Flies, rats and other vermin are swarming Boyle Heights. Who’s handling pest control?

Summary by The Los Angeles Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Kevin Tidmarsh, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · July 22, 2026 · 3 min read

The cleanup effort at the burned warehouse in Boyle Heights is a huge undertaking. Workers are seen here on June 30. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Flies, rodents and other pests have been a persistent problem in Boyle Heights and nearby communities as millions of tons of fo...

Why this matters in The Los Angeles

The pest control crisis in Boyle Heights has exposed a critical gap in the city's ability to respond to public health emergencies, given its reliance on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. As the city of Los Angeles lacks its own health department, it is forced to depend on the county for control of disease-carrying vectors, which can lead to delays and jurisdictional disputes. The fact that Mayor Karen Bass had to urge the county to take more aggressive action to address the infestation underscores the need for clearer lines of authority and communication between the city and county. The situation also highlights the importance of proactive measures to prevent such crises, particularly in areas with high population density and proximity to industrial sites like the burned warehouse. As the situation continues to unfold, residents will be watching to see how effectively the city and county can work together to restore a safe and healthy environment in Boyle Heights.

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: local · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) · Reading time: 3 min

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Summary created by	The Los Angeles Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Kevin Tidmarsh, LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 22, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Flies, rats and other vermin are swarming Boyle Heights. Who’s handling pest control?

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