Community Voices Concerns at EPIA Monthly Meeting

The Echo Park Improvement Association held their monthly public meeting Thursday, June 2. The meeting was held in Williams Hall at near Dodger Stadium. Around 20 community members came to learn more about issues and concerns in the neighborhood.

EPIA president Darren Hubert welcomed the crowd and expressed surprise at the turnout as he “expected more people.” Alejandra Marroquin, a local resident and field deputy with Eric Garcetti’s office, said that she had invited every person who had e-mailed her with concerns, especially about the spate of recent shootings in Echo Park. Marroquin went on to say that “we don’t know to what we can attribute the recent rise in crime.” However, the city is “committed to making sure progress continues to happen” in lowering the crime rate. She said that the best way for the community to help in that effort is “for residents to be directly involved.”

Senior Lead Officer for the Northeast Division Bobby Hill echoed Marroquin’s advice. Although he said that the level of crime in Echo Park, especially homicides, is “not as bad as it used to be” the goal is still to make it better. The police department depends on the community for information and tips. Hill’s first piece of advice was for people to know their neighbors. Noting suspicious activities and letting the police know can help them crack down on gang-related crime.

Senior Lead Officer Al Polehonki stressed the importance of being “a good witness” who does not expose their presence to criminals while providing information, like the license plate numbers of suspected gang members’ cars, to the police. He also suggested that people call 9-1-1 rather than confronting dangerous scenarios themselves. He asked that the community “keep the information coming in.” He cited the recent success of tips from a local resident thwarting thefts from parked cars.

Local resident Rebecca Dessertine asked what kind of actions members of the community could take to help prevent crime, such as volunteering. Hubert noted that the EPIA, and other “groups like ours,” work to get people involved with youth and the neighborhood. Marroquin noted other organizations, like , and , where people can volunteer. When a neighborhood improves, she said, it’s due to “the neighbors being directly involved.”

Residents expressed concerns about the recent shootings, including several fatal ones. Hill said that it was mostly “gang-on-gang” which did not assuage the attendees’ fears. There were comments noting that stray bullets can harm or kill innocent bystanders. Hill also fielded questions about the possibility of an injunction against gang members gathering in certain areas, which he emphasized was an unlikely outcome.

After Marroquin and the police officers spoke, the EPIA went on to cover more local issues. There was a brief report from the EPIA treasurer. Secretary Andrew Garsten talked about the association’s opposition to a proposed 7/11 on Glendale Boulevard and discussing concerns with Dodger Stadium over parking in the neighborhood on game nights. The Echo Park Security Association also spoke about their efforts to patrol the neighborhood and quash crime. The meeting concluded with Hubert calling out for contributions to the EPIA newsletter and further involvement.