Research Sought on Possible Police Site

At a special meeting of the Los Angeles City Council’s Transportation Committee, Councilman Richard Alarcon instructed city staff to research how the city might purchase the Department of Water and Power’s largely vacant Anthony Building on Arleta Avenue to house a new police station.

Alarcon, the committee chairman, called the special meeting Wednesday evening on the building’s second floor to discuss the possible purchase as he and city staff also explored ways to divert to law enforcement city funds previously designated for subway construction.

The funds are part of the $200 million the city agreed to pay to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to assist with construction of subway extensions to North Hollywood, the Mid-City and Eastside. However, the MTA has suspended the Mid-City and Eastside expansions because of funding problems.

Because the city money set aside for the MTA can be used only for transportation projects, Alarcon proposed using the money for road resurfacing and other transportation projects paid out of the city’s general fund. The money in the general fund could then be used to create the police stations.

Deputy Chief Michael J. Bostic, commanding officer of the Valley Bureau, said the Police Department would like to split the Valley into two bureaus with two commanders. “It’s just a matter of finding a new facility,” he said.

The councilman said he will convene another meeting on the matter in three to four weeks.