Posted date: 9/3/2007

Van Nuys Day Laborer Center Draws Complaints From Businesses

By Ryan DeSales

San Fernando Valley Business Journal Staff

The opening this summer of a day laborer center in Van Nuys and the planned opening of others is making some Valley businesspeople nervous.

At the core of the issue is the Van Nuys Day Laborer Center, which opened in June and is situated in the Home Depot parking lot across the street from Lulu’s Restaurant on Roscoe Boulevard.

The center is one of two existing; the other is located in North Hollywood and suffers from similar complaints by local businesses and patrons alike, according to Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, “We’ve got a lot of feedback from the business community in general. We’re concerned about crime and safety. (The) purpose was to get everyone (laborers) in one place, not loitering. The center is not being used for its intention . . . that’s the issue,â€