Topline:
Fire broke out around 2:35 p.m. at 1400 S. Los Palos St., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department
What we know: A shelter in place order has been issued for the area south of Interstate 5, east of Soto Street, north of Washington Boulevard and west of Indiana Street. According to East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, the structure is an industrial freezer facility.
A fire at a Boyle Heights commercial building sent up a massive plume of black smoke on Wednesday and prompted a shelter-in-place order due to hazardous materials, including ammonia.
Fire broke out around 2:35 p.m. at a 1,000-foot by 500-foot cold storage facility at 1400 S. Los Palos St. with solar panels on the roof, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire reached an ammonia line, officials said, prompting firefighters to pull back as it started off-gassing and order people nearby to shelter in place.
The ammonia is not toxic to individuals unless they have respiratory issues or come into direct contact with it, LAFD Chief Jaime Moore said. Adjacent structures were evacuated to keep people from breathing in the ammonia that was in the air, and firefighters pivoted to using water drops from helicopters to take on the flames as they spread across the building’s rooftop solar panels “almost like a brush fire would,” he said.
“Get inside IMMEDIATELY and close all windows and doors. Turn off air conditioning/heating. Bring all people and pets to an inside room until you receive more instructions,” an LAFD alert said.
The shelter-in-place order was in effect for the area south of Interstate 5, east of Soto Street, north of Washington Boulevard and west of Indiana Street. As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, LAFD Capt. Anthony Tubbs said officials did not know when it would be lifted.
East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice urged people outside the shelter-in-place boundaries to also take precautions.
“The 5 freeway is not an air filter. The smoke is spreading and everyone in adjacent neighborhoods should reduce the risk of smoke exposure ASAP,” the organization wrote in an Instagram post.
By 4 p.m., authorities added a smoke advisory covering East LA, Commerce and parts of downtown. Heavy, black smoke was visible across the region.
The water drops via helicopter were helping to get the fire under control by Wednesday evening. Authorities planned to use an LAFD robot to get inside and assess the building, Moore said.
“This is a very unique situation because of the size of the building,” he added.
The business at 1400 Los Palos is called Lineage, a logistics company that offers cold storage services, according to the company’s website.
According to LAFD firefighter Jennifer Middleton, over 120 firefighters were on scene battling the blaze. Air quality was being monitored in the area, Middleton said.
“Any sort of structure fire with [solar] panels burning, there’s going to be some sort of hazardous materials in the air,” Middleton said.
No injuries have been reported, she added, but she also urged people to stay inside if smoke was reaching their area.
“Close your windows, stay indoors, turn off your air conditioning, and just shelter in place. We don’t want anyone breathing that smoke. And don’t go outside to watch the fire,” Middleton said. “If need be, you can leave the area to more clear air.”
Local organizations including Neighborhood Music, Centro CSO and Plaza de la Raza announced on social media they were either canceling classes and meetings or moving them online.
In a statement, District 14 Councilmember Ysabel Jurado said her office was monitoring the situation.
“Right now, the most important thing is to follow the shelter-in-place order that has been issued because of the smoke,” Jurado said. “Residents should stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, avoid unnecessary travel in the area, and follow instructions from first responders.”
Mayor Karen Bass also urged people to stay inside.
“I urge everyone in the impacted area to get indoors immediately, close windows and doors, turn off air conditioning, and avoid unnecessary travel to the area,” she said. “I want to thank the brave LAFD and public safety personnel who responded quickly and remain on scene.”
Officials in the neighboring city of Maywood also urged people to stay away from the area.
Topline:
Small business owners want a safer Pico Boulevard, but fear losing hundreds of curbside parking spots in the neighborhood.
Why now: The Los Angeles Department of Transportation will overhaul 3.5 miles of Pico Boulevard between Crenshaw Boulevard and Figueroa Street to reduce speeding and unsafe turns and lane changes. The agency said the project is intended to improve safety by adding a center turn lane for left turns and emergency vehicles, protected bike lanes and new TOUCAN traffic signals at Manhattan Place and New Hampshire Avenue. LADOT will also repair sidewalks and curb ramps.
Outreach on Pico Boulevard: Joey Bang, who has run Sign Art on Pico for two decades, said parking is already difficult for both businesses and residents nearby. “There already isn’t enough parking,” Bang said. “Even residents of this neighborhood park here in front because there isn’t enough parking. If they get rid of the parking out front, business will go down so much.”
Read on... for more concerns from small business owners in the neighborhood.
This story first appeared on The LA Local.
On a recent weekday afternoon, cars were already parked bumper to bumper along the residential streets near Pico Boulevard. On Pico Boulevard itself, parking spots were filling up as drivers hurtled down the busy corridor.
The corridor is lined with small businesses, from neighborhood markets and nail salons to repair shops, sign makers and restaurants.
