Mayor Bass Calls For Legal Action Against Owner of 4343 N. Babcock Avenue; Cleanup at Site Continues

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Mayor Bass Signed Councilmember Rodriguez' Legislation into Law This Summer to Shorten the Nuisance-Abatement Process and Increase Penalties for Negligent Property Owners

LOS ANGELES - After a fire broke out at 4343 N. Babcock Avenue in Studio City last week, an abandoned property that has long been a problem for neighboring families, Mayor Bass visited the site with residents and leaders from the L.A. Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and took action to secure the property.

Mayor Bass directed the LADBS to place a lien on the property to recoup City costs and, with the assistance of the City Attorney, to pursue all available legal remedies against the owner of the 4343 N. Babcock nuisance property. Mayor Bass is also calling on the LADBS and the City Attorney to evaluate securing a court-ordered receiver for all of the owner's properties that remain a nuisance to the community.

"Angelenos should not have to live next to a dangerous property, and they have a right to be frustrated. Irresponsible owners across L.A. whose properties pose a health and safety risk to Angelenos are due for a reality check," said Mayor Bass. "We will pursue all available legal options to hold them accountable. When the severity of the situation at Babcock Avenue was brought directly to my attention, I took action that same day. Securing the legal authority against private property owners to address nuisance properties has been a challenge in the City of Los Angeles for decades. There is a lot more work to be done. We do this work in close partnership with Councilmembers, and we have successfully addressed many sites across the city through this collaboration. We are looking into additional ways to change City policy and strengthen enforcement tools so Los Angeles can intervene earlier and move faster."

After visiting the 4343 N. Babcock property and speaking with residents on Thursday, Mayor Bass directed immediate action and members of the Mayor's Office have been onsite every day. On Thursday, the L.A. Department of Building and Safety issued an order to comply and declared the property a "present, imminent, extreme, and immediate hazard." City contractors have secured the site and are in the process of clearing the property of all debris, trimming overgrown trees, installing a permanent perimeter fence, and emptying and then filling the pool with soil and gravel. Contractors were also onsite collecting samples to test the structure for asbestos before demolition can begin.

Since the end of last year, the Mayor's Office, in partnership with Council Offices and City Departments, has resolved more than 25 properties, including in Koreatown, West L.A., Melrose, and Downtown Los Angeles. This summer, Mayor Bass signed legislation led by Councilmember Rodriguez to significantly shorten the nuisance-abatement process and increase penalties for negligent property owners.