L.A. City Councilman Ryu Wants To Keep ‘Party Houses’ In Check

Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu introduced a motion today that aims to "crack down" on rowdy COVID-19 parties in Los Angeles.

So-called "party houses" are nothing new in L.A., but they’re under increased scrutiny since they’re obviously not the best place to physically distance during a pandemic.

“Despite a pandemic that has killed thousands in Los Angeles, some homeowners are choosing to put everyone at risk by renting out their homes to massive house parties,” Ryu said in a press release, adding, “Whether it takes shutting off utilities or revoking their permits, we must do what it takes to shut down these parties."

A party at a massive house in the Hollywood Hills on Monday night ended in gunfire and resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and several others wounded.

Ryu wants the Department of Building and Safety, the Department of Water & Power and the Housing and Community Investment Department to jointly figure out which “deterrence tools” can be used, including water shut-offs.

There is a party house ordinance already on the books, passed in 2018, which imposes thousands of dollars in fines for violations.

But members of neighborhood councils in areas that regularly see the wild parties say many wealthy party organizers and homeowners are undeterred by fines.

The Health Officer Order for Los Angles County explicitly prohibits gatherings during the pandemic.

The County's health department statement says: “We urge every resident in Los Angeles County to follow the health officer order and avoid organizing and attending gatherings that include people outside their own household."

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Residents Of LA's Ritzy Hillside Neighborhoods Say 'Party Houses' Proliferate During Pandemic

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