LA City Attorney Files Latest Lawsuit Against Venice, Del Rey 'Nuisance' Properties
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Owners of two properties in Venice and in the Del Rey neighborhood faced legal action Monday for allegedly serving for years as centers for drug sales and other criminal activity.
For the second time in over a month, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office has filed lawsuits against properties prosecutors say are constant sources of crime.
In what he described as a sustained and coordinated effort to rid Los Angeles of these nuisances, City Attorney Mike Feuer said the lawsuits target the owners of properties at 12950 Admiral Ave. in Del Rey and 923 Sunset Ave. in Venice.
Feuer alleges that Admiral Avenue property has been used as a drug house, with six arrests at the home since November. He said there have been at least 16 arrests at the Venice home, and repeated complaints from neighbors about drug and other activities.
Feuer told KNX 1070's Jon Biard he believes people shouldn't have to live with these kinds of places in their neighborhoods.
"I have been very focused making sure our neighborhoods to get better, and that's the focus of our action today," he said.
Last month, Feuer filed suit against the owners of so-called nuisance houses, including the owner of a house at 1233 W. 53nd St., where, according to the city's lawsuit, the Crips street gang has held sway for more than a decade and a "hybrid PCP swap meet and flop house'' was being operated.
Prosecutors are seeking injunctions regarding the Hollywood homes to prevent the owners and known associates from illegally selling, making or storing controlled substances. Current tenants would need to move out and stay at least 1,000 feet away as part of the proposed restrictions.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
