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The Boyle Heights fire, LAUSD superintendent resigns, history of LA punk, PetTalk and more
Photo of the Boyle Heights warehouse fire burning Saturday evening, taken from the 105E/110N flyover interchange.
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Kim Orr
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LAist
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Jump to
- Why is the Boyle Heights warehouse fire so hard to put out?
- LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns
- LA Metro, city of Burbank and businesses at odds over rapid bus route project
- SoCal History: Skirball’s latest exhibit explores LA’s punk culture
- New legislation looks to curb housing speculation in Altadena
- PetTalk: Should you be worried about screw worms?
Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the Boyle Heights fire, LAUSD superintendent resignation, L.A. Metro rapid transit, L.A. punk and PetTalk.
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Why is the Boyle Heights warehouse fire so hard to put out?
The topic:
The fire at an industrial facility in Boyle Heights has entered a sixth day, with multiple factors leading to challenges in fighting the fire. Today on AirTalk, we look at why this building and industrial settings in general pose unique firefighting challenges.
The latest: In a news conference over the weekend, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said firefighters have held the blaze to half of the 500,000-square-foot building, but chemicals used for refrigeration and the building's layout have made fighting this fire a unique challenge.
The building: The cold storage facility is operated by a company called Lineage. Moore added, "We have corrugated steel on the outside walls filled with very, very dense foam, and the interior walls are also protected by corrugated steel walls as well. It's very difficult for us to get in there because there's zero visibility inside."
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What’s inside: Moore said 85 million pounds of frozen food, including meat that would soon spoil, are inside the facility.
Air quality concerns: An air quality advisory for parts of SoCal are in effect until 12:30 p.m. today, though this advisory has been extended multiple times over the last few days.
With files from LAist.
Guest:
- Daryn Drum, regional director of industrial fire at Rural/Metro Fire, which provides full-spectrum fire service solutions to utilities, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure and is based in Escondido
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has resigned as leader of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
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Genaro Molina
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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The topic:
Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has resigned as leader of the Los Angeles Unified School District, four months after the FBI searched his home and office.
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Why now: A district spokesperson confirmed a letter of resignation from Carvalho on Sunday night. The reason for the timing wasn’t immediately clear.
The backstory: FBI agents searched Carvalho’s home and office on Feb. 25. A Department of Justice spokesperson said the agency had a court-authorized warrant, but declined to provide additional details. Within days, LAUSD’s board voted unanimously to place Carvalho on paid administrative leave “pending investigation” and appoint longtime district administrator Andres Chait as acting superintendent. The district did not respond to LAist’s questions about whether the “investigation” referenced is federal or internal. Carvalho declared his innocence in a March statement and expressed a desire to return to his job.
Why it matters: LAUSD’s superintendent is responsible for crafting a strategy for the education of nearly 400,000 students. The country’s second largest school district is confronting declining enrollment, the likelihood of further job cuts and fewer resources for high-needs schools.
With files from LAist.
Guest:
- Mariana Dale, LAist senior reporter of K-12 Education
LA Metro, city of Burbank and businesses at odds over rapid bus route project
Los Angeles Metro is suing Burbank over its refusal to grant construction permits for the local portion of a rapid bus route from North Hollywood to Pasadena.
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L.A. Metro
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The topic:
Los Angeles Metro is suing the city of Burbank over its refusal to grant construction permits for the local portion of a rapid bus route from North Hollywood to Pasadena.
The backstory: In 2022, Metro’s Board gave final approval for a 19-mile-long bus rapid transit route that features 22 stops through North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock and Pasadena.
The lawsuit: According to a copy of the complaint filed on May 19 in L.A. County Superior Court, Metro argues that Burbank doesn’t have the authority to refuse the construction permits under the California Environmental Quality Act and an agreement forged between the countywide transportation agency and the city.
The competing argument: Businesses in the area argue the approved bus rapid project will trigger a wave of high-density development in the area and the city of Burbank doesn’t have the capacity to support the scale of growth.
With files from LAist.
Guests:
- Kavish Harjai, LAist transportation correspondent
- Eddy Polon, president of Strong Towns Burbank and member of Burbank Transportation Commission
- David Donahue, President of Vision Burbank, a local non-profit composed of residents, property owners, and businesses that advocate on community issues
SoCal History: Skirball’s latest exhibit explores LA’s punk culture
Do you have any memories of L.A.'s punk scene?
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Gary Leonard
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Los Angeles Public Library
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The topic:
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of punk in the United States, the Skirball Cultural Center explores how a generation of misfits — including Jewish punks — challenged the rules, reimagined community, and helped reshape culture from the margins.
Legendary venues: The punk scene in Los Angeles exploded in the 1970s and 80s after a community of art-driven, bohemian music fans decided to respond to the mainstream music of the times. Hangouts like The Masque in Hollywood and The Vex in East LA acted as primary incubators for many of these original L.A. punk bands.
The exhibit: Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976–86 is on view through September 6, 2026, more information is available here.
Guest:
- Cate Thurston, chief curator at Skirball Cultural Center
New legislation looks to curb housing speculation in Altadena
Workers build a home to replace one of the 6,000 destroyed by the 2025 Eaton Fire.
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David McNew
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Getty Images
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The topic:
A proposed state bill would attempt to curb the number of Altadena burnt lots purchased by real estate speculators. The bill, co-authored by state senator Sasha Renée Pérez and assemblymember John Harabedian, is meant to help residents during the recovery process and ensure the community feel of pre-fire Altadena remains intact.
Background: The legislation is meant to put Altadena’s recovery process on a similar trajectory to the Palisades area, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a housing moratorium to prevent developers from buying up all the burnt lots.
Yes, but: Some groups are concerned that the bill would hamper housing development in the community, and others who say the move is too little, too late.
What’s next for the bill: Senate Bill 1090 is currently set to make its way to the Housing and Community Development Committee on Wednesday, June 24.
Guests:
- Anish Saraya, Altadena recovery director for LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office
- Katie Clark, founding board member of the Altadena Community Land Trust, a housing advocacy group for those displaced by the Eaton Fire; she’s also a tenant organizer in Altadena
PetTalk: Should you be worried about screw worms?
How will you prepare your pets for summer fireworks?
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Sandra Vrekic
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
Why is Fido barking at 3 a.m.? Why has Mr. Whiskers’ palette suddenly shifted away from his favorite wet food? Why is Fido STILL barking at 4 a.m.? These are all valid questions, but also maybe ones not worth an entire trip to the vet. So today on AirTalk, we’re bringing the vet to you!
Join the conversation: What are some burning pet care questions you have about your family’s furriest member? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Dr. John Tegzes, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of Health Systems Sciences at Western University of Health Sciences; he is also a board-certified specialist in toxicology
-
With the World Cup fully underway and the LA28 Olympics on the horizon, bathroom access is bound to cause a stir, but it wasn’t always like this. -
Today on AirTalk: Yesterday's Boyle Heights fire, how to handle conflict with neighbors, L.A. City Council takes up ballot measures, Smorgasburg LA, and TV Talk. -
Today on AirTalk: Changes to the Grammys, audio erotica, how incarceration shaped American music, charter schools, gifts for dad, and lessons from past relationships.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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