Boyle Heights still plagued by foul odor and pests as warehouse cleanup stalls
Weeks after a June 17 fire at a Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse, Boyle Heights residents endure a lingering stench and rising pest problems, while the company has not met the city-mandated 45-day cleanup deadline, prompting legal action by Mayor Karen Bass.
A massive fire on June 17 at a Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse in Boyle Heights continues to affect the neighborhood with a strong rotting-food odor and a surge in pests, according to one outlet's surveys. The city set a 45-day deadline for the company to clear the spoiled inventory, which officials say expired at 5 p.m. on Friday, yet Lineage maintains the period began on July 7 and runs through August 20. Mayor Karen Bass said the city’s lawyers are moving against the firm, calling its request to rebuild the warehouse “a slap in the face.”
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued 25 nuisance violations, and the county health department cited unsanitary conditions. Lineage reports it has removed 93 % of over 80 million pounds of food, expects to finish bulk removal by Thursday, and plans further cleaning through August 27, while committing $100 million and thousands of work hours to the effort. Residents, including podcast founder Evan Lovett, say the smell remains overwhelming and that the community has not received comparable attention to other parts of Los Angeles.
Why it matters
The ongoing odor and pest issues highlight a dispute over corporate cleanup responsibilities and city enforcement in a densely populated area.
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