Mayor Karen Bass addressed the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Hearing Board on Wednesday, advocating for an Order of Abatement against Lineage following a cold storage facility fire in Boyle Heights, while also preparing to celebrate a new affordable housing project in Koreatown on Thursday.
Mayor Bass joined residents of Boyle Heights and East LA to highlight the “public health crisis” caused by the rotting food and associated pests after the Lineage facility fire. She emphasized the “putrid offensive odor” and concerns about air quality as schools prepare to reopen, noting the impact on small businesses and residents' health.
The Mayor detailed her June 29 executive orders, which established the Boyle Heights Unified Recovery Command. She strongly supported the abatement order and requested additional requirements, including Spanish translations for all materials, weekly bilingual briefings from Lineage, direct community notifications for odor-increasing activities, permanent odor monitoring stations, and a dedicated fund for resident relocation until the issue is fully resolved.
Mayor Bass urged the Hearing Board to use its full authority for a transparent and enforceable process, including maximum fines and a thorough cleanup, stating, “My concern is 100% the health and safety of the residents of this community.” On Thursday, Mayor Bass will celebrate the grand opening of an 80-unit, 100% affordable housing project in Koreatown, the first completed under her Executive Directive 1, which has accelerated over 47,000 affordable units citywide.