North Hollywood Swap Meet Fights Eviction

North Hollywood Swap Meet vendors are fighting to stay put as a March 31 eviction date approaches.

The operator of the swap meet gave the vendors a month's notice to vacate, vendor Roberto Lopez said.

"We just want to work. Because our business — they have been there for 30 years already," Lopez said. "So it's not fair — just (for) somebody come and say, you know, 'You got to leave in 30 days.'"

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The vendors have been protesting the impending closure. They held a demonstration Tuesday at the home of Moshe Hager, a co-owner of the property that hosts the swap meet.

Hager told our newsroom's broadcast arm, 89.3 KPCC, that he and hia co-owners have forgiven several million dollars in back rent owed by the current swap meet owner. He said the vendors can stay if they find a new swap meet operator willing to pay market rate rent.

Lopez said he and other vendors are looking for a new operator, and Councilmember Paul Krekorian's office said in the statement that they are trying to help.

No comment from the current swap meet operator.