Hearing Sought on Subway Compensation

City Councilman Richard Alarcon has asked the Transportation Committee to hold a public hearing Wednesday to address compensating businesses on Lankershim Boulevard that are negatively impacted by subway construction in North Hollywood.

Alarcon, head of the city panel, has relayed his desire to compensate these businesses--through monetary and other means--to the head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Citing a program established by the MTA to assist businesses along Hollywood Boulevard that had suffered due to rail construction, Alarcon said North Hollywood businesses should get the same consideration.

“There is no good reason why businesses in North Hollywood should be treated any differently from businesses in Hollywood,” Alarcon said. “They both suffered as a result of rail-line construction.”

Alarcon’s plan would be to compensate business owners using a portion of funds set aside for subway construction.

The funds are part of the $200 million the city had designated to pay the MTA to assist with constructing subway extensions to North Hollywood, the Mid-City area and Eastside. But the MTA suspended the Mid-City and Eastside projects because of funding problems.

In reallocating a portion of the money, Alarcon has proposed using the funds to reimburse North Hollywood businesses along Lankershim and to build at least three police stations in the San Fernando Valley and the Mid-City area.

The hearing is 2 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall East, 200 N. Main St., Room 314.