Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles announced Wednesday that he has authorized the city to shut off water and utilities to homes that violate coronavirus gathering restrictions, according to the Daily Caller.
Starting Friday evening, the Los Angeles Police Department will be asked to verify large gatherings or evidence of large gatherings and then proceed to request that the city shut off water and power within 48 hours.
BREAKING: L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announces he is authorizing the city to shut off water and power to any houses or businesses that are hosting any parties or unauthorized large gatherings. It will begin Friday night, and LAPD will respond, then contact DWP to cut it off @FOXLA
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) August 6, 2020
According to the Los Angeles Times, Garcetti’s announcement comes after police responded to a report of a 200-person gathering at a mansion on Mulholland Drive at 7 p.m. The gathering ended in a fatal, gang-related shooting after midnight, according to police.
Police responded to complaints from neighbors over the size of the gathering but didn’t break up the party after the initial dispatch. The party exceeded the gathering size of COVID-19 health orders.
“The consequences of these large parties ripple far beyond just those parties,” Garcetti said, “They ripple throughout our entire community because the virus can quickly and easily spread.”
Los Angeles City Councilman David Ryu introduced a motion to the city council Wednesday that increases penalties for property owners who violated city ordinances and to provide additional enforcement options.
The Los Angeles Police Department budget was cut by $150 million last month by the Los Angeles City Council over mounting calls to “defund the police."
For Garcetti's full press conference from Wednesday, watch below: