19% of Exide homes still need cleanup
Gov. Newsom confirms 6,500 properties are finished, leaving 1,500 residents waiting for remediation.
By Jason Kovalenko ·
Nineteen percent of eligible homes in Southeast Los Angeles remain without completed lead cleanup, according to state data released Friday. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that nearly 6,500 properties have finished the remediation process. This figure represents approximately 80% of the eligible sites where owners granted access to workers.
The state has committed more than half a billion dollars to address pollution from the former Exide battery recycling plant. Toxic lead released by the facility contaminated soil in thousands of yards across Vernon. Newsom stated that the work marks a major milestone in one of the largest residential lead cleanup efforts in the country.
Public spaces in the affected area have also undergone treatment. State officials confirmed that cleanup is complete at all 12 schools, 68 child care centers, and five parks included in the project. Workers have cleaned more than 7,800 areas along streets and sidewalks. The state says it will continue working on the remaining 1,500 eligible properties.
Residents in these neighborhoods have lived with the legacy of the plant for decades. The facility recycled lead-acid batteries for years before releasing toxic pollution into surrounding communities. Exide shut down in 2015 after a series of environmental violations. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2020, which transferred much of the cleanup responsibility to the state.
Local residents connect the recent progress to years of advocacy. Antonia Dominguez, a resident and worker in the community, noted that the Exide contamination deeply affected an area already characterized by low income and small businesses. "Well, Exide really hurt this community, because it's already a low-income area with small businesses. And then the Lineage warehouse fire happens," Dominguez said. She expressed concern about the strain of repeated environmental issues on local families and businesses.
The Lineage warehouse fire occurred this summer in the same Southeast Los Angeles communities. Residents reported feeling exhausted by the cycle of environmental problems. Health officials warn that lead exposure can cause serious issues, particularly in young children. These risks include damage to the brain and nervous system, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Some families have also cited cancer and other illnesses as potential connections to the pollution.
