Gloria Colazo, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, St. Jude Health Centers and International Director – Business Associations for the El Salvador Chamber of Commerce, endorses a new fire safety ordinance introduced by Council members Bob Blumenfield and Monica Rodriguez. The Ordinance titled; “Building a Safer Los Angeles” aims at addressing the up-tick in fires across the county by strengthening building codes to restrict the use of combustible materials.
“This ordinance is going to make a big difference in the lives of those in the city of Los Angeles particularly those in at-risk communities,” said Gloria Colazo. “Residents can rest assured that their safety is a top priority thanks to the work of Councilmembers Blumenfield and Rodriguez.”
Colazo is also a member of Build with Strength, a coalition of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, which consists of community organizations, fire safety professionals, engineers, architects, and industry experts committed to strengthening the nation’s building codes and ensuring greater access to secure housing.
In addition to banning the use of combustible materials in new construction, Blumenfield and Rodriguez’s ordinance seeks to expand Fire District 1. According to the ordinance, “it is time to revisit this tool and expand its reach to ensure that it captures the changing and growing regional centers and neighborhoods within the City of Los Angeles.”
Housing fires in Los Angeles have been on the rise in recent years, and without addressing building codes, the city could not only leave residents in harm’s way, but hemorrhage city resources and funds. According to a study by Urvashi Kaul, Consultant and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, L.A. could lose upwards of $22.6 billion to residential fires.
Gloria Colazo couldn’t stress the importance and timeliness of the ordinance enough. “The people of Los Angeles have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. The sooner the city takes action, the better. Introducing this ordinance is a critical first step.”
