SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The city of Los Angeles filed a lawsuit accusing a San Pedro hotel of being a "nuisance."
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced a nuisance abatement lawsuit against the owners of the Palos Verdes Inn in San Pedro. The office claims the operators of the 35-unit hotel have allowed it to become a haven for gang activity, gun violence and drug sales.
"Enough is enough," Feuer said. "We filed this lawsuit in which we have demanded extensive changes to what's happening at this property. We wanted it declared a public nuisance, and we have asked for extensive physical and managerial changes at this property."
A woman who lives in the neighborhood near the hotel agreed that the hotel isn't safe.
"I can't walk by there," she said after requesting her identity be withheld. "We've lived here over 20 years, and we couldn't continue if it stays as it is."
She said a window on the bottom floor of the property is where drug deals happen almost daily.
"They line up in front of it like a store," she said. "They are dealing something from that window."
Marsha Koransky also lives in the neighborhood and walks by the hotel every day. She said she's seen improvements over the last year, especially with trash pickup, but she believes the illegal activity is still happening.
"I'm a recovering alcoholic addict, so I'm kind of familiar with the get down of people like that," Koransky said. "There are exchanges out front, what looks to be exchanges of drugs. I don't know for sure, but I would say so."
Attorney Frank Weiser represents the owners of the hotel. He said the city's claims aren't true.
"We very, very strongly deny that there is any nuisance activity at the hotel," Weiser said. "My clients have security in place there. They have video cameras which they have given access to the city of LA."
Weiser said the owners have been working in cooperation with Los Angeles and LAPD to make the area safer and were blindsided by the lawsuit.
"They are very upset by the city's actions," Weiser said.
Weiser said he plans to file a lawsuit in defense of his client's civil rights.