Flashback Fridays – The Fate of Echo Park
Dial Torgerson, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 19, 1971
Both Kelly and I (on separate occasions) dug up a rather interesting article from the L.A. Times circa 1971. The article, entitled “Which Way for Echo Park – Inner City Oasis or Slum?”, describes Echo Park at the dawn of the ’70s as:
…the hilly, multiracial, multiethnic home of both the poor and better off. Echo Park is becoming a near slum and a much-in-demand middle-class community at the same time. It is going up and down simultaneously. Newcomers from from poorer areas are crowding into substandard housing and youth gangs have become active. At the same time, there is a different influx: that of the middle class. Older couples who sold homes in distant suburbs and young marrieds with college degrees are seeking homes and rentals in the hills.
From what I’ve learned about Echo Park, it seems that it’s always been home to a mixture of different cultures and incomes. It’s interesting to see proof of this and to see an argument similar to the one happening today, taking place almost forty years ago. The same racial tensions that bubble beneath the surface of today’s arguments were there in the ’70s as well and, presumably, the ’60s. For example:
‘The rapidly changing ethnic composition of the Silver Lake-Echo Park communities will soon transform Echo Park into a Mexican-American barrio,’ said a UCLA study for the city’s new general plan. ‘We strongly urge that, via the process of community organizations and related efforts, steps be taken to avoid further ghettoization.’ Many long-time residents of Echo Park, members of its Latin community, object to experts’ blaming Latins as the bringers of the slum.
Eek! Yeah, I think an objection to that study is justified. The article also brings up some interesting bits about the cultural differences between certain residents of Echo Park. Some of these descriptions sound vaguely familiar…
The Hip community calls it “The Other End,” the other end of Sunset Blvd. from the Strip. Barefoot hippies buy food with food stamps in the same supermarket lines with young deputy public defenders with mod clothes and lavish mustaches. Chicano street types dress in a uniform of neat jeans (or overalls) and clean white T-shirts; they haven’t learned, as have their Anglo contemporaries in the suburbs, to believe that dirt is somehow revolutionary.
Read the full article here (PDF download).
cool.
It is not so similar then and now as you suggest. The better off people they are talking about were not at all so disparate in wealth as the Echo Park population is now. And the numbers of better off compared to poorer is the opposite now as then — many more poorer people then. There were a lot more Latinos in the area back then. And back then, the place was overrun by slumlords looking to cash in on what they expected to be big development coming to accommodate downtown and way overpay for their properties; there are not many slumlords left, but it has not helped the poorer people as they have been run out by drastically overpriced rental prices. The only surprise is that the big development has been held off but the slumlords have made their huge profits anyway.
Now, poorer people will be hard pressed to find anything affordable in the area, so more and more are being pushed out. That is a HUGE difference to the situation back in 1971 — something you fail to recognize, and what is at the crux of the tensions now. This really has been a route of the lower classes.
Hello Henry, Thanks very much for reading and commenting. Everything that you are saying is absolutely true, and this difference between what was happening in the 70s and what is happening now is not something that we have failed to recognize. Writing extensively about the differences between Echo Park as it was then and as it is know was not our goal with this post. Our goal was to bring the article to everyone’s attention so that our readers could learn a bit about the history of Echo Park and comment and hopefully begin a discussion. There are many issues that the article addresses that we just didn’t have the space to write about (it’s a very long article) including the issue of slumlords, the building of low-rent housing (and community objections to it) and a man named Bill Garcia.
Caitlin: OK, I was just commenting about the comments made that made it sound like you were saying it is the same now it used to be, which made it sound like you were saying the current tensions between the new and the old are no different then they were back then; but they are wildly different now.
I note too, knowing that time very well, I can be pretty certain that the opposition to the affordable housing you mention was not the affordability but the size. Those people then had a HEAVY influence of Communism, and those times saw a lot of liberal thinkers and deep thinkers — true liberals, not the moderates and shallow thinkers who get called liberals today. That means a large part of the neighborhood — the ones you call the liberals, which was the bulk of the neighborhood — was dead set in favor of helping poorer people. What they fought time and again back then were proposals for huge developments out of scale to the neighborhood, and certainly that is what that affordable housing was. They weren’t fighting poor people or affordability; they were fighting drastic overdevelopment. Their endless fights against overdevelopment are why there is an Echo Park neighborhood today.
Funny you highlight Bill Garcia. I knew him well. He went on after this article to join Councilman John Ferraro’s staff (alongside Tom LaBonge, now a councilman himself). Ferraro represented Echo Park at that time; unfortunately, Ferraro time and again took action on behalf of huge developments in the neighborhood, and Garcia had to try to deal with the neighborhood outcry over it. Along with everything else going on in Echo Park. Bill always showed interest in gang-diversion efforts and other things to help the children, and was a member of the Echo Park Lions Club, the one that was helpful in his days as a coach. But he was limited in what he could do on Ferraro’s staff by policymaking outside his control (Ferraro typically did not involve his few aides in policymaking, only his top aide, who was a relative) Ferraro eventually made sure he got Echo Park reapportioned out of his district. Garcia did show a preference to do things via establishment groups and thus the YMCA, the Lions, the Chamber of Commerce, work with the established neighborhood groups, etc.
