Metro Rail construction sparks ire along two separate business strips.

Tensions continued to mount in mid-July between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and business people in the path of the Metro Rail subway system.

Hollywood business owners staged a massive anti-Metro Rail protest on July 16, publicizing a "Hollywood Going Out of Business" street sale and decorating thei businesses with red signs saying "This Business Has Been Condemned by Metro Rai Construction."

"This otherwise healthy business has been deemed expendable by MTA," the signs went on to read. They were signed by "irresponsible MTA stooge: Jack E. Goldberg," a swipe at Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, and featured a logo similar to the MTA logo with the caption: "Metropolitan Terrorist Authority."

Hollywood business people say Metro Rail construction on Hollywood Boulevard ha made it nearly impossible for them to conduct business.

Real estate developer Jerry Schneiderman said the protest was a success because the merchants drew attention to their plight and also made money on the street sale, which continued in the midst of active construction.

Meanwhile, Vermont business owners have been outraged since June, when many received MTA notification about a benefit assessment district tax soon to be imposed on them.

The business owners are now making similar complaints to those voiced by Hollywood business people earlier this year -- that they weren't adequately notified when the MTA's predecessor agency, the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, was considering adopting these taxing districts year ago.

"Our owner certainly had no prior knowledge," said Bruce Newmark, general manager of Mid-Way Ford at 200 N. Vermont Ave., the single-largest piece of contiguous property along the Vermont corridor. Newmark said the dealership is being assessed between $159,000 and $826,000, depending on whether the money is paid up-front or financed over a number of years. Meanwhile, the business suffers from construction-related disruption and sink holes, he said.

"This benefit assessment is looking to penalize the people who survived the construction," Newmark said.

A Vermont community meeting with MTA officials had been scheduled for July 19, which turned out to be the day after a construction-related subway tunnel explosion/fire at 6th Street and Vermont Avenue that injured three construction workers.

The MTA canceled its Vermont community meeting but failed to notify everyone in time, and about a dozen people -- including a woman hired by the MTA to provide Spanish-language translation -- showed up for the meeting that wasn't.

Newmark said some Vermont businesses and residents did receive notice of the cancellation in the mail on the day of the meeting. The notice said the meeting was being canceled "due to possible work stoppage," an apparent reference to th threat of a bus driver strike.

MTA workers had threatened to strike on July 18, but on July 16 they agreed to delay strike plans and continue contract talks for at least a week.

Geoffrey Saldivar, president of the Rampart Rangers/East Hollywood Neighborhood Watch, said Vermont businesses and residents lately have been having troubles largely with dust and noise.