LA City Council backs anti-wire theft bill; meanwhile, city works to relight 6th Street Viaduct ...Middle East

Nearly two years after thieves stripped the Sixth Street Viaduct of its copper wiring, the iconic bridge, dubbed the “Rainbow of Lights” for its illuminated arches glowing across the Los Angeles River, still stands in darkness – a stark reminder of the growing wave of metal thefts plaguing Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, May 27, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to support a state bill aimed to curb such thefts by tightening regulations on the sale of nonferrous metals like copper and brass at recycling centers and scrap yards. The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and seconded by Councilmember John Lee.

“Over the last several years, the theft of metals from public infrastructure has created serious safety hazards and cost the city tens of millions of dollars in losses and repairs,” Lee said in a statement Tuesday. “I support AB 476 because we have to hold recyclers and scrap metal dealers accountable when they profit from theft and vandalism.”

That sentiment was echoed by Jennifer Clark, vice president of the North Hollywood Northeast Neighborhood Council, which submitted a community impact statement in support of the resolution.

Clark said Tuesday that a statewide law would help strengthen the city’s ongoing enforcement efforts. She added that while the city’s task force has cracked down on recyclers operating within Los Angeles, thieves are now selling stolen materials to dealers outside the city limits.

“So just going to a state level on having this type of impact is just going to up the impact and hopefully the enforcement,” she said.

Copper wire theft, Clark said, has had a tangible impact on residents — from unlit portions of freeways including the 170, where cars speed through in the dark, to parks and community centers left without lighting for extended periods.

“The Bureau of Street Lighting, obviously, has to prioritize the streets when they replace the copper wires to get those lights up and running, so what often happens is that our parks are left in the dark even longer than our street,” she said. “And of course there’s not as much representation of law enforcement, or even the park rangers from our Los Angeles (Department of) Recreation and Parks.”

In response to concerns like these, Assembly Bill 476, introduced by Assemblymember Mark González, D-Los Angeles, seeks to crack down on illegal metal sales by strengthening oversight of recyclers and junk dealers.

The bill would require buyers to obtain proof of ownership when purchasing these materials, prohibit transactions with individuals under 18, and bar unlicensed sellers from dealing in scrap metal copper.

“AB 476 was inspired by the real and urgent challenges facing Los Angeles due to the devastating impacts of copper wire theft — leaving neighborhoods in the dark, draining city resources, and putting public safety at risk,” González said in a statement Tuesday.

He added: “This bill was driven by the voices of residents and communities in my district who are tired of feeling unsafe and are rightfully demanding action. I’m grateful to the City Council for their support and partnership in this effort to hold bad actors accountable and protect the infrastructure our neighborhoods rely on every day.”

The bill passed out of the State Assembly’s Committee on Appropriations on May 23 and now heads to the full Assembly for a vote.

Copper wire theft has become a widespread and costly issue across the state, fueled by the high resale value of copper and its use in essential infrastructure.

These thefts have disrupted street lighting, internet service, and utilities, posing safety hazards and major inconveniences to communities. Repairing the damage often costs significantly more than the value of the stolen materials, a city staff report said.

According to the California Department of Transportation, copper wire theft has cost the state more than $24 million in the past four years.

In Los Angeles, officials have taken steps to secure infrastructure and prevent future thefts. The Bureau of Street Lighting has reinforced some electrical systems with cement and steel, and installed 1,000 solar-powered lights that don’t rely on the main electrical grid. Alarms and surveillance cameras have also been added at select locations.

On the enforcement side, the LAPD launched its Heavy Metal Task Force in January 2024. Since then, the unit has reported recovering more than 2,000 pounds of stolen copper and made 82 arrests — including 60 felony charges.

One of the most prominent sites affected by theft is the Sixth Street Viaduct, which has remained dark since January 2024, when thieves stole an estimated seven miles of copper wiring from the bridge worth $11,000.

A spokesperson for Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district includes the bridge, said in a statement that the Bureau of Engineering is leading the efforts to restore lighting on the bridge with added protections to deter thefts.

“Our office is closely monitoring Bureau of Engineering’s undertaking of the re-lighting the Sixth Street Bridge, which includes the hardening of the infrastructure to prevent future copper wire theft,” the spokesperson said.

No estimate was given on when the bridge will be lit anew — it’s dependent on how long the theft-prevention work takes — but a shared goal is to flip the switch before the 202 officials said.

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