LA City, families displaced by 2021 LAPD fireworks explosion reach $21 million settlement
The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday unanimously approved a new $21 million settlement for families impacted by LAPD 's botched fireworks explosion in 2021.
"It's sad that it took this long, but we're glad the council unanimously decided to do that," said Ron Gochez from Union Del Barrio.
In June of 2021, LAPD's bomb squad ignited the massive explosion of illegal fireworks in the South LA neighborhood along 27th Street. Seventeen people were injured, 35 buildings damaged, and dozens of people have been displaced.
Ever since the explosion, displaced families have been living out of a hotel in downtown Los Angeles, including Maria Velasquez.
"I wish I could smile more, but I'm happy," said Maria Velasquez, reacting to the settlement. I'm really happy for my family and everybody on 27th."
Velasquez says living in a hotel for 3 years has been rough and hasn't felt like home.
"It's nice to be in a hotel, but birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, holidays, it's awful," said Velasquez. "We can't even call this a home."
The new $21 million settlement includes housing at the hotel for displaced resident until February 2025. In addition, it extends the contract for All People Community Center until the end of December. The Center has been acting as a liaison between residents and the city. Finally, the settlement allocates $848,000 towards a community fund, but it doesn't clarify on what that fund will do. It's unclear how the $20 million will be disturbed among the 19 cases.
"The $10 million that's already been spent, that could have been used to repair their homes," said Gochez. "But the city council and the mayor dragged their feet on this issue and that ended up costing the taxpayers way more money than what was necessary."
"The victims of the 27th Street fireworks explosion have endured unimaginable pain and trauma that will last a lifetime. Reaching these financial settlements were a crucial step toward their healing, rebuilding their lives, and finding stability and peace.
Councilmember Curren Price's provided a written statement reacting to the settlement.
