The Los Angeles City council has passed an emergency law to temporarily ban new trucking operations in several LA neighborhoods after resident complaints.
The ordinance was passed on June 29th and will be in effect for 45 days. The ordinance prohibits truck traffic in neighborhoods near the port of LA in Wilmington and Harbor City. The city will also focus on trucking companies operating without permits in residential areas, reported NBC Los Angeles.
“My office has been working with community stakeholders and the Planning Department since 2018 to create a new community plan that will provide stronger protections for residential zones that are near heavy industrial areas,” said Councilmember Buscaino. “However, this plan is one year away from implementation and the crisis at the port has driven operators to expand or establish businesses in these zones. Operators need to know that they can no longer take advantage of our communities and this legislation will prevent that until the new community plan and zoning is in place.”
“Trucking companies have been moving onto our neighborhood streets. This has greatly impacted our residential neighborhood as far as traffic, noise, health, and welfare, and most importantly our kids are not able to play or ride their bikes safely because of the situation. As residents, we greatly appreciate any help we can get to stop this current truck situation,” John Salas, a Wilmington resident and longshoreman, said in a statement from Buscaino’s office.
After 45 days, the ordinance must be renewed or it will expire.