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No, not City Hall, but the Seventh Street Market, where the Department of Public Health has been finding all kinds of nasty critters and contamination. All told, criminal complaints - but not charges - have been lodged against 24 vendors and the market operator, Alameda Produce Inc., which is owned by downtown's parking lot king, Richard Meruelo. Empty office space above the market has become a breeding ground for vermin. From this week's Downtown News:
Dangerous health conditions at the market were uncovered last month by a KNBC-TV exposé that showed footage of food being stored where rats, foul water run-off and public urination and defecation could lead to contamination. The segment targeted public health officials for allowing the conditions to fester. The report also suggested that vegetables from the market prepared at an otherwise up-to-code restaurant might in fact be harmful.
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.