Fire-Damaged 10 Freeway Disrupts Los Angeles Traffic and Immigrant Businesses
Immigrant businesses operating underneath the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles, rented from a Calabasas businessman who illegally sublet the spaces at higher rates, were devastated by a recent fire that caused severe damage to the freeway. The landlord, Apex, owned by Ahmad Anthony Nowaid, had failed to pay rent on the property and owed $78,000 to Caltrans. Nowaid's firm had secured leases for government-owned property with restrictions, but illegally sublet them to various businesses. Many of the businesses did not have insurance and lost all their inventory and equipment. The relationship between Nowaid and his tenants had soured, with tenants stopping rent payments after Caltrans planned to evict Apex. The cause of the fire is believed to be arson.