Alatorre Joins Foes of Mercado Expansion

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alatorre on Thursday sided with angry neighbors who are opposed to the proposed construction of outdoor stalls for 45 vendors at El Mercado de Los Angeles, a longtime Mexican marketplace on the Eastside.

Alatorre’s decision, spelled out in a two-page statement, virtually dooms a proposal by mercado owner Pedro Rosado to legitimize the outdoor vendors, whose activities have been deemed illegal by Los Angeles city building inspectors and county health officials.

“He’ll have a hard time” getting the required variance to construct the stalls, said Alatorre, whose district includes the Boyle Heights location of El Mercado. Rosado is seeking a zoning variance to build the stalls, but a zoning administrator with the city Planning Department rejected his application in May. Rosado has appealed that decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which is scheduled to consider the matter Dec. 3.

If the appeals board rules against Rosado, city officials will be free to evict the outdoor vendors.

Neighbors of the Mexican marketplace of restaurants, curio shops and food markets on East 1st Street have complained that the mercado has been a source of problems in recent years. Traffic congestion, trash, noise, public drunkenness and inadequate parking have plagued the area, neighbors contend.

The construction of stalls for outdoor vendors, who to date have operated from makeshift shelters, would exacerbate an already intolerable situation, they said.

Alatorre, in siding with the residents, said Rosado hasn’t demonstrated good faith in dealing with the residents’ complaints. The councilman added that he does not have confidence that Rosado “will fulfill and implement the improvements” he proposes to do in order to get approval of his variance request.

Rosado has agreed to a list of demands formulated by neighbors, but Alatorre said his staff has continued to receive complaints about El Mercado despite assurances from Rosado that those problems are being addressed.

El Mercado’s director of community relations, Sal Altamirano, said he was astonished that Alatorre put credence in the neighbors’ complaints. “We think the councilman has been misled because he doesn’t have all the facts,” Altamirano said.

Altamirano noted that the commander of the Hollenbeck police station, Capt. Bruce Hagerty, has written a letter of support for Rosado’s variance application, saying the mercado does not pose a crime or policing problem for his officers.

Area residents were happy with Alatorre’s decision to oppose the variance.

“I’m just so happy that Richard is going to be with the residents,” said Diana Tarango. “Enough is enough with [the mercado’s] breaking the law.”