A major fire on November 11th caused damage when a blazing flame erupted beneath the 10 Freeway, leaving businesses in downtown Los Angeles reeling. Francisco Torres Sr., a two-decade veteran of the local product distribution industry, is among many who have been severely affected. His plans for semi-retirement were unexpectedly thwarted when the fire destroyed his business.
Tragically, disaster happened while Torres Sr., 69, was moving equipment to his son’s company. About $200,000 worth of essential equipment, including a semi-truck, a pickup vehicle, five forklifts, and several other necessary items, were ruthlessly destroyed by the fire. Instead of a planned progressive shift in duties, there was a mad dash to save what little money the family still had.
Torres Jr. describes his experience seeing the destruction done to his family’s business as nothing less than a “living nightmare.” It was difficult to get advice from municipal officials in the chaotic aftermath of the fire, and solutions were hard to come by in the confusion that followed.
Nevertheless, on November 20th, the city of Los Angeles unveiled a temporary Business Assistance Resource Center, offering a ray of light. The facility, supported by discretionary funding from Councilman Kevin de León’s office, provides a vital support system for companies that are struggling due to the effects of the fire and the ensuing shutdown of nearby freeways.
On its first day, the resource center housed inside Young’s Market Company in downtown Los Angeles saw a surge in the number of entrepreneurs looking for help. Over thirty entrepreneurs benefited from the services offered, and officials from several county and local departments, charitable organizations, and business associations were available to provide direction and encouragement.
Apart from providing cash assistance, the resource center also offers mental health counseling and legal advice, acknowledging the complex difficulties entrepreneurs face following a disaster. Business owners such as Daniel Oh, a distributor of women’s clothes whose company, YS Collection, has been close to the fire scene for 13 years, are hopeful that they will be able to obtain financial aid to lessen their losses.
Oh projects a startling 70% reduction in income since the highway shutdown, blaming the sharp decline on the departure of loyal clients amid erratic travel patterns. The freeway’s restoration to traffic is a step toward normalcy, but businesses nearby continue to face difficulties as a result of certain on- and off-ramp restrictions.
Councilman Kevin de León recognized the struggles encountered by business owners, who are the town’s backbone, and emphasized the road closure’s significant impact on the local economy. Beyond the information center, the mayor’s office has launched a micro-enterprise grant program that provides awards of up to $5,000 to ease financial pressures in an effort to help impacted businesses.
Notwithstanding the challenges experienced by companies in downtown Los Angeles following the highway fire, the cooperative efforts of municipal authorities, nonprofit organizations, and other agencies provide a glimmer of hope for recovery. The community’s tenacity emerges as entrepreneurs face the obstacles ahead, highlighting the unwavering energy that characterizes downtown Los Angeles.
