A gentrification battle in Boyle Heights over a proposed tax to clean streets
Key takeaways
- Property owners say the city has failed to adequately provide services to keep the area clean and their employees safe.
- At a meeting at Dolores Mission Church in May, DaCosta touted the effort as a rare private-public partnership that should be cherished.
- The proposal comes as Boyle Heights continues to grapple with tensions over displacement and who benefits from development.
A glowing sky provides a colorful backdrop to the downtown Los Angeles skyline as seen from Boyle Heights. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) By Alejandra Molina June 20, 2026 1:15 PM PT 8 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the 6th Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.
The proposed plan would cover an area stretching from 1st to 7th streets and between Mission Road, Clarence and Anderson streets where sound stages, film studios and warehouses sit alongside the public housing complex of Pico Gardens and a residential neighborhood near Dolores Mission Church. Property owners say the city has failed to adequately provide services to keep the area clean and their employees safe. Meanwhile, some community advocates and nearby residents are wary of the area’s growing concentration of entertainment venues, just across the Los Angeles River from the Arts District, which have drawn crowds for electronic music festivals and special events such as Olivia Rodrigo’s album release pop-up.