With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
The Controversial Echo Park Lake Fence Is Coming Down
The fence surrounding Echo Park Lake placed in 2021 and that ignited several protests is now being removed.
(
Arantza Peña Popo
)
After nearly two years, the chain link fence surrounding Echo Park Lake is being removed by the Department of Recreation and Parks. Los Angeles Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez announced Friday the totality of the fence should be removed by March 31.
The fence was initially erected following the controversial clearing of roughly 200 unhoused people from the park by police, which also resulted in about 180 protesters and journalists being detained.
The decision to remove the fence was made by Soto-Martinez, who unseated incumbent Mitch O’Farrell last fall.
In 2021, O’Farrell closed the park, claiming it needed to get cleaned and repaired. But for many, the decision was an effort to expel unhoused communities camping in the area, sparking the protests.
Support for LAist comes from
O’Farrell asked the LAPD to clear the park at the behest of fed up residents, a decision that galvanized his opponents and helped lead to his ouster.
Soto-Martinez promised to remove the fence during his campaign. He has called the Echo Park eviction "the biggest failure of homeless policy in the history of Los Angeles.”
In an emailed statement, Soto-Martinez said that one of their goals is to ensure “Echo Park Lake is safe, clean and accessible for all.”
Outreach workers from groups including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Homeless Health Care Los Angeles and People Assisting the Homeless will have a daily presence at the park, according to the statement. And an unarmed response team — part of the CIRCLE program — will be available at night.
While he visited the area on Monday, park-goer and local resident John C Miranda said he doesn’t agree with the city’s decision to put the fencing up in the first place.
"That (fencing the park) doesn't make sense because if it's a public area. It shouldn't matter what you're socio-economic group is; it should be allowed for everyone," Miranda said.
Support for LAist comes from
Yulu Fuentes grew up in Echo Park and said she felt relieved to see the fencing go.
"I feel like when the fences went up, there was just a change in approachability to the park. It felt very punitive to see the fences up as a response of unhoused neighbors that were residing at the park," Fuentes said.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist