safety
Bass admits communication failures after Lineage fire, promises help for businesses
By Laura Anaya-Morga | Boyle Heights Beat at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 7, 2026
· 5 min read
Business owners told Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass they felt abandoned by the city as a fire tore through a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights last month, forcing storefronts to close, driving potential customers away and leaving many unsure of what was in the air they were breathing.(Isaac Ce...
Key takeaway “We closed for two days, our workers were asking what to do, and we didn’t know,” said Francisco Valderrama, co-owner of Picaresca Barra de Cafe.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The communication breakdown during the Lineage fire in Boyle Heights exposes a deeper issue in how the city engages with its most vulnerable communities. Mayor Bass's acknowledgment that the city should have gone door-to-door on day one highlights the need for more personalized and grassroots outreach, particularly in neighborhoods where social media may not be the primary means of communication. The fact that businesses felt abandoned and unsure of what to do in the aftermath of the fire suggests that the city's emergency response protocols may not be tailored to the specific needs of low-income, predominantly Latino communities like Boyle Heights. As the city explores ways to help businesses recover, it must also prioritize building trust and improving communication with these communities to ensure that they receive the support they need in times of crisis.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Business owners told Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass they felt abandoned by the city as a fire tore through a cold storage facility in Boyle Heights last month, forcing storefronts to close, driving potential customers away and leaving many unsure of what was in the air they were breathing.(Isaac Ce...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Laura Anaya-Morga | Boyle Heights Beat at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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