I-10 Freeway to Reopen Ahead of Schedule Following Fire

State's Leasing Practices Under Scrutiny as Apex Development Inc. Faces Lawsuit and Criticism

The I-10 Freeway in Los Angeles is expected to reopen on November 21, weeks ahead of schedule, following a destructive fire that forced its closure. The freeway is one of the busiest corridors in the country, regularly used by roughly 300,000 commuters.
The fire was fueled by wood pallets stored under the freeway on land leased by the state to a private company, Apex Development Inc. The company is currently under scrutiny and facing a lawsuit from state officials for unpaid rent and allegedly subleasing the land to small businesses without permission.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state will reassess its practice of leasing land under roads to bring in money for mass transportation projects. The program is currently under scrutiny following the fire.
Apex Development Inc. has denied responsibility for the fire, stating that they had made improvements to the property and had repeatedly reported fires started by homeless encampments to the fire department.
The fire has prompted criticism and calls for greater transparency about the state's leasing program. Assemblymember Miguel Santiago has called for disclosure of how many sites are leased under the program, the terms of contracts, how much money the program generates, and how the state ensures companies comply with contract requirements.