Friends, first of all, thank you for helping us pass 400 signatures! Having so much support for this cause shows we're not alone in wanting our Echo Park Lake to be a park - Not housing!

But secondly, let's talk about that "homelessness forum" that occurred last night, hosted by the Echo Park Neighborhood Council.

Mitch O' Farrell, CD13, and the LA Park Rangers where supposed to be there, and yet, somehow, not a single one showed up. This really does show the amount of respect they have for us stakeholders and residents here in Echo Park. They know we want to hold them accountable for failing to use the $1.2 Billion in Prop HHH funds to build ANY of the housing we voted on. But Mitch couldn't even manage to spare two hours to make an appearance and face us. But it got worse...

As the meeting progressed. It became apparent that activists where given the majority of the speaking time.

The panel consisted of one housed resident, Jeannette Storms, who lives across the street from the lake, one unhoused resident named Lloyd Edward, and several activists who where all on the side of keeping unhoused at the lake for as long as necessary.

Lloyd, while making his case for why he should be allowed to stay indefinitely at the lake - admitted that he had moved to Echo Park only two months ago (From Kansas). Additionally, he would refuse any offers of temporary housing and would stay at the lake indefinitely until he was offered a permanent residence in Echo Park. 

The housing we voted on MUST BE BUILT - However... how can they demand our beautiful lake be the interim housing for all unhoused in Echo Park? Especially when we have unhoused individuals literally admitting they've come here from out of state only mere months ago? 

This all falls back to the accountability of our politicians who have failed to build housing we voted on, failed to preserve our lake space we paid for, and failed to live up to promises again and again. 

What can you do about it? Well, right now you've already taken a big step by signing this petition, and many of you have shared it as well. I ask that if you haven't already, share the petition to your fellow residents and neighbors. Then call Mitch O' Farrell's office here: 213-207-3015. Explain that you will not stand for the lake being used as long term housing - Period. And tell them to build the housing we voted on!