LOS ANGELES — Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez introduced a package of legislation to aid tenants who were displaced from their homes after a devastating multi-structure fire that originated at 708 South Depot Street in Chinatown from a construction site that had been left inactive by the owner since November 2022.
The fire spread to three neighboring apartment buildings, tragically leaving several residents with burns and other injuries, and displacing more than fifty people. The quick and heroic efforts of the LA Fire Department likely prevented additional injuries to residents. In the immediate wake of the fire, Councilmember Hernandez’s staff, the City’s Emergency Management Department, the Red Cross, Chinatown Service Center, and local nonprofits have partnered to secure temporary housing and procure emergency supplies for victims.
Hernandez called on the City to take immediate action to address gaps in oversight and accountability that allowed the abandoned property to go unchecked and demanded stronger protections for tenants of multi-family properties who are displaced by catastrophe.
“The fire that occurred in Chinatown last Friday has devastated the community and left more than fifty residents without a home,” said Councilmember Hernandez. “This horrific situation is a glaring example of the lack of oversight and accountability for abandoned and nuisance construction sites, and some of our most vulnerable residents are paying the price. We must close these loopholes and ensure that tenants do not bear the burden of these catastrophes.”
Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable
Prior to the fire, numerous complaints were made to the City departments by residents and the Council Office regarding concerns about the safety of the inactive construction site. Despite responding to repeated calls for service, gaps in enforcement and oversight limited the City’s ability to require the property owner to secure the abandoned site and abate frequent nuisance and security calls.
In her motion, Councilmember Hernandez called for an overhaul of the oversight and enforcement mechanisms available to ensure that negligent property owners and developers of construction sites are held accountable for maintaining the safety and security of their properties.
Hernandez’s motions direct departments to report back to the council with plans that will:
- Ensure owners of sites with inactive construction activity are held accountable to restore the site or complete construction;
- Enhance the development requirements of construction sites, including by mandating construction site security and insurance bonds the City can call on to demolish incomplete construction causing a nuisance.
Strengthening Protections for Tenants Displaced by Disasters
During emergencies that impact multi-family residential buildings, such as a structure fire, flood, or landslide, multiple government agencies and private partners respond to preserve life and address the immediate health and safety needs of the building’s occupants. While some tenants may be able to return to their units relatively quickly, depending on the extent of the damage, individuals and families living in these buildings can be displaced indefinitely.
The City of Los Angeles currently lacks strong protections for tenants of multi-family residential buildings who are displaced due to fire, flood, or catastrophe. Hernandez’s motion calls on the City to develop a comprehensive response plan for such disasters, including:
- Response plans, roles and responsibilities for City departments and external entities such as the Red Cross when emergencies at multi-family residential buildings occur;
- Resources and services for property owners and tenants, including emergency supplies such as food, clothing, and basic necessities, short-term shelter and long-term relocation plans;
- Designated points of contact and communication channels between agencies, property owners, and tenants.
When disasters render a multi-family residence uninhabitable, residents can face compounding fees and charges for municipal services such as water and sanitation services, ambulance fees for transport during the emergency, and more. Hernandez further moved to ensure that residents impacted by this fire receive relief by allowing for adjustments and waivers for fees that are incurred by victims of fires, including ambulance fees, LADWP fees, Bureau of Sanitation fees and charges for customers whose buildings are destroyed or damaged, and Department of Building and Safety fees and charges for repairs to buildings that are destroyed or damaged.
Copies of Councilmember Hernandez’s motions can be found here. Requests for interviews can be sent to cd1comms@lacity.org.
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