Three years after the LAPD’s reckless detonation of a fireworks cache devastated a South L.A. neighborhood, the city will shell out over $21 million to settle claims from displaced residents, many of whom are still living in hotels. The unanimous City Council decision, days after the anniversary of the June 30, 2021, blast, highlights the ongoing struggle and systemic failures of the LAPD.
One resident, Lucia Gonzales, will receive a mere $175,000, while Rosalina Reyes will get $1.07 million for property damage alone, excluding personal injury. The largest payout, $20 million, aims to address the extensive property and personal injury claims of over a dozen residents. Payouts range from $100,000 to $2.8 million for 17 claimants.
City Councilman Curren Price, in whose district the explosion occurred, expressed regret over the “agonizingly slow” settlement process, acknowledging the lasting trauma inflicted on the victims. He emphasized that financial settlements are crucial for the victims’ healing and stability, yet this action feels like too little, too late for those who have suffered for years.
To mitigate ongoing suffering, Price amended a motion to extend the stay for displaced residents at the Level hotel downtown through February and to continue the services provided by All Peoples Community Center. Yet, this is a band-aid on a wound that should never have been inflicted.
City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s office reports that the explosion has already cost the city nearly $10.5 million. The relocation of displaced residents has cost $5.3 million, liability claims $2.3 million, cleanup and repair $1.55 million, and the replacement of the LAPD’s destroyed containment vehicle $1.3 million. Additionally, city labor costs, excluding police officers, exceed $44,000.
Price admitted, “The truth is, this incident should never have happened, was entirely preventable, and we’re still reeling from it all these years later.”
Currently, 42 residents remain in 13 rooms at Level, with settlements potentially covering many of them. However, numerous claims remain unresolved, including another from the Reyes family. The city attorney’s office has not disclosed the number of outstanding claims.
Once settlement checks are issued, families will have up to 90 days to find alternative housing. The agreement includes provisions for adequate transition time, but this measure seems insufficient given the scale of the initial failure.
The June 30, 2021, blast occurred when the LAPD bomb squad mishandled the detonation of illegal fireworks, injuring 17 people and displacing over 80 residents. Arturo Ceja III, who stored the fireworks, received a light sentence of five months in prison and two years of supervised release, with no fines or restitution.
Despite demands for accountability, the LAPD has shielded the names and discipline records of officers involved, thanks to its opaque disciplinary system. Last year, The Times identified the bomb squad personnel involved: Det. Damien Levesque, who neglected critical safety discussions; Mell Hogg, who grossly underestimated the explosives’ power; and other technicians who failed to ensure safe handling.
The LAPD’s containment vessel, rated for 33 pounds of explosives, was overloaded with 39.8 pounds, according to an ATF report. The vessel’s failure was a predictable outcome of gross negligence.
Councilman Price’s statement that the LAPD has “learned from this disaster” and taken steps to prevent future tragedies offers little comfort to a community still grappling with the fallout of the department’s incompetence.
