VAN NUYS : Proposal to Open Pawnshop Protested

A proposal to open a pawnshop in a west Van Nuys neighborhood has sparked protest from hundreds of nearby residents, who say they don’t want pawnshop customers traversing their neighborhood.

Leon Polissky, owner of a Van Nuys appliance repair shop, is seeking approval for a police permit to operate a pawnshop in the 7100 block of Balboa Boulevard. His case will be heard by a hearing examiner today at 9:30 a.m. in Parker Center, 150 N. Los Angeles St. in downtown Los Angeles.

Neighbor Katherine Martin said she has collected 380 signatures from homeowners who oppose the permit. She and other neighbors say Polissky’s proposed shop is too near homes and schools. “Our concern is it would bring illicit activity--people coming in trying to sell stolen goods,” said Martin. “Children walking to school have to walk right past there.”

The neighbors are backed by City Councilwoman Laura Chick. Chick’s planning deputy Denise Binder said the permit should not be approved because there is a high concentration of pawnshops in Van Nuys already and because community opposition to the plan is fierce.

But Polissky, who has owned the building where the pawnshop would be located for nine years, said the public outcry against his proposal is “absolutely ridiculous. They try to claim it is necessary that we will sell and buy stolen merchandise, which we will not, of course,” said Polissky.

Polissky said he plans to tie the pawnshop to his existing repair business. The shop would purchase used video-cassette recorders and microwave ovens, then repair them for resale, he said. Polissky said he does not intend to apply for a permit to sell guns.

After today’s hearing, the examiner is expected to recommend action to the Los Angeles Police Review Panel, which has final say over pawnbroker permits, said Alma Speaks, senior management analyst for the Los Angeles Police Commission.