Two years after hundreds of protesters and police officers clashed over the removal of a major homeless encampment in Echo Park Lake, the public watched this week as workers dismantled a chain-link fence that had been erected during that period. Officials at the time said the barrier would be temporary while the park underwent repairs following the encampment sweep.
But advocates for those facing homelessness viewed the fence as a way to keep unhoused individuals out of the park. Meanwhile, nearby residents and others who described fights, drug use and other illicit activities at the park said they felt safer having a fence around the perimeter.
Those issues resurfaced on Monday, March 27, as work began to dismantle the fence, marking a new era under the leadership of Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who won election in November. Among his campaign promises was one to have the fence removed.
The councilmember said in a statement that there will be service providers and outreach workers at the park every day of the week and that unarmed responders will be available at night should issues arise there.
“Our entire team continues to communicate constantly and openly with trusted service providers, the Department of Recreation & Parks, and community leaders to ensure this process is successful,” the statement read.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the community to achieve our shared goals for the park,” it said.
Our statement on the removal of the fence surrounding Echo Park Lake: pic.twitter.com/uNq5q1IcMQ
— Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez (@CD13LosAngeles) March 27, 2023
There remain differing opinions about whether the fence should remain, but the vast majority of park users the Los Angeles Daily News spoke with on Tuesday, March 28, said they were happy to see it come down or did not have a strong opinion either way.
Soto-Martinez’s office had also conducted a survey by knocking on over 2,100 doors of nearby residents before the…
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