Garcia actually married a teacher at Elysian Heights Elementary school. He finally left Ferraro’s office years later after being hospitalized with diabetes, and moved up north with his wife.
having grown up in echo park during the 60’s and 70’s it always was a very diverse community. i remember the islanders as we called them, and later the hippies, a curious bunch in my young eyes back then. today gentrification appears to be the biggest threat to the character of echo park as the downtown luxury condos keep getting closer. ugh
This is a nice recipe, thank you for the brilliant write up.
Helloo, I love your article. I recently wrote an post on storing food. I love to make my own beef for Fall!.
Hi, I love your article. I recently finished an article on storing food. I love to make my own gammon for Fall!.
I simply want to say I am just beginner to blogging and absolutely savored you’re web page. Likely I’m want to bookmark your website . You certainly have outstanding well written articles. Kudos for revealing your website page.
Nice post. I find out some thing more challenging on various blogs everyday. Most commonly it is stimulating to learn content off their writers and use a specific thing from their site. I’d choose to use some while using content on my small weblog regardless of whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll offer you a link in your web blog. Many thanks for sharing.
How do I change the background on my blogspot including sidebars?
I want to create a blogspot of my own and want to earn some money from that. Is possible?.
How can I find who publish links from my blog posts to facebook?
I want to start a blog to write about everything that happens at school and with friends…anonymously…any sugestions?.
Now, I’m a complete newbie (and dummie), so please help – I like a few features from Dynamic Drive, but how EXACTLY to insert them? Where do I go after I login into my Control Panel on Joomla?. I know how to copy-paste, but details? Please? I’m just afraid to delete something necessary and break the whole thing down, as I have never done that before. Any help greatly appreciated, or just give me a link where this is properly explained in Simple English, thanks!.
This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
I am planning to move to Australia permanently. Hopefully, my immigration process will be completed this year and I will move in the beginning of 2011. Can someone suggest some excellent resources and blogs about making the plans for settling in Australia?.
Even though I never thought of doing email marketing, this site completely changed the way I run my business now. Never seen emails going that cheap in my life: http://bit.ly/emails4less
I like looking through and I think this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it! .
Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a tremendous web site.
Gasoline hearth also retains working in power outages.
Financial advisors enterprise is people business.
An insightful blog post right there mate ! Thanks for the post .
Hey! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
I simply want to tell you that I am just very new to blogs and seriously enjoyed your blog. Probably I’m want to bookmark your blog post . You definitely have great writings. Thanks a bunch for sharing with us your blog.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
Normally I do not learn post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do it! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, very nice article.
You made some nice points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most persons will agree with your blog.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this information. Today bloggers publish just about gossips and web and this is really frustrating. A good website with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
I am constantly browsing online for ideas that can help me. Thank you!
Hello! I just would want to supply a large thumbs up with the great info you may have here within this post. I will be coming back to your blog site for additional soon.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day.
It will always be helpful to read articles from other writers and use a little something from other sites.
I need help and ideas to start a new website?
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web address and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking over your web page yet again.
I have a domain name bought, but i havent had time to make the website look nice. i want to forward the website url to my blogspot blog for the time being. how do i do this?.
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
It will always be useful to read through articles from other writers
and practice something from other web sites.
What is a great totally free blogging website that I can reply to blogs and also others will respond to me?
Great remarkable issues here. I¡¦m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking ahead to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Hello very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful ..
I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
I’m glad to find numerous helpful information right here in the submit, we’d like develop more strategies on this regard,
thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is just cool and i could assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.
I am now not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or understanding more. Thank you for excellent info I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
What are the most effective websites and also blog sites dedicated to reading and also literature?
Good way of explaining, and good piece of writing to take data about my presentation subject, which i am going to present in academy.
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is fantastic, as
well as the content!
you’re in point of fact a good webmaster. The website loading velocity is amazing.
It sort of feels that you are doing any unique trick.
Also, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve performed a fantastic activity in this matter!
Definitely believe that which you said. Your favourite
reason seemed to be on the web the simplest factor to remember of.
I say to you, I definitely get annoyed even as people consider issues that they just don’t recognise about.
You controlled to hit the nail upon the top as smartly as defined out the whole
thing with no need side effect , other people can take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thank you
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will
be much more useful than ever before.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i
came to “return the favor”.I am trying
to find things to improve my website!I suppose
its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Just how does one generate income from blog sites? Exactly how does one tackle it or begin it?