‘Garbage Mountain’ troubles LA Koreatown despite 7 years of complaints

A persistent pile of trash atop parked cars in Koreatown in Los Angeles is proving to be a major nuisance for local residents.

Residents are inundating the city with complaints concerning a woman who has been heaping garbage on cars parked curbside near Berendo and Council streets, as reported by CBS News on October 26.

In an interview with CBS, neighbor Lisa Derrick commented, “Her vans break down, and then she acquires new ones, starting the cycle of accumulating monoliths of bags in ever-escalating piles.”

Reportedly, a woman residing in a nearby apartment building has been responsible for the accumulation of trash in her three vehicles. Concerns have heightened among neighbors after one of the vans was set ablaze a few months ago, fueling worries of a possible recurrence.

Residents have reached out multiple times in the past three months to Councilwoman Heather Hutt, who represents District 10, encompassing Koreatown. The councilwoman’s office has conveyed its collaboration with the Bureau of Street Services and the Department of Sanitation to address this pressing issue.

They have plans to consult with the City Attorney to discuss possible strategies for debris removal. However, the City Attorney’s Office has reported not receiving any calls regarding this matter.

Earlier in February, LA Mayor Karen Bass was the recipient of a $60 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), intended for homelessness alleviation programs such as Inside Safe. Despite efforts to implement policies assisting the homeless, the city has yet to devise effective strategies to address safety and sanitation issues, as articulated by local inhabitants.

BY YEJIN KIM, JUNHAN PARK    [kim.yejin3@koreadaily.com]