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,” remarked Vanyek of ongoing problems. Other day laborer centers are planned, according to officials. The dozens of day laborers who congregate near the Van Nuys center is affecting business at Lulu’s, according to its general manager Mike Camorlinga. “It’s a losing battle. We’ve lost most of our breakfast business . . . our breakfast business is now dismal,” Camorlinga said. He claims there has been harassment of customers by day laborers as well as car break-ins and vandalism. “The police have more pressing matters. It’s frustrating not being able to do anything . . . our problem is not unique, the problem is larger,” said Camorlinga. “We have a lot of complaints of ‘cat-calling’ from female customers,” remarked Camorlinga, who went on to describe Lulu’s ongoing problem with property damage and graffiti. “We store paint on our premises now, so we can paint over graffiti ” “We had a security guard . . . he was being threatened,” Camorlinga went on to reiterate his frustration over loss of business, “Our customers are important to us . . . there’s no control (at the center).” Lulu’s was forced to erect a fence to enclose their parking lot, which has proved to be only a stop-gap measure, he said. The Day Laborer Center’s construction was paid for by Home Depot, yet it is operated by the not-for-profit Youth Policy Institute an organization funded by the Community Development Department of Los Angeles. The 3,900 square foot space, is sub-let by the city from Home Depot at a cost of one dollar a year. The city agreed to a two year lease, as of January of 2006. The utilities, repairs and maintenance of the building are the responsibility of the Youth Policy Organization. The city initiated the lease in response to growing safety concerns with the congregating laborers; who are often in the way of traffic in their attempts to find work. A walk trough the Home Depot parking lot will find any potential store patron solicited by eager work-seekers, who are skeptical of registering with and waiting in the Labor Center, which is operated for their benefit. Registration is required by the center’s policy, for both employees and employers, “A lot of times we get fake names . . . we want to establish a one-on-one connection, we’re here to provide services,” remarked Day Laborer Center director Luis Perez. He continued, “We help anybody in search of employment, legal, illegal, anyone who wants to register with us can; just like the unemployment office.” All negotiations are done between employee and employer, he said. We educate them how to negotiate. We make sure they get paid. . . (we) let the laborers know what information they need to get from employers,” remarked Perez. “On an average day, 40 to 60 participants are registered. They basically behave, (we) have one or two that don’t like to behave,” continued Perez. He said not everyone is aware of the center. “We’re trying to create an ordered system. Home Depot has been very understanding,” Perez added. A Home Depot security guard, who wished to be identified only as Stewart, offered his first-hand perspective on the situation. “A lot of these guys don’t want to follow the rules. It’s an ongoing problem . . . the police are doing everything they can. But there is only so much they can do,” he remarked. Many day laborers are reluctant to use the center, fearing that by waiting inside, they will miss out on work opportunities from potential employers driving by although the center faces the street and provides restroom facilities, water and computer access for the laborers. The goal of the Youth Policy Institute and its Day Laborer Centers, is to . . reduce the congregation of day laborers at informal meeting areas in the city by establishing fixed sites, as stated on its website. Mission statement aside, the center continues to elicit reactions from business and community members. “It’s laughable, it’s (the center) not doing anything at all . . .,” Camorlinga said.