Dozens of Latino people protested again against Mayor Karen Bass, whom they accuse of ignoring their demand to receive them personally, to demand that, after more than two years of waiting, the city fix their houses that were destroyed by the explosion. mistaken fireworks display by Los Angeles Police Department officers.
At dawn, the protesters stood in front of the gates of the mansion in Hancock Park, where they waited unsuccessfully for Bass to come out to talk to them.
The protesters have not received any concrete response from the mayor’s office to numerous letters sent to Bass electronically or delivered in person to his offices at City Hall.
“There is no other option, if they don’t fix our houses, we are going to end up living on the streets,” said Leticia Ruiz, a toy seller who lived at 2702 27th Street, where the explosion occurred, on June 30, 2021. , shortly before 7:00 p.m.
“That day, in less than a minute, our life changed forever,” added the woman originally from Cuernavaca, Morelos, who had been living in that neighborhood in south central Los Angeles for seven years. “Everything she had was ruined.”
In the neighborhood of 27th and San Pedro Streets, an LAPD bomb squad detonated nearly 40 pounds of the most volatile and dangerous illegal fireworks in the densely populated neighborhood.
Arturo Ceja III, who planned to resell fireworks brought from Nevada to California, had about 5,000 pounds of fireworks confiscated. In October 2022, he was sentenced to five months in federal prison.
The roar, in addition to injuring eight police officers and 18 civilians, an ATF agent, structurally damaged 22 homes, 13 businesses and 37 cars and trucks, according to the report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). ).
Suicidal thoughts
At the protest against Mayor Karen Bass were husband and wife Benjamín Sotelo, Mexican, and Laura Bonilla, from San Miguel, El Salvador, who complained of having been disdained by the government official since she took over as mayor.
“We want them to fix the house where we lived for years,” said Laura, who, together with her husband, sold quilts, sheets, clothing and shoes, and have had financial losses that exceed $50,000.
“We had stored the merchandise in boxes, but with the sun and the rain, everything was ruined,” said Benjamín. “The repairs they had made were false and the city had to fix things again, but so far they are not done.”
Additionally, Laura Bonilla revealed that her son Víktor, who turned 12 on the day of the protest, has had suicidal thoughts as a result of the explosion and has been receiving psychological therapy for six months.
“Why didn’t I die the day of the explosion? It is horrible to be living in a hotel,” are the alleged phrases that raised alarm bells in the family.
“In the house where we lived, the children had their bicycles and went out to the patio to play, and in the hotel, although it is nice, it is not a home for the family,” Bonilla told La Opinión.
The explosion of fireworks in 2021 displaced almost a hundred people, and dozens have not been able to return to what was once their home.
Damage exceeded $1 million and according to Councilman Curren Price Jr.’s office, as of September 20, a total of 13 families are still living in hotel rooms paid for by the city. Los Angeles has paid $4 million for said accommodation.
“All affected victims have been offered a variety of services, including financial support, mental and social support, housing and home repairs,” District 9 Councilman Curren Price said in a statement sent to La Opinión. Jr.
“Councilman Price has been actively involved from the beginning striving to help people and their families find the best path forward, whether that means returning to 27th Street or seeking housing elsewhere,” the statement added.
Help offered to families still residing at the hotel includes All Peoples Community Center, HOPICS, Watt Labor Community Action Committee and OPC (relocation professionals).
Silence of the mayor
Mayor, listen. “We are in the fight!” shouted the protesters who walked in front of Karen Bass’s house and added: “What do we want? “Let them fix our houses!”
Led by Ron Góchez, from Unión del Barrio, they told La Opinión that a week ago they warned the mayor that they would go to demonstrate in front of her home if she did not respond to the request for an appointment with them.
“There is already too much lack of respect for families,” said the activist. “It’s almost a mockery.”
Góchez regretted that the residents of Bass have been awakened at dawn by the noise of the demonstration.
“I hope you understand us and learn about Mayor Bass’s inaction towards Latino families,” he said. “If they had planted the bomb in this neighborhood, they would have acted immediately.”
The activist and the families assured that they will not give up and that they will make all the necessary visits to the mansion where the mayor lives.
“She [Karen Bass] “You can hide in your offices, but not in your home,” he said. “Families are fighting for what is right and we are not asking them to fix their houses, but we are demanding it.”
Minerva Velázquez, who lived for four decades on 27th Street with her husband Hilario and their four children, denounced that life in the hotel where she is taking refuge “is stressful.”
“There is nothing like being at home, where you can live comfortably and freely,” stressed the 62-year-old woman from Puebla.
In fact, his daughter Nereida left the hotel where she was staying. She couldn’t stand the administration’s threats that everyone would be thrown out onto the streets.
“I don’t understand how Mayor Karen Bass doesn’t want to fix the problem of Latino families, but she didn’t hesitate even a bit to give a 20% raise to all police officers, including those responsible for the explosion,” said Nereida Velázquez.
Karen Bass’s office was questioned about the reasons why she did not want to meet in person with Latino families and at the time of going to press her staff had not responded to La Opinión.
- The tragedy in current figures:
At least 30 families were displaced, according to initial reports of the explosion. Some people may have stayed with family or friends after the tragedy. - 13 hotel rooms are still occupied by families
- 13 tenant families have been relocated
- A family has signed a lease and is in the process of moving out of the Level hotel.
- Two families are willing to relocate and are in discussions with relocation professionals and Watt Labor Community Action Committee
Four families have refused relocation assistance, although their units are repaired and declared habitable. - Four families have declined relocation assistance.
- Among the homeowners, four families remain at the hotel and currently have a pending lawsuit against the city.
- Those families were offered repair services similar to those performed at the property marked 712 27th Street, which was completely renovated, but they declined the help.
- 13 homes have been completely repaired and renovated
Of the families still living at the hotel, four multi-family properties remain unrepaired.
Source: Office of Councilman Curren Price Jr.