Echo Park: A Different View

[C6H12O6ful]

it is for the best, I'm tired of the gangs using my garage doors as their graffiti calling card. It cost money to keep it clean....my home insurance try to cancel because they think the spray paint is a fire hazard. I don't like this gangs...good way to get rid of this scum. Por unos pendejos pagan todos.

[surfgal181]

As a Mixed teenager born and raised in Echo Park, I know it has changed for the better. I remember when parents on my street, also Caucasian, did not allowed their children to play outside or walk up and down the street by themselves. Today, we can do that. This neighborhood has changed for the better, as it has a lower crime rate and safer streets in general. Personally, I enjoy the old Mexican markets/taco trucks, AND the bookstores/cafes.

[surfgal181]

ummm the orientals were in echo park before the hispanics... 5:00

[llorensl]

Oh no! Whitey's moving in! Well they were there first as the video shows and I'll bet these so called minorities didn't feel sorry when they started moving out. Boo hoo hoo.

[bamkablam]

I cant stand the racist whining. Los Angeles is a big world class multinational city. If you don't like people that are not of your own race, perhaps you should move to a more homogeneous area, where every one else is just like you. By the same token, greedy landlords of every race need to be exterminated!!

[hellomikie92]

Interesting. Amazing how times change huh? lol

[Yxster]

NOTHING HAS CHANGED THAT BIG BAD BANG BANG OBS 13 OSIRIBOYS GANG STILL HERE IN MECHO FARK FAGETLINO HEIGHTS CHINATOWN ELYSIAN PARK SILVER FLAKE AND DOWNTOWN CANT KEEP US AWAY

[usacutie100]

very interesting. I lived in NYC and it happens in all major cities.

[suzievargas1]

MID JEFF.....THE LAST REMAINING SO-CALLED GANGMEMBERS HAVE LEFT SOME OF THE BIGGEST FAMILIES THERE,THEY WILL NEVER BE LEAVING FOR IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO MAKE US PEOPLE MAKE SURE THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN

'ARE THEIR...I BEEN THERE SINCE 1960 SAME HOUSE 9 GRANDKIDS...+STRONG

[rdsathene]

Thank you for this wonderful video. A Barrio Echo Parque resident since 1994, I watched gentrification happen before my very eyes. I used to patronize all the businesses depicted in this video. I am nominally Anglo, but bilingual and an immigrant rights activist. I taught CDD at St. Teresa de Avila for a dozen years. My large classes were bilingual for nearly a decade, but slowly became smaller and monolingual English before I retired. Today I fight the charter schools encroaching Echo Parque.

[QueseIMC1]

steph this is a great documentary... In reading some of these comments Its funny how some people are sooo uneducated on the work of the people and how people in certain communities make it work in beautiful ways that may not be so called CLEAN COMMUNITIES and PRESTINE MANSIONS in there eyes... Its too bad that people are too blind to see what COMMUNITY really means. I'm sure there are some out there that do see this but with COMMENTS like the ones here WOW! This is definitely a different view.

[SuTune1]

Well, interesting point of view and I can totally sympathize with the plight of the people who have been working hard in their businesses there all these years. BUT, as with anywhere, neighborhoods change. And I think it's a GREAT thing this area seems to be cleaning up. I left the L.A. area some years back BECAUSE it was a filthy, gang-ridden, dangerous place. I sobbed at the dilapidated historic architecture, the lots strewn with piles of TRASH.Why did the residents NOT KEEP this area CLEAN?

[suzievargas1]

just how do you think you can do that when ''echo park the varrio was born there ,it was there in the late 50's and is still there,its been generations of families that continue to have children ,they might not appear dressed like gangsters ...but i can vouch that 'they are there' and they listen and watch ,while people do what they do.but you will never get rid of echo parkers born and raised.

[Sophistaphunk]

People must also realize that white artists aren't the ONLY artists moving into gentrified neighborhoods- it' also BLACK artists, LATINO artists, ASIAN artists, etc. Collectively, I think our presence help improve the neighborhood, but I also think that the rent should obviously stay low and that the original residents should be respected. But I also find it repulsive that some white hipsters think that they single-handedly saved these areas with their "great pure whiteness." Fuck out of here...

