With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Mayor Bass urges support for Boyle Heights restaurants as ICE raids keep families home
A cyclist passes by the 1st Street business corridor in Boyle Heights.
(
Andrew Lopez
/
Boyle Heights Beat
)
This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on June 16, 2025.
On Father’s Day, restaurants on 1st Street in Boyle Heights are usually bustling with families gathering for food and celebration. This year, though, it was starkly different.
Many dining spots sat empty Sunday morning as Mayor Karen Bass visited the neighborhood’s Mariachi Plaza corridor, accompanied by California Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez.
The two officials spoke with business owners and residents shaken by federal immigration raids across Los Angeles, sweeps that kept many would-be customers home out of fear.
Support for LAist comes from
From Casa Fina and Yeya’s to Distrito Catorce and Birrieria Don Boni, restaurant owners told the representatives that foot traffic has plummeted – worse, they said, than during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the L.A. Times. Bass herself told the publication she believes those avoiding work in fear of deportation also no longer have the disposable income to eat out.
“Owners are seeing slower foot traffic because of fear of reckless raids,” said Bass on an Instagram post. “Let’s show up, support them, and send a message: L.A. stands with you.”
“These streets raised us, these families feed us, and this culture sustains us. Now more than ever, we have to protect it — together,” Gonzalez added in a separate post.
(l to r) Chef Jonathan Perez, Mayor Karen Bass, Distrito Catorce owner Guillermo Piñon and Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez.
(
Courtesy of Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez
)
Businesses have also been impacted by an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew downtown that stretches into the edge of Boyle Heights west of the 5 Freeway and north of the 10 Freeway. The curfew, first imposed by Bass on June 10 in response to overnight looting and vandalism in the area, shifted to a 10 p.m. start on Monday, June 16.
Earlier in the day, Bass and Gonzalez spent the morning at Estrada Courts, joining the Weingart East L.A. YMCA in hosting a mariachi parade in honor of Father’s Day. Even there, though, both Bass and Gonzalez said some were reluctant to come outside, the L.A. Times reported.
Support for LAist comes from
Elsewhere on the Eastside, including shops along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Whittier Boulevard, have also seen fewer customers, with some business owners choosing temporary closures as a precautionary measure.
Online lists have begun to pop up, highlighting restaurants to support in predominantly immigrant communities like Boyle Heights and East L.A.
Enrique Rosado, whose brother owns a deli at El Mercadito, told Boyle Heights Beat he’s considering a plan on what to do if immigration agents raid the popular spot.
Leo Guerrero of Guerrero Closeout, a clothing and furniture discount store in Boyle Heights, already has a plan in place in such a scenario.
“I wouldn’t want to see someone’s family broken up. That’s the way I look at it,” he said.
Miriam Rodriguez, who serves as president of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, says supporting small businesses is especially crucial during this time, as many shops are still reeling over economic uncertainty after the pandemic.
“Right now, our community is scared to be out in public, and it’s really affecting our already struggling local economy,” Rodriguez told Boyle Heights Beat. “I think it’s very important right now that, where possible, we could express the support for our people through our wallets.”
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist