Families affected by Los Angeles Police Department measures Failed fireworks explosion in 2021 in a South Los Angeles neighborhood will receive settlement funds, the Los Angeles City Council decided Tuesday.
The council has approved settlement agreements totaling more than $21 million with a number of affected residents, many of whom are still living in a hotel.
In a unanimous vote, council members backed the settlements, which cover 17 plaintiffs, with some victims receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars and others more than $1 million, according to court documents.
On June 30, 2021, the LAPD attempted to detonate a quantity of fireworks that had been seized in the backyard of a home on 27th Street.
An LAPD truck carrying fireworks exploded, resulting in the injury of 17 peoplewhich damaged 35 houses and left 80 residents homeless.
At the time, the Red Cross set up a reception center and provided the evacuated people with food and shelter.
Councilman Curren Price, who represents the affected area, said the victims of the fireworks explosion have endured “unimaginable pain and trauma that will last a lifetime.” He called the settlements a crucial step in their healing process and finding stability.
“This process has been excruciatingly slow over the past three years, and on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, I regret that it has taken so long to get to this point,” Price said. “But getting here was not easy and required the collective efforts of multiple departments, advocates and other stakeholders, presenting significant challenges along the way.”
As part of the resolution, Price had requested that families staying at the Level Hotel in the city center be allowed to continue living there until February 2025. That offer is intended for those who have not yet reached a financial settlement with the city.
The 19 people whose arrangements were approved on Tuesday have a certain period of time to leave the hotel.
The settlement agreements still need to be signed by Mayor Karen Bass.
