Barber Avila, owner of Brooklyn Lab Barbershop, cuts the hair of a client at his shop on Wed., Aug. 7.
Laura Anaya-Morga / Boyle Heights Beat
This article was originally published on Aug. 7 by Boyle Heights Beat, a nonprofit newsroom of the Los Angeles Local News Initiative serving Boyle Heights and East L.A.
Two months after an oil spill shut down streets in East Los Angeles and disrupted businesses along the Cesar E. Chavez Avenue corridor, many owners are still waiting for reimbursement.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
The May spill forced street closures after crews punctured an underground pipeline, sending more than 25,000 gallons of crude oil onto nearby streets and into storm drains. Along the commercial corridor, owners of restaurants, barbershops, and bike shops had to cancel appointments, delay deliveries, or close their doors for a week as cleanup crews worked in the area.
In the days following the spill, a survey of nearly 50 businesses near the intersection of East Cesar E. Chavez and Eastern avenues found a 70% to 75% loss in revenue, according to Kelly LoBianco, director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
“You know how the barbershop gets on a Friday. … We lost a lot of business that week,” said Barber Avila, owner of Brooklyn Lab Barbershop. Avila preferred not to share his first name for this story.
For the past month, Avila has been working with LA County and pipeline operator Pacific Pipeline System (PPS) to submit documents – including tax records, sales reports, and expenses – to show how the spill affected his business and file a claim for reimbursement.
Support Eastside Community News — Now Tax-Deductible
You can now make a tax-deductible contribution to support The Eastsider’s civic and accountability coverage on the Eastside.
Choose what works for you:
• Become a monthly supporter and help us reach 500 neighbors funding daily reporting
• Make a single gift to our new Eastside Community News Fund
Strong local news keeps residents informed and leaders accountable.
Thank you for your consideration.
—Jesús Sanchez, Publisher