Hotel Owner Fined for Fire, Health Violations
The owner of a Van Nuys hotel was ordered to pay more than $9,000 in fines and penalties after pleading no contest in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Tuesday to charges that he violated fire, health and safety codes at the building, Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn said.
Alvaro Lozada, 63, pleaded no contest to 10 violations at La Casitas Hotel, a two-story building in the 14000 block of Sylvan Street, Hahn said.
In addition to the fines, penalties and investigation costs, Lozada was placed on two years probation and ordered to have all repairs completed by Nov. 27.
City inspectors investigated the hotel in February and found broken windows, holes in the walls and ceiling, piles of trash, and missing fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, Deputy City Atty. Richard Bobb said.
Bobb said many of those who occupy the building’s 38 rooms are low-income tenants.
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