LAX soundproofing project leaves Inglewood family's home in shambles

Jory Rand Image
Friday, July 3, 2015
LAX soundproofing project leaves Inglewood family's home in shambles
A city improvement project to insulate several homes under the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport has left one Inglewood homeowner worse off now than before construction began.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Inglewood resident John Scott is at his wits end. His home is under construction as the city works to soundproof homes under the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport.

It's a job he was told by the contractor would take 10 days to complete -- that was about four weeks ago. In the meantime, garbage and supplies litter the area around his home in the 8400 block of S. Van Ness Avenue. His air conditioning has also stopped working.

Scott says he's repeatedly called the city of Inglewood to no avail. He says he was once put on hold for more than four hours and has also had trouble reaching the contractor.

"He's a ghost," Scott said.

He contacted Eyewitness News using the #ABC7Eyewitness. After being contacted by Eyewitness News about the problems Scott was experiencing, the city of Inglewood sent a technician to Scott's home on Thursday.

Melanie McDade-Dickens, Inglewood Mayor James Butts' senior assistant, told Eyewitness News the city had no record of Scott's complaints despite his outbound phone call history.

"We insulate over 1,000 homes every 12 month period. With that volume it is to be expected to find installation issues from time to time. Problems are rectified immediately," McDade-Dickens said, adding that Scott's faulty thermostat will be replaced Friday.

Scott says he hopes that his story will help bring this to the attention of the city, for his family and others in the flight path.

"This is going to go all the way to Westchester and beyond, so there's hundreds and hundreds of people that's going to be facing the same situation. They need to know the city of Inglewood is not helping at all," Scott said.

Residential Sound Insulation personnel can be reached at (310) 412-5289.