Street Undergoes a Clean Sweep

The stretch of 82nd Street between Figueroa Street and Vermont Avenue in South-Central Los Angeles has the neglected look of many inner-city neighborhoods, but Thursday morning it got some unexpected attention.

Under the surprised gaze of residents, a strike force made up of county and city agencies swept along the street, painting over graffiti and citing homeowners for health and safety violations.

“Many of the residents are literally hostages in their own homes, while gang members, slumlords and threatening neighbors destroy the community,” said Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose 8th District includes the area.

The sweep was part of the councilman’s neighborhood enhancement program aimed at attacking urban decay.

“This is not a flash-and-dash operation,” Ridley-Thomas said, adding that his office will continue to monitor the area.

The agencies that took part, from Building and Safety to Sanitation and the Health Department, wrote an estimated 100 citations.

Some residents praised the efforts.

“There is always a lot of trash on the streets and the alleys,” said Irma Navarrete, a seven-year resident of the area. “This is a good idea.”

Despite the abundance of graffiti-marred walls and street signs, most residents complained little about gang activity.

“When I first came here three years ago, this was a tough neighborhood,” said J.W. Davis, the manager of a local apartment complex. “But gangs don’t hang around this street that much anymore.”

Still, officials said the area is a stronghold of the 18th Street gang, whose members harass city workers when they try to remove the gang’s spray-painted markings. Police escorted the entourage Thursday.

Davis praised the efforts overall.

“I can’t get good tenants here” because of the blighted conditions, he said.

However, not everyone was happy with the operation.

Julio Sanchez, owner and manager of another complex, was cited by the Fire Department for a number of infractions.

His building, home to four families, was fenced in by tall metal spikes and the door was padlocked. Fire officials said residents wouldn’t be able to get out quickly in case of an emergency.

Sanchez said he put the fence and gate up about three months ago for protection.

“We had people walking in and stealing” from the residents, Sanchez said. He said the residents were also concerned about their children wandering off into the street.

Ridley-Thomas offered no sympathy.

“There are legal and safe ways to do things,” he said.

Pointing to a number of well-manicured houses on the street, Ridley-Thomas said some of the residents have invested heavily in the neighborhood.

“We owe it to them to keep the environment as it ought to be,” he said.

Asked why he thought a one-day operation was necessary rather than a consistent and constant enforcement of city codes, the councilman said such efforts are often thwarted by uncooperative slumlords, frightened tenants and gang threats.

He vowed to continue such sweeps for as long as necessary.

“We will be back and back and back if we need to,” he said.