Los Angeles city officials on Wednesday began a long-overdue inspection process at a Sun Valley home whose owner has been described by neighbors as a collector because of the amount of trash, debris and hazardous materials strewn around the property.
Los Angeles Fire Department and Building and Safety Department officers, some of whom were seen carrying firearms, entered the perimeter of the junkyard-like property, which was strewn with vehicles, trailers, furniture and other items.
Los Angeles City Council Member Monica Rodriguez said the city has been aware of the issue since 2019, but the city was unable to access the land until Monday because of the need to go through the proper legal procedures, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The court authorized the Los Angeles Fire Department, with the assistance of the Department of Building and Safety, to conduct a more extensive and comprehensive inspection,” Rodriguez said, adding that the results of the inspection will help the city determine whether the property should be declared an unoccupied property.
A woman who lives next door said she and her family have put up with trash, toxic chemicals and even drug paraphernalia.
“Fire is my biggest concern,” Elena Malone said. “The last time there was a fire on the property, I was there and called the fire department. They were there and they came quickly. But they couldn’t get on the property with a truck. They had to walk and carry the hose.”
Malone questioned the slow cleanup of the site and called for the city to “fully intervene.”
“If the courts can’t take legal action to resolve this issue since 2019, then it seems like there is a problem here,” she said.
Councilman Rodriguez, who represents the Sun Valley neighborhood, said the city has tried to work with property owners, who have at times expressed “some interest in good faith” in removing the trash.
But Department of Building and Safety officials ultimately decided there hadn’t been enough progress and sentenced the property owner to 180 days in jail, though the woman only served one day, Rodriguez said.
Deputy Chief David Perez added that inspectors will thoroughly examine the property and help determine the next appropriate steps to address the situation.
“We’re going to take a comprehensive look at all of the different violations that we found today — the nature of the violations, how serious they are, how much of a health hazard or fire hazard they pose — and then we’re going to compile that in its entirety and submit it to the city.”
Although armed officers were on scene during the inspection, LAPD Deputy Chief Ruby Flores said her team was there to provide “support services” to inspectors.