Mayor Bass Sponsors New State Legislation to Hold Cold Storage Facilities Accountable, Protect Residents During an Industrial Disaster

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AB 817 Introduced by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez, Sponsored by Mayor Bass and Community Organizations

LOS ANGELES - Mayor Karen Bass' Office this week provided testimony before the State Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee and the State Senate Local Government Committee in Sacramento in support of Assembly Bill 817 (AB 817), which aims to hold cold storage companies accountable when something goes wrong and ensure communities are protected.

Assembly Bill 817 was introduced by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez and sponsored by Mayor Bass and community partners including East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART), Inclusive Action for the City, St. John's Community Health, and the California Community Foundation.

"At every turn, Lineage has failed to meet its responsibility to Boyle Heights and East LA and to provide meaningful support to residents and small businesses," said Mayor Bass. "We cannot change what happened in Boyle Heights, but we can change what happens next. AB 817 holds cold storage companies accountable if something goes wrong and ensures communities are protected. I thank Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez for introducing this legislation and for being such a strong partner. I will continue doing everything in my authority to demand the answers and accountability this community deserves."

Mayor Bass has been clear that Lineage and Chill Build do not deserve to rebuild. She has called on City lawyers to pursue litigation, a lien, and all legal options for cost recovery and penalties.

Testimony as Prepared

My name is Willie Armstrong and I serve as the Senior Director for State Affairs on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the proud sponsor of AB 817.

We want to thank the author for bringing this timely legislation forward and we will continue to support this endeavor to bring relief to and accountability for the Boyle Heights community.

The Lineage fire was not just a fire. It became a crisis for families across Boyle Heights.

Families have dealt with unbearable odors, rotting food, rodents, and flies while trying to work, run their family business, send their children to school and simply live their lives. Absolutely, NO family should have to live like this.

As a consequence of the Lineage fire, Mayor Bass has issued emergency orders, demanded the removal of 85 million pounds of spoiled food, provided emergency housing assistance to more that 1,300 impacted residents and families, helping them to temporarily relocate and get connected to critically needed resources during this crisis.

We cannot change what happened in Boyle Heights, but we can change what happens next.

AB 817 sends the message that: (1) companies must be prepared when something goes wrong and (2) communities must be protected.

This bill requires large cold facilities to maintain a contingency fund before receiving new building permits. These funds could support food assistance, temporary housing, air quality monitoring, health care needs, and vector control among other things.

AB 817 also includes tax relief provisions for qualified residents, property owners, and businesses affected by the Boyle Heights fire. Settlement funds intended for harm, displacement, and disruption should be available for recovery, not taxed as income.

For these reasons, and on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, I respectfully ask for your AYE vote on AB 817.

Boyle Heights residents and business owners: Please visit our Community Resource Center at Boyle Heights City Hall (2130 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033) if you need any type of assistance.