Business owners say they recognize Pico Boulevard has a speeding problem and can be dangerous for pedestrians.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation wants to make the corridor safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. But that will come at the expense of 228 parking spots, which are already hard to come by in the neighborhood.
LADOT will overhaul 3.5 miles of Pico Boulevard between Crenshaw Boulevard and Figueroa Street to reduce speeding and unsafe turns and lane changes. The agency said the project is intended to improve safety by adding a center turn lane for left turns and emergency vehicles, protected bike lanes and new TOUCAN traffic signals at Manhattan Place and New Hampshire Avenue. LADOT will also repair sidewalks and curb ramps.
To make room, the city will remove parking on the north side of the street and reduce travel lanes from two to one in each direction. Construction is set to begin by the end of the year.
City officials say the changes are needed after years of serious crashes. Between 2014 and 2023, 75 crashes on this stretch of Pico resulted in severe injury or death. Nearly three-quarters involved people walking or riding bicycles, and all 11 people killed were pedestrians, according to LADOT.
Jose Gonzalez, owner of Jagarhaus, a gallery and event space that has been in the neighborhood for six years, supports most of the city’s proposed improvements. But removing a full side of curb parking from a narrow commercial street does not make sense to him.
“I think it’s essential to have bike transportation,” Gonzalez said. “But I don’t think it goes over the priority of the small business community.”
“We’re killing the Main Street,” he said about the impact on the small business community. “We’re benefiting the big guys that have the parking lots and all the infrastructure.”
Gonzalez said he learned about the plan in May from another business owner, despite owning two properties on Pico and living nearby.
He is not the only business owner raising concerns.
Joey Bang, who has run Sign Art on Pico for two decades, said parking is already difficult for both businesses and residents nearby.
“There already isn’t enough parking,” Bang said. “Even residents of this neighborhood park here in front because there isn’t enough parking. If they get rid of the parking out front, business will go down so much.”
Bang said he had not received any communication from LADOT before a visit last month from LADOT representatives who told him about the project.
Bang said he’d be on board if Pico were a wider street. He’s also concerned about how construction will affect his business.
“Small businesses are already struggling,” he said. “If this goes through, Pico as we know it will come to an end.”
LADOT began outreach in May 2025 and spent about a year gathering feedback from businesses and residents, according to spokesperson Colin Sweeney. The agency said it went door to door, mailed notices to 1,842 nearby addresses, distributed door hangers, met with the Byzantine Latino Quarter Business Improvement District, emailed stakeholders, conducted surveys and shared information online. Outreach materials were available in English, Spanish, Korean and K’iche.
LADOT said it reached more than 2,500 people, with 75% of survey respondents favoring a design that includes protected bike lanes.
Construction will be completed in phases over about a year. Sweeney said the city will notify residents and businesses before work begins, and LADOT will provide traffic control and detour assistance during construction.
The project is one of the major street redesigns moving forward as L.A. implements Measure HLA.
Lorenzo Martinez, owner of Olympic Tools, learned about the project in June when someone brought him a flyer. Martinez has a few parking spaces behind his business, but said trucks still need to stop in front for deliveries.
“If trucks cannot park in the front, that will affect me,” Martinez said. “I like how it is now. I don’t really see a lot of bikes out here. I want it to stay as it is.”
Sweeney said LADOT is still making adjustments to the project, including adding loading zones, creating more parking on the south side of Pico and nearby streets, relocating some bus stops and identifying additional ADA-accessible parking. Peak-hour parking restrictions will also be removed.
Fashion designer Galadriel Mattei owns a brick-and-mortar clothing store on the same long block between Union Avenue and Bonnie Brae Street.
She said the lack of alleys and limited places to cross the street already make it difficult for customers to reach her business, particularly older adults and people with disabilities who need to park nearby.
She also worries customers will end up parking deeper in the neighborhood, adding pressure to already crowded residential streets.
“With neighborhoods like this that are so densely populated, it is really always a fine line with how the businesses interact with the people who live here,” Mattei said.
A cyclist herself, Mattei said she doesn’t oppose bike lanes or other safety improvements. She agrees that drivers often speed along Pico and that the street can be dangerous for pedestrians. But her concern is that the city’s design doesn’t account for how the block actually functions.
During the school year, parking on the north side of Pico is restricted for several hours each day for student drop-offs at a nearby school, she said, forcing drivers onto her side of the street.
Daniel Serrano, a Pico Union resident who mostly walks and takes public transit, said he supports the changes as a pedestrian.
He said reducing lanes could slow drivers and that protected bike lanes would add more space between cars and people walking. But he also said businesses deserve clearer answers about how the project will affect them.
“This could be a good opportunity to do a financial analysis. That will also help businesses understand how this project is affecting them and that they feel included in the decision-making,” he said.
Community members can find information on the project website or by emailing visionzero@lacity.org.
Topline:
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will vastly reshape the role of the state superintendent of public instruction, a statewide elected position that currently oversees the California Department of Education. Instead of leading the department, the new position will act as more of a public advocate.
What’s new: The details of the superintendent role will still need to be hashed out, according to the legislation, but plans for the position to ensure “independent evaluation of existing educational laws and programs.” The state’s Department of Education will be led by a new education commissioner, who will be appointed by a new governor.
The backstory: In February, LAist reported on how the state has spent billions of dollars on a new grade for 4-year-olds called transitional kindergarten, without a plan to evaluate its implementation. State Assemblymember David Alvarez, who co-authored the bill, told LAist earlier this year he wanted to see more accountability of statewide investments.
What’s next: The legislation directs the new education commissioner to report to the legislature by October 2027 recommendations about refining the role of the new state superintendent, including “ensuring independent evaluation.” The new education commissioner will begin heading the state Department of Education next year.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will vastly reshape the role of the state superintendent of public instruction, an elected position that currently oversees the California Department of Education.
Instead of leading the department, the new position will act as more of a public advocate – “a nonpartisan voice for the public interest in the governance of the state’s educational systems,” the bill states. The Department of Education will be instead headed by a new education commissioner appointed by the incoming governor.
The details of the superintendent role will still need to be hashed out, according to the legislation, but plans for the position include "ensuring independent evaluation of existing educational laws and programs.”
In February, LAist reported on how the state has spent billions of dollars on a new grade for 4-year-olds called transitional kindergarten with no plan to evaluate its implementation, despite research showing how crucial the quality of learning is in the early years – and the possibility of leading to negative effects later on.
State Assemblymember David Alvarez, who co-authored the bill, told LAist earlier this year, he wanted to see more accountability of statewide investments.
“What was very shocking to me was that very often there were no evaluations or no assessments that were required with many of the programs that we’re funding,” he said. ”For TK, as you've covered well, you know, it's nonexistent.”
A previous version of the legislation would have added a fiscal trigger for independent evaluations, automatically requiring independent evaluations of any new education initiative that costs at least $500 million a year or $1 billion in one-time spending.
That language was not included in the final bill. Instead, the legislation directs the new education commissioner to report to the legislature by October 2027 recommendations about refining the role of the new state superintendent, including “ensuring independent evaluation.”
Proponents of the bill said restructuring the role of the elected state superintendent and creating a new education commissioner would lead to more accountability of the state’s education system.
"By modernizing governance and strengthening California’s capacity for independent evaluation as part of a more coherent education governance system, California is building a stronger foundation for better policy, better implementation, and better outcomes for students," said Lupita Cortez Alcalá, executive director of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), which recommended the changes in a report.
Critics, including those running for the state superintendent office in November, say the overhaul was unwarranted and undermined the democratic process.
“Democracy gives people a voice in decisions that shape their communities. Removing voters' ability to elect a Superintendent accountable to the public who is running the Department of Education undermines this principle,” the California Teachers Association said.
Topline: The city of Pasadena and Pasadena Unified School District continue to clash over the fate of nearly 200 trees, and time is running out. Already, 78 of the trees have been destroyed, authorities said.
What’s the backstory: The concern is about the contamination of soil in the wake of the Eaton Fire. Testing around the trees has found evidence of toxic metals, such as lead, left behind. The school district decided that the best way was to remove the trees located on district land to better address the soil contamination. The city is now fighting to stop that.
Why this matters: Towering, majestic trees are an integral part of Pasadena's identity.
Read on … for a closer look at the dispute.
Parents, students and arborists gathered at John Muir High School in Pasadena this week to fight plans to cut down almost 200 trees across the Pasadena Unified School District.
Already, 78 towering trees — some over 100 years old — have been lost, officials said.
The school district approved the tree-cutting plan in mid-June amid concerns about contamination of soil from the Eaton Fire. Testing has found evidence of toxic metals, such as lead, in the soil in some areas.
But the dramatic decision to take out many fully-grown trees providing much-needed shade in order to remediate the soil has caused much confusion and disappointment — and legal action attempting to stop it.
“This entire country has a long history of removing native life. I think it's unfortunate that PUSD is continuing that and … not listening to all the people who support the trees and who want the trees here,” said one high school student who was among the protesters. (LAist is not identifying her because she is underage.) “I have no idea why they're still continuing to go through with it."
The trees being cut down are protected under the Pasadena Tree Ordinance, which aims to preserve the city’s historic canopy by preventing ecological loss. Pasadena representatives attempted to halt the removal, saying the district is violating this law. In order to remove the trees, they need a permit, according to Lisa Derderian, the senior communications coordinator for the city of Pasadena. And the school district doesn’t have that, she said.