[Sophistaphunk]

I'm torn on this issue. On one hand I identify with the natives and people who have suffered the negative impacts of young white "artists" invading their neighborhoods- especially as a fellow person of color- but on the other hand, gentrification has helped make it safer for me to walk down the streets in mt neighborhood at night. I'm so done and over crime. I lived in neighborhoods where my house was burglarized and I was robbed.. I'm so tired of that. A low-crime area is mandatory.

[98bigbutt]

Gentrification=The silent racism.

[bretadounitedfc]

artsy fartsys in EP

[jl144268]

The worst is when a homeowner who wants to cash in disregards the rights of people who lived in these homes for many years. Most homes in Echo Park are under rent control and many of these homeowners try to lie or cheat these people to get them out of the house without following the law of rent control. The greed these people show is the worst part of gentrification. The price of gentrification in only paid by the people that are kicked out of displaced.

[centerrightpunk]

i welcome gentrification 100%. i was born and raised in this area (also, silverlake, east hollywood, etc.), and it was, for the most part, a dump. filled with gangs and illegal immigrants. and the first lady has the audacity to bitch about the "anglos" coming in and buying up the property? she's lucky she's not deported!

[nelli868]

@centerrightpunk your obviously a racist piece of ****.... as i said the problem is not kicking out the violence its fixing it...

[lonelyone35]

THis was a sad day.. as I remember going here with my nana..These were our stomping grounds. The day that Pioneer closed down..and then Pioneer drive thru..Sux.

[nanis2973]

Es verdad! Nos han hido sacando por las altas rentas,que solo los gueros pueden pagar! En mi caso , me tuve que mover hasta Paramount porque mi presupuesto ya no era suficiente!!!!

[have2kill]

All you white fucks; why cant you take your wannabe actor/musician/waiter for the time being assess back to middle america where you came from? they hire the rent and people that lived here already cant afford it because its fucks like you who can because daddy and mommy pay for it. its like fucking 1492 all over again. But this time we have guns. All you have are your cafe latees and scarves. Then again, you motherfuckers dont give a shit about ANYTHING. no hipsters allowed!

[ik23]

@have2kill

Hahaha Have2Kill.

We rollin with hot soy lattes and we'll foam all over you just like we did yo mama.

1 4 9 2 Hipster Crew in that hizzy!

Let me know what it's like livin in Boyle Heights a year from now.

[BellumSacrumBellum28]

I hate diversity. It weakens any community. Left to our own devices, people are naturally attracted to their own kind. It's really that simple. Another truth is whites improve the value of their communities, while the blacks and the Latino demoralize and degrade their homes and communities. Look at ANY Mexican or black neighborhood for the undeniable truth. That's why your rents are going to be raised so fucking high you haven't got a choice but MOVE OUT!!

[nelli868]

the only reason the rent in inner-city neighborhoods is low is "white people" determined the property value of these homes during "white flight" based on the ethnicity of the people living there. for example HOLC and FHA created statements documents that you can find if you care to discredit my statement that proves this to be true. The result was poor living conditions and devalued neighborhoods this leads to apathy in the community.

[213lmc]

Wow,I grew up in echo park and left in 1997,it has changed a lot, and there's always two sides to a story but in the end it's what you make of it,if we really love echo park let's be more and do more after all this is US of A so the oppurtunity is always within reach

[kreator75]

How many of these people are legal citizens? I am sure alot are, but quite a few are not I am sure. So their opinions mean nothing. Illegals should have no say in anything. Period.

[SarahMcClair]

Echo Park has never been a "hood" to me, perhaps it is to you newcomers, and that itself shows evidence of your racist thoughts. Perhaps you think that native hispanic echo park residents are tacky due to the fact that they are not financially in a spot where they can restore the area? What do you define as safe and who are you to define it? Do you people move here to act like your doing EP a charity act or do you really admire EP and want to integrate in a diverse culture of people.

[mistergino1972]

Ha...lol @ thrillhouse222.....stop looking in the mirror and re-elaborate ur own butt plug experience to your friends over the "rainbow"

[thrillhouse222]

I heard echo park gangsters go to the bushes in chavez ravine, near the tennis courts, and have gay sex. apparently this phenomenon has been happening for decades

now the whole place is littered with condom wrappers and butt plugs

[lisalisa842]

I was born and raised in Echo Park. I've seen the gentrification process first hand over the years and while this docu. makes a good point I don't agree that Asians are part of the gentrification process. Filipino's have been a part of Echo Park for several decades, my Filipino family settling in E.P over 40 years ago and a portion of E.P is even called Filipino town. My mother, who is white, has also been an E.P resident since the 60's. Also take into account that Chinatown is geo. very close.

[IMCnobody]

@lisalisa842 true. Filipinos have been in EP a long time. They were pushed into the Temple area after they got gentrified out of downtown in the 1960s. There used to be a community on Bunker Hill going way back, probably back to the turn of the century. Asians have been a part of downtown LA, living in and around it, since the late 1800s, and most of the communities around DT have been Asian and Mexican, but you would not know it from the official history.

[gruntball]

Thanks, great video, well done. You're showing the side of the story that is always neglected in the mainstream. I have read some of the comments below and I am always disturbed by the racial tensions and hostility that exists in L.A. (well, the U.S. in general). When the the U.S. matures as a society a bit more, if I am still alive, I'll return. Saludos!

[blehhisface95]

It's really sad to see people lose there Jobs and homes, homes that they lived in there whole life. I'm blessed to be fortunate enough to keep on living here. I hope this brings more awareness.

[akaider]

hipsters are the real urban scum - i dont like how they disrespect the community. i dont think they even know what community is!

[StrictlyBG]

third echo park

[mongamen37]

you happened to me..lived in echopark ..not anymore..raised the rent..vidoe brought awareness....good video!

[syphon503]

i've seen were outside of my house. I a man shot in the head once, another time i saw a guy shot on the back with a shotgun. I was only 8 years old when i saw this. I also saw a guy getting shot at 3pm next to the newstand on echopark and sunset when getting out of the bus. its sad to say, but now that all these people have moved out and the community is changing, the community has become a better place. If there is another solution i am all for it.

[syphon503]

i do have to say there is no gangsters, sad to say. I can take a walk out in the neighborhood without having the fear of getting shot. I've lived in echo park all my life and i have to say that some of the most shocking images

[deadinsin2011]

Bout time America is returned to REAL Americans. If only there were more cities doing this.

I live in a white town, hardly any crime, no killings, no crack heads walking down the street, no homelessness, the town is peaceful and quiet. However I can drive 15 miles to the nearest 'colored' community and find all manner of poverty, crime, murder, drugs, anything! Yet we are to support this, and change our beliefs that this is wrong just so we dont upset the precious immigrants. White Power!

[deadinsin2011]

I know alot of people will say whites caused the poverty in these communities, but I beg to differ. Any decent person with morals and who was raised by GOOD parents will know to WORK for what he wants. We do not see this in most colored communities by the long lines at welfare and food stamp offices, or the people sleeping under a bridge. They are being told its okay to mooch off of other peoples success, be lazy, and to be a parasite all of their life whos only hope is a cell in prison.

[BIGJOHN805]

I hate to see anyone lose thier home or buisness. But... If some of these latinos who have lived in Echo Park for a long time had saved thier money and bought thier homes instead or renting they would have made a fortune when the prices went up. I am white and have been priced out of the community I grew up in... so what! im not gonna be mad at people that are more well off than me because of it.

[haitianzoezoe]

so then why are you coming into their communities then , lol you white people talk alot of game , you talk as if mexicans dissapear once gentrification happens , they dont dissapear they just go someplace else smart pants , thats the problem with gentrification it makes ungentrified areas become slums , what a greedy concept

[haitianzoezoe]

WOWO VERY IGNORENT

[haitianzoezoe]

ISNT THE GOVERNER OF L.A MEXICAN???

[deadinsin2011]

And what is wrong with that? It is not our fault that we have initiative and try to better ourselves while they happily live in poverty. Maybe if they received an education and didnt get pregnant at 14 then they wouldnt have to work for the white people and could be proud Latinos by bettering their community and becoming self sustaining instead of depending on the rich white person for a job.

[JORDANNYC17]

um im not latinobut your paragraph sounds really ignorent , even worse your not even a white rich boss yourself

[KrissyinLA]

@haitianzoezoe hmmmm well let's see.... I'm white, maybe middle or lower middle class as far as income levels in L.A. are concerned, I have had to move twice due to rent increases from greedy landlords. By me moving to Echo Park, or Lincoln Heights because I love the diverse culture and history of the area, and could maybe one day own a home I can afford much like the current residents, that makes me a bad white person trying to push anybody non white out?? WOW interesting line of thought lol

[KrissyinLA]

@ChampsElysees100 Sorry Champs, but judging by your grammer and spelling, you my dear are showing just how UNeducated you are.

[CathVampireSlayer]

it's called blockbusting how does it fell wetback you made people lose the values of their homes when you move in now the Jews make more money moving the people back to where they lived before

search the net for blockbusting and keep out of our areas

[weslosgunner]

i grew up in echo park i was walking the streets in the late 80's and early 90's and it was fucked up!! im glad that its changing true the rent went up the roof but its better then what it was

[lisalisa842]

True man, that's the echo park I grew up in. When I was going to VIrgil my friends and I took a walk late at night, f-ing got chased down by gang members with guns. That wont happen nowadays. Maybe.

[charlesdoran]

Does anyone know how to get ahold of the director of this film, Stephanie Cisneros? I want to put this short in a screening I'm putting together.

[luceafar123]

by the way to anyone who hate on illegal immigration, just stop and think about what the US interest in other countries are, and what they do to keep them in place. stop watching corporate news because it makes you stupid.

[luceafar123]

Who gives a fuck, I'm glad its changing for the best, because I'm tired of having to paint my walls because some fucking asshole thinks is their territory. I'm latino and I grew up here and the truth about why pioneer market close as lasuits and the owner just decided to lease the land. The owners are still here. This racial shit is what divides people. Is corporations that fuck the working class.

[yaphank]

4:20 - By "people" he means middle class white familys and they didn't just leave for no reason. They were ethnically cleansed from these areas through brown racism, crime and pollution!

Now the elite come in and clean out the garbage and we're supossed to be concerned? Where are the working class whites that were displaced? The ones who built Echo Park in the first place? Where are they?

[IMCnobody]

@yaphank Whites in EP weren't displaced. After ww2, suburbs grew. White people had the most access to credit, and used that leverage to move from cities to suburbs.

[WatchaEchoPark]

WOW so much hate from jimy jam, he was probably one of those stupid ANGLOS who bought HIGH and has lost equity. I've lived in Echo Park since 1970's, it's not true that the real people in the barrio didn't know what was coming, as an activist I spent hundreds of hours telling people PLEASE go to the local meetings the whites, the monied are going to get rid of you and they did. Mejicano educate yourself, it's only getting harder and harder. Education is the key and only you can open the door.

[KrissyinLA]

@WatchaEchoPark Im curious... Do you blame white/monied people for all woes within any community that at one time was going to hell??? Not being hateful, just curious. I take a bit of offense to that statement being that I'm white, not monied. Actually I'm Greek American, does that make me white and the waspy person taking over my present community because the rent is cheaper here and I can afford to live??? I personally love my diverse community, I learn something new everday! Just asking

[pandamidget]

fuck you white fagets get the fuck out of echo park

dont be scared to get jacked fucking silverlake freaks

[lrod1887]

you're a fucking douchebag

[UL439]

I don't understand where the problem is. Are these homeowners supposed to do charity? Does echo park lie in the middle of some communist country? Prices go up driven by demand, it means there's people out there who can afford them. This is pure law of market, why does everything have to become a matter of colors in the US?

[usarmy713]

hey

jimj122680 any person has the right to be here! who the fuck are you to say that they dont! if your white then get your ass back to fuckin england!

[usarmy713]

hey

jimj122680 any person has the right to be here! who the fuck are you to say that they dont! if your white then get your ass back to fuckin england!

[jimj122680]

The illegal alien woman at 35 seconds (no speaka englas) has ZERO right to be here, who the fuck does she think she is complaining about anything? This welfare leech, food stamp leech should be deported immediately.

Filthy scum Mexicans, deport them all and all their gangs too.

