Posted on 09/30/2023
ONE BIG THING: 6 MONTHS SINCE THE ECHO PARK LAKE FENCE CAME DOWN
What Happened?
This past Wednesday marked the six month anniversary of the removal of the fence around Echo Park Lake.
After years of controversy around the park, we knew that we needed to handle this process the right way. To us, that meant that we wanted to hear the community’s input and make sure we had the resources in place for once the fence was removed.
We were able to make this project a success so far because we listened to what people wanted to see in the park. We set up service providers and outreach workers to be at the park 7 days-a-week, and a team of unarmed responders available during nighttime hours if any issues arise.
Six months later, the park is as safe, welcoming, and beautiful as ever. Instead of problems related to homelessness, policing, or safety, it seems like the biggest issue facing the park right now is the geese that reside there.
We might not be able to totally control how the geese handle themselves, but given the terrible situation at the park just two years ago, we’re feeling pretty good about how things are going.
Why it Matters
The situation at Echo Park Lake in 2021 was a dark moment for our city. When 400 police officers came to close and fence the park, at least 16 journalists were detained, hundreds of peaceful protesters were arrested, and only 8% of people experiencing homelessness at the lake were connected to permanent housing.
It was the biggest homelessness policy failure in the history of Los Angeles, and for a time it made our entire city a national embarrassment.
This new, care-centered approach to Echo Park Lake shows that we can’t get our way out of this homelessness crisis through displacement and incarceration – what will get us out of this situation are services and housing.
Things are going well at the park so far, but there’s still a lot of work left to be done.
What's Next?
Our office will continue our work to keep Echo Park Lake safe, clean, and accessible to everyone, but we also need to continue implementing this services-led approach across the district and across the city.
We don’t have to choose between caring for our unhoused neighbors and having safe, clean public spaces – we can have both.
There are over 3,000 unhoused residents just in our district alone, and an additional 7,000 households in our district have received eviction notices since February. If we want to get out of this homelessness crisis, we need to keep people housed through programs like the ULA Emergency Rent Relief initiative, and we need to help the folks living in our streets by leading with services and real housing options.
Two More Quick Hits!
1. EMERGENCY RENT RELIEF APPLICATION CLOSES MONDAY AT 6PM
Applications to pay off up to six months of back rent for LA residents close this Monday at 6pm.
You can apply at housing.lacity.org, and be sure to share this link with your friends, family, or neighbors who may owe back rent.
Even if you don’t owe back rent, you can still sign up to volunteer with our office to help fight needless evictions in the district!
2. Announcing our Next Resource Fair! October 14 in Historic Filipinotown
We’re thrilled to announce our office’s next big Community Resource Fair – Filo-Ween in Historic Filipinotown on October 14 from 10am-2pm.
Just like a last resource fair, we’re bringing together dozens of community organizations to provide critical services to hundreds of residents while enjoying amazing food, music, and more.
We can’t wait to see you there!
