North Hollywood : Fast-Food Restaurant to Hire Local Youths

A planned McDonald’s restaurant at Lankershim Boulevard and Riverside Drive has agreed to make a special effort to hire youths from North Hollywood and Studio City when it begins shopping for employees, according to the president of the Studio City Residents Assn.

Tony Lucente, who worked with the fast-food chain to create a project that was acceptable to the community, said his group would like McDonald’s to hold a recruiting session at North Hollywood High School. An aide to City Councilman John Ferraro--who represents the area--has spoken with a school official about the idea, according to Lucente, but no plans have been made.

The corporation agreed to the outreach effort, among other association requests, in exchange for association support for its project, according to Lucente and Ron Street, of McDonald’s real estate division.

Although the restaurant is in North Hollywood, the Studio City Residents Assn. has represented residents’ interests in the neighborhood in the past, due to its proximity to Studio City.

The McDonald’s is expected to open late this year or early next year.