Assistance expands in scope for SoCal Gas Leak

Residents of Porter Ranch aren't the only ones suffering from the effects of the SoCal Gas leak.

Councilmember Mitch Englander says people in cities even further away are feeling symptoms, and he wants people to know they can apply for help, no matter where they live.

"The 5 mile radius isn't enough," said Englander.

L.A. City Council unanimously voted Tuesday for SoCal Gas to expand relocation benefits to communities even further away from the Aliso Canyon gas leak, to Granada Hills, Chatsworth and Northridge.

Lynne Manganelli lives in Chadsworth and came to the SoCal Gas assistance center for help on Tuesday.

"Everybody's been having headaches. And I've never had headaches," said Manganelli.

She is relieved help will be based on need and not proximity to the leak.

"They want to keep it as small possible because this is only going to affect them financially huge," said Manganelli.

Although the vote passed to give more people assistance, SoCal Gas says it's been helping people regardless of their location all along.

"10% of those folks in the three communities that the councilmember's motion referred to....have come from those communities. We've been serving those communities all along," said Mike Mizrahi, SoCal Gas Spokesperson.

The councilmember's office disagrees and says there are still 2,000 people on the waiting list and they've been getting complaints from surround communities for months. They hope more people will now get help.