A notice was taped to the doors of the high school on Thursday, alerting PUSD to halt their operations. City officials also showed up on campus, but were asked to leave the property by district representatives.
“The last thing we need to do is be losing more trees. We should be retaining and preserving every single one we can,” said protester Jessica Richards, a committee member of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee.
Richards pointed out that there are alternate methods the school district could explore to replace or cleanse the soil from the fires before chopping the trees down.
The district’s decision to continue with their operations could result in harsh consequences, critics say.
“Fines for what they're doing right now can result in thousands of dollars for continuing operations, plus additional legal implications," Derderian said. "We've made several attempts this morning alone at bringing cooperation via PUSD leadership."
The city is now in contact with their attorneys for next steps. The school district continues to stand its ground, though.
On the district website, it states that: “Contractors working in the 11 fire-related contaminated soil projects have committed to full compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations.” The district also says trees will be replaced.
Amid the clash between the city and the school district, protesters did what they could to protect the trees. At John Muir, several people climbed the towering branches of trees targeted for removal and roped themselves to trunks. Some silently sat at the base in protest.
Paloma Muniz-Ochoa, 17, was among them. While she was strapped up high in the branches, her mother, Kristen Ochoa, was down below with the other protesters. Like others, she said she understood the importance of preserving an important part of their community.
“I’m not leaving when my daughter’s up in that tree,” Ochoa said. “We’ll be here” to keep protesting.
The council meets on Mondays at 100 N. Garfield Ave.
The next meeting is on July 13, at 6 p.m. in Council Chamber Room S249
Here’s a link to watch remotely: CityofPasadena.net.
If you’d like to make a public comment, arrive before the meeting starts and fill out a speaker card, which is available in the chamber. Then, submit it to staff before comment starts.
Topline:
L.A. County education officials have warned Los Angeles Unified leaders that the district is at risk of financial insolvency — and the loss of local control — without immediate changes to the budget for next year.
Why now: The July 2 Los Angeles County Office of Education letter said the district’s new labor agreements — which will cost an additional $1 billion next school year — along with an existing budget deficit and declining enrollment, create a “severe fiscal event.” The county warned that the district is projected to run out of money as soon as November 2027 without changes to its spending.
The backstory: LAUSD is spending more money than it brings in and the last three budgets relied on billions of dollars in reserves. The board this summer approved a fiscal stabilization plan to reduce spending that includes furloughs, the elimination of thousands of jobs and cuts to the trust that funds retiree health benefits.
The district’s response: "This determination does not change our commitment to students, families or employees," Superintendent Andrés Chait said in a statement. "Our schools will continue to operate as normal while we work closely with LACOE to strengthen our long-term financial outlook. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and remain focused on making thoughtful, responsible decisions that protect classroom instruction and student success."
What's next: The county gave the district until mid-August to revise its budget and appointed a fiscal expert to assist. The county could grant that advisor the power to overrule the board and the superintendent if the district does not make sufficient changes.
L.A. County education officials have warned Los Angeles Unified leaders that the district is at risk of financial insolvency — and the loss of local control — without immediate changes to the budget for next year.
“The financial reality before the District raises serious concerns regarding its ability to meet its financial obligations,” wrote Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, in a July 2 letter.
The letter said the district’s new labor agreements — which will cost an additional $1 billion next school year— along with an existing budget deficit and declining enrollment, create a “severe fiscal event.”
The county warned that the district is projected to run out of money as soon as November 2027 without changes to its spending.
LAUSD is spending more money than it brings in and the last three budgets relied on billions of dollars in reserves. The board this summer approved a fiscal stabilization plan to reduce spending that includes furloughs, the elimination of thousands of jobs and cuts to the trust that funds retiree health benefits.
The county gave the district until mid-August to revise its budget and appointed a fiscal expert to assist. The county could grant that advisor the power to overrule the board and the superintendent if the district does not make sufficient changes.
"This determination does not change our commitment to students, families or employees," Superintendent Andrés Chait said in a statement. "Our schools will continue to operate as normal while we work closely with LACOE to strengthen our long-term financial outlook. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate and remain focused on making thoughtful, responsible decisions that protect classroom instruction and student success."
The LAUSD's Board's next meeting is a closed session scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11.
LAUSD board members can amplify concerns from parents, students, and educators. Find your representative below.
District 1 map, includes Mid City, parts of South LA
Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill
District 2 map, includes Downtown, East LA
Board Vice President Rocío Rivas
District 3 map, includes West San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood
Board President Scott Schmerelson
District 4 map, includes West Hollywood, some beach cities
Board Member Nick Melvoin
District 5 map, includes parts of Northeast and Southwest LA
Board Member Karla Griego
District 6 map, includes East San Fernando Valley
Board Member Kelly Gonez
District 7 map, includes South LA, and parts of the South Bay
Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin
