the Cracked Foundation

A handwritten note from principal inspector John Kelly to deputy superintendent Dave Lara on January 16, 2003, indicates a final hearing before the city attorney on the grading violations at 761 Terminal. However, the Weekly could not confirm such a hearing ever occurred. Rather, the department kept issuing orders to remove unauthorized fill dirt, finally granting Meruelo a certificate of compliance in May 2005.

Documents obtained by the Weekly tell a similar story at Meruelo’s adjacent properties located at 1312-1318 E. Seventh St., where department inspectors issued compliance orders throughout 2002 due to lack of ventilation, improper fire doors, lack of plans and permits for sprinkler systems, lack of ingress and egress to basement areas and lack of operational sprinkler systems, in addition to unapproved construction by Meruelo’s tenants. The Weekly could not find evidence of any enforcement action.

Mayor Villaraigosa, Controller Chick, Jan Perry and Adelman did not respond to requests for comment. A veteran of the department said that up until now Adelman has been untouchable, that his clout with developers has insulated him. He said that developers have Adelman on speed dial in case inspectors try too hard to enforce the law. “It’s in Antonio’s hands now,” the veteran said. “Adelman has perverted the civil-service system and the building codes. Auditors have been up here for months.”