South LA property sued as “nuisance”



Property at 1233 West 52nd Street, South Los Angeles.  The L.A. City Attorney has filed a lawsuit against its owner claiming it is a nuisance property.  | Photo Courtesy City Attorney's Office

Property at 1233 West 52nd Street, South Los Angeles. The L.A. City Attorney has filed a lawsuit against its owner claiming it is a nuisance property. | Photo Courtesy City Attorney’s Office

By Marc Sallinger and Bess Pierson

The office of City Attorney Mike Feuer filed two nuisance abatement lawsuits Tuesday against properties with a history of drugs and violence.

One property is in Hollywood and the other in South LA, at 1233 W. 52nd Street, between Normandie and Vermont, and only three blocks away from 52nd Street Elementary School.

“That residence has allegedly been known as a free-for-all for the sale of PCP, presence of weapons and for the presence of known gang members again and again,” said Feuer. [Read more…]

City Attorney presses charges in million-dollar wage theft case



One of the dogs at a recent vaccination fair held at the LA Animal Service Center. | Anita Kelso Edson/ASPCA

One of the dogs at a recent vaccination fair held at the South L.A. Animal Care Center. | Anita Kelso Edson/ASPCA

The City Attorney’s office announced last week that work on an almost $10 million contract awarded to Mackone Construction and its subcontractors had been done with underpaid workers. The city alleges that “almost fifty” workers building the South L.A. Animal Care Center were denied overtime, underrepresented in workman’s compensation claims and paid lump sums of cash that added up to below city-mandated prevailing wage.

Learn more in an audio story from Annenberg Radio News:

City Attorney announces task force to combat illegal dumping



South L.A. alleys have been plagued by illegal dumping. | Daina Beth Solomon

South L.A. alleys have been plagued by illegal dumping. | Daina Beth Solomon

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced last week a new task force that will focus on removing waste that is illegally dumped on streets, in alleys and in the L.A. River. The task force will also prosecute offenders.

Along with ten other agencies, the L.A. city attorney’s office is identifying nine chronic dumping spots around the city, including South Los Angeles. They hope to clean up the sites and help communities develop enforcement strategies such as putting cameras in alleyways and encouraging residents to call when they see illegal dumping.

Listen to Feuer’s announcement in a story for Annenberg Radio News

Newly elected city attorney meets with South LA residents



Mike Feuer

City Attorney Mike Feuer speaking at a South L.A. meeting.

Many Americans will remember June 20 as the night when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and company won their second consecutive NBA championship. South Los Angeles hopes to remember this date as a symbolic moment, in which a new and productive relationship was developed with the city attorney`s office.

Last night, over 100 South L.A. residents attended a town hall meeting organized by Community Coalition at its South L.A. headquarters, to meet the newly elected Los Angeles City Attorney, Mike Feuer. The high level of energy and the eagerness to let Mr. Feuer better understand their issues and concerns clearly demonstrated that residents are hoping that the new city attorney –who will take office on July 1– will help to improve their community’s quality of life.

Feuer understands that his office will have to improve its performance in several areas. “If the city attorney were doing his job properly, the playgrounds and the pathways to school for our kids would be safe. If the city attorney were on the job, prostitution would be gone and the businesses that we choose to site in our neighborhood would be those we actually want in our community,” he said.    [Read more…]