Carlos Ortez on Activism and Community: “I’m a Dyed-in-the-Wool Radical With a Very Big Heart”
Community activist Carlos Ortez says the Lineage warehouse fire has devastated neighborhood businesses, exposed environmental justice concerns, and raised questions about Los Angeles’ emergency response.
Boyle Heights activist and Un Solo Sol owner says the Lineage warehouse fire devastated small businesses, raised environmental justice concerns, and exposed failures in the city’s emergency response.
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, shortly after 2:35 p.m., Carlos Ortez was driving near Washington Boulevard and Alameda Street in Los Angeles when he saw a massive vertical column of smoke rising into the sky. Like many other Angelenos, he immediately noticed the seriousness of the situation.
But Ortez is not just another Los Angeles resident. He is a longtime Boyle Heights community activist and the owner of Un Solo Sol, a vegetarian restaurant located on First Street in the heart of the neighborhood.
“When I first saw it, I was shocked, but I thought they had already controlled it,” Ortez said. “This was the last thing we expected. Small businesses in Boyle Heights have already suffered, and an emergency like this fire would undoubtedly hurt us. But as the days passed, I realized that the fire had not been contained. The Lineage warehouse fire was still burning, and it did not appear that the situation was being handled professionally.”
Lineage Warehouse Fire Impact on Boyle Heights Small Businesses
For Ortez, the consequences of the Lineage warehouse fire extend far beyond the immediate smoke and flames. He says the disaster has created another major challenge for Boyle Heights residents and small businesses that were already struggling to survive.
He believes businesses like his are facing conditions that could threaten their very existence.
“We are very resilient. We have been fighting and surviving since the pandemic, through the post-pandemic period, and then the arrival of ICE,” Ortez said. “Recently, the World Cup arrived, which was supposed to benefit businesses like ours, but that did not happen. Watch parties started being organized, and that actually kept people away from our businesses.”
“While struggling, there were days when I only made $20 in sales. Then this fire happened. We depend on foot traffic. Who is walking around now? This has been devastating. I’m serious—I don’t know if we will make it. This feels like the final blow for my 16-year-old business. And I’m not alone. Other businesses have shared the same feeling.”
Boyle Heights Residents Demand Accountability After Fire Response
Ortez said the concerns raised by Boyle Heights residents are justified, especially because he believes the city’s response was delayed and included the wrong decisions.
During the early days of the Lineage warehouse fire, Mayor Karen Bass said air quality conditions did not require an evacuation and issued a stay-in-place order advising residents to remain indoors.
“Those decisions were the worst thing they could have done,” Ortez said. “They should have ordered an evacuation, but they did not because Boyle Heights is a poor community. This would not have happened in Bel Air.”
Ortez criticized the response efforts, including the distribution of air purifiers, saying more aggressive measures were needed.
“I’m not saying air purifiers don’t help, but much stronger actions should have been taken. The community needs to know the truth. This is not going to be resolved in two, three, or four months.”
He added that a long-term cleanup process and environmental testing will be necessary.
“They need to complete the cleanup, and afterward there need to be extensive soil studies around the warehouse and surrounding areas. This reminds me of what happened in Vernon with the Exide battery plant. The community is still dealing with lead contamination.”
Environmental Justice Concerns in Boyle Heights
Before becoming a restaurant owner, Ortez worked with community organizations and served as an environmental engineer, giving him professional experience with environmental issues.
“Anyone could see that when there is smoke, and it displaces the air, there is a problem,” he said.
Ortez said environmental contamination often affects low-income communities disproportionately and connected these issues to broader patterns of inequality.
“There have always been links between pollution, gentrification, and the displacement of low-income communities.”
He also criticized political leaders for lacking technical expertise when responding to major environmental emergencies.
“Politicians are not technical experts. We need leaders who have at least a basic understanding of these issues so they can respond with better judgment. Politicians are guided by votes.”
According to Ortez, the current crisis has shown the importance of grassroots organizing.
“What is happening in Boyle Heights is very important. The community is moving, the community is responding, and that is what we need. We need grassroots organizations that understand independent social movements.”
“Yes, we have many nonprofits, but we need something beyond that. Only the people themselves will save their communities. What is happening here shows how weakened government agencies have become. We need to demand better solutions and not silence criticism.”
First Street Corridor Businesses Struggle After Lineage Fire
The Lineage warehouse fire has had a major economic impact on the First Street corridor and surrounding Boyle Heights businesses.
Ortez said financial assistance programs from the city and other agencies may provide temporary relief but are not enough to address the long-term damage.
“I applied for the financial assistance program, but I have not received confirmation about whether I will get the $3,000 they are providing,” he said.
“But let’s be realistic. Yes, it will help me pay bills for one day, but what will I do the next day? Commercial activity in the area is slowing down. I survive day by day.”
“There was a time when I had 14 employees. Now I have only one.”
Boyle Heights Community Organizes After Lineage Warehouse Fire
Despite the challenges, Ortez recognized the efforts of local organizations working to support affected businesses and residents.
He said continued community involvement will be essential in holding officials accountable and rebuilding the neighborhood.
“This is going to take a long time. We need people to continue pushing forward, to stay involved after the elections, and to hold politicians responsible for what is happening.”
“If the community comes together, things can improve. The community itself can create something positive from this situation and make unity possible.”
“Hopefully, chaos will become hope, and the people will come together,” Ortez said.
