Huntington Park Rejects Mr. C’s Towing Contract Renewal Amid Allegations of Car Theft (Guest Post by Marilyn Angel)

On October 13, 2026, the City of Huntington Park denied Mr. C’s Towing (“Mr. C’s”) from its new police towing renewal contract. The denial was based on Mr. C’s growing monopolistic and questionable practices across Southeast Los Angeles County. Council members are concerned the company is using their money to influence their votes. Other issues include customer allegations that Mr. C’s stole their cars and their court losses over disputed tows.

During council discussions, Council Member Nancy Martiz questioned the company's reputation among residents, citing its low ratings on Google and Yelp. Although she couldn’t confirm each accusation, she argued these complaints raise genuine concerns.

Council Member Jonathan A. Sanabria also found it problematic and was alarmed by their monopolistic neighboring contracts in Southeast LA. "Are we allowing for a monopoly to exist within our community, of towing, if we go with Mr. C’s as well?" Sanabria asked. 

In an exclusive statement to The Legal Lens, Sanabria understood the financial burden and wants fair tow charges. "At the end of the day, our responsibility is to do what's best for Huntington Park residents. Under the previous arrangement, residents could be charged $270 just for the tow, plus $77 for every day their vehicle remained in storage. For working families, those costs add up quickly."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Huntington Park’s income per resident averages just $1,739 a month. A weekend tow could cost about $500. That's more than a week’s worth of income. That’s a major setback for residents, made worse by having to pay a company allegedly stealing their cars.

Meanwhile, Lynwood is discussing whether to continue contracting with Mr. C’s, which continued city-ordered tows after its written agreement expired in August 2024. An upcoming article will examine Lynwood’s decision.