[jimj122680]

I am happy whites are moving BACK INTO Echo Park and hence cleaning it up. I remember when Echo Park was a nice white neighborhood. Then hispanics started moving in and brought their crime, gangs, graffiti, litter, trash, etc with them.

[ladycoach2195]

daam fuckin bitch!

[yolazieb0y]

This video gave me a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing this with YouTube.

[its1986davidbowie]

this video missed one fundamental truth: Gentrification starts, historically and consistently, when the original property owners -- regardless of ethnic origin -- realize that their property has appreciated (a lot) and freely choose to sell and get out of their quaint urban neighborhoods. Even when no real estate appreciation is involved, these homeowners flee to the safety and prestige of the suburbs or "posh" urban areas once they become financially successful.

[IMCnobody]

@its1986davidbowie it wasn't rising or falling values in EP - it was the rising values in the suburbs that drew people away. Whites had more access to credit and used that racist banking bias to buy into the suburbs.

[scisabel]

educational documentary shame on you because by firing racist comments does not help at all. One thing I am glad of is that I am happy that this created a discussion :) - S. Cisneros

[scisabel]

for once in your life the other side of the story. Learn from others and try to understand that with this country going to the hole it is even harder when low income families have to struggle and even harder when the only place one feels comfortable is their own neighborhood. People identify with the things that they have invested in their "barrio". Think about it, their culture is being ripped off from the streets that they are familiar with. And to those that just tackle a simple

[jimj122680]

Think about how all the white people who dominated Echo Park in the 1950s felt when hispanics started moving in. Did hispanics respect the white culture of Echo Park? No.  Hispanics turned Echo Park into little Mexico, complete with litter, graffit and gangs. They also demanded bilingual education for their anchor babies (most parents were illegals).

So put the shoe on the other foot and think for a moment.

[IMCnobody]

@jimj122680 you're full of it. There were Mexicans in EP in the 1950s. What happened was that whites moved out because the suburbs were a great real estate deal - and whites had the best access to credit.

[scisabel]

So I am the A hole that made this video. The young 17 year A hole made this video to provide our society an example of what goes on in low income communities. In case you did not understand why I used the Pioneer Market was because it was a symbol of the mom and pop shops that were being replaced by a big corporation, something strange looking for this type of neighborhood. I just really do not understand why people would think that I am racist. If you really are smart enough just pay attention

[LeopoldStotch23]

Perhaps because 40 seconds in there's someone blaming 'anglos' for all their problems.

[stinkydoggy]

1st learn to speak english

2nd get an education

3rd with education learn to be competative and learn the real estate market

[mildjeffrey]

No one "forced" latin homeowners to sell, they were smart and took the money and ran while the market was at it's peak. It's us "evil Anglos" that are stuck with overpriced real estate in a bad market! Just one more reason to clean up the neighborhood! Just wait until the new lofts by Chango are built... we will finally get the last remaining gang members out of our of EP!

[rockinspiritphoto]

@mildjeffrey RACIST PIG!!

[anaricky]

wheres benji at???? i need a pager.jajajaja

[boNgsteR79]

i'm filipino american and proud to be an angelino...thats all i know how to be. also i went to belmont highschool. go sentinels!!!!FUCK MARSHALL HIGH! excuse my french, i just hate marshall.

[Legendofzoom]

Remember the deli at pioneer market. Had a pickle on the side of those sandwiches I love to grub there.

[MarcEcko08]

i miss the pioneer...

Echo Park has been changing so much in the past few years i think in a positive way others dont...

[ik23]

(cont...) this film who professed to to LOVE Echo Park so much spent 5 minutes reading about it's history will realize that the 'Anglos' they so despise built and lived Echo Park in Echo Park long before they arrived. As did African Americans and the Chinese (how do you think the Lotus' got there?).

So chill the f*ck out on the hate speech. And if you're that concerned about the state of Echo Park, try voicing your dissent at a local council meeting.

[ik23]

(cont...) So why the little old ladies arent complaining about being pushed out by the Koreans, Armenians, Chinese, the Scientologists (the REAL illegal aliens IMHO), and yes Latino property owners is beyond me.

While I do agree somewhat with the gentrification sentiment voiced here, don't take it so personally, it's happening EVERYWHERE. Just ask anyone from NYC or SF (or most large cities these days) we ALL