Vandalism leaves LA's Sixth Street Bridge in the dark ahead of World Cup, Olympics
Sixth Street Bridge hit with graffiti, copper theft
The Sixth Street Bridge has been hit with graffiti and copper theft, turning what was once an important engineering landmark of Los Angeles back in the 1930s into the city's latest eyesore.
LOS ANGELES - The Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles, once a celebrated new landmark, has gone dark due to repeated thefts of its copper wiring.
The issue, which also includes rampant graffiti, has left residents frustrated and concerned about safety.
What we know:
According to Los Angeles Police Department commander Lillian Carranza, thieves are repeatedly stealing the copper wiring from electrical boxes, which are now left open with covers lying on the ground.
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Although patrol has been increased due to the criminal activity and graffiti removal was requested, the lights are still out and graffiti remains.
What they're saying:
Residents expressed their frustration and concern over the state of the bridge.
One resident described the situation as "horrific" and "horrible," calling it a "waste of our tax money."
Another said, "the bridge is really nice, but it used to be better when they had the lights."
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Another person added, "I'm afraid walking by myself with a dog."
Carranza posted on social media, "Our Sixth Street Bridge in Los Angeles no longer lights up at night, and it is covered with graffiti. Thieves repeatedly steal the copper wiring and have left the bridge in the dark."
What's next:
Residents are hoping the city can find a solution to the ongoing issues with theft and vandalism.
One person suggested, "bring back the lights and hire patrol officers."
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Another said, "You have no cameras on the bridge. You have nobody who's patrolling it."
"I would love for it to be, you know, a little bit cleaner, maybe the lights getting fixed and making it better for not just me, but for everybody that comes and walks and even the tourists that comes," another resident said.
The office of Ysabel Jurado, who represents the district, told FOX 11 there was a cleanup on Friday to remove graffiti.
However, upon inspection on Monday, FOX 11 noticed graffiti was still visible.
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Residents believe a permanent solution will be crucial, especially with major events like the World Cup and Olympics coming to Los Angeles, which they believe will make the bridge a popular tourist spot.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a combination of sources: firsthand accounts and quotes from local residents, a social media post by LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza, and a statement from the office of District Representative Ysabel Jurado. The observations about the bridge's current state and remaining graffiti were made by FOX 11.