes clear that Lineage should not be allowed to move forward with rebuilding while Boyle Heights is still living through the consequences of this disaster."
This is the third Emergency Executive Order issued by Mayor Bass to address the situation, following a Declaration of Local Emergency and a subsequent state emergency declaration. The Mayor's office has also mobilized extensive resources, including mobile health clinics, air purifiers, emergency housing, and financial assistance, to support the affected Boyle Heights community for as long as needed.