I am writing this petition urging councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez to reverse his reckless decision to prematurely remove the fencing at Echo Park. During the occupation of Echo Park by the unhoused who were allowed to languish there, the park was rendered unsafe and inaccessible to the general population, and the surrounding community had to put up with perpetual crime, fires, open air drug use, and other dangerous activity right at their doorstep. After the park was cleaned out and the fencing was erected, these conditions largely disappeared from the area, and the park was restored to its former beauty. I think that I speak for everyone when I say that we are all happy to be able to safely enjoy the park again, and have been doing so for the past year and a half without issue. However, the newly elected councilman seems intent on undoing the progress made by his predecessor by removing the fencing from the park that has kept the park free of homeless encampments, which will open the floodgates for the unhoused to return and reinstate their encampments in the park. I urge Hugo to reverse this irresponsible decision and keep the fencing up so that we can continue enjoying a safe and clean Echo Park.