Just a half a mile apart, two apartment complexes - said to be controlled by rival gangs and hotbeds of illegal activity - have been served with lawsuits from the city for the first time to help keep residents safe, authorities said Monday.
"This is our effort to deescalate a significant gang conflict that is terrorizing a neighborhood," City Attorney Mike Feuer said.
The complexes in South Los Angeles have seen at least eight shootings, one murder, 30 drug and weapons arrests as well as drive-by-shootings since 2011. In September of 2015, 17 loaded guns were recovered.
The first apartment complex is the "headquarters for the Be Bop Bloods criminal street gang," located across the street from a youth development center and near two elementary schools, the city attorney's office said.
The public nuisance suit takes aim at the property owners of the 36-unit complex at 9310 South Central Avenue, and the current and former owners of the complex located at 857 East 90th Street.
The 90th street complex was the headquarters for "Family Swan Bloods, a rival street gang to the Be Bop Bloods."
The lawsuits aimed to hold the property owners responsible for making major safety improvements, Feuer said.
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"We're asking for security cameras with a live feed into LAPD, more lighting, more security at the property, armed security guards, and better screening of tenants," Feuer said.
Residents said that the gang activity in the neighborhood is a problem, but fear prevents many from complaining about the gang houses.
"My father taught me 'don't get in anybody's business,'" said Martha Hempstead, a South LA resident. "'Stay in your own business and you'll live longer.' So I don't care what a person does as long as they don't mess with me."
In recent years, Feuer filed 38 public nuisance abatement lawsuits against gang related properties in Los Angeles. Six have been shut down completely, including one at W. 45th St. near Vernon Avenue.
"It got a little better," said Aaron Wilson, a South LA resident. "The kids can play."
Other residents said that since the suit was filed at the 45th Street property, things have gotten better on the street.
"It's been more quiet and calmer," E'toya Reyes said. "Basically, it's a pretty good street to live on."
While neighbors agree conditions have improved, no one wanted to talk publicly about the gang activity that used to go on there.
Residents can also report gang activity anonymously online at the City Attorney's site, or by calling (213) 978-8340. www.lacityattorney.org
