Southeast : RUBBLE TROUBLE

Residents who live near a 50-foot-high pile of concrete rubble in Huntington Park had their eyes trained on Mayor Tom Jackson Tuesday night. For nearly two years they had been telling him that dust from the mound has caused them lung problems and eye irritation.

They were counting on Jackson’s swing vote Tuesday as the City Council considered whether to revoke the business license of Aggregate Recycling Systems, owners of the South Alameda Street mound. Instead, the Council reached an unexpected compromise that postpones the matter for 90 days.

After Jackson pointed out that removing the pile would cost the city more than $1 million, and the council agreed to a proposal by Aggregate owner Sam Chew that he lower the pile to a height of 30 feet within 90 days while tests determine whether its dust presents health hazards.

“I don’t feel bad about [the compromise],” said community activist Linda Marquez. “We still have a chance.”