Council Limits Pay Phone Drug Deals

The Gardena City Council unanimously voted to block incoming calls on public phones on city property in an effort to prevent drug dealers from using them to negotiate sales.

So far city officials have targeted phones at three parks: Recreation Park, 15800 Brighton Ave., Rowley Park, 13220 Van Ness Ave., and South Gardena Park, 1200 W. 170th St. Officials plan to consult with police officers on other sites.

Last month, Councilman Mas Fukai introduced the resolution, which also calls on the city to alert business owners of the one-way calling option and advise those who have problems with loiterers to request the service. Fukai said much of the loitering occurs near busy intersections, by liquor stores, pawn shops and other private businesses where the city has no jurisdiction over the phones.

City officials said the no-cost plan will take effect immediately.

Similar programs have been launched in Inglewood, Hawthorne and Venice as civic leaders and police attempt to crack down on drug dealers who use pay phones to run their operations. Members of the Gardena Council said they will send a copy of the resolution to neighboring cities in hope of short-circuiting dealers’ operations in the South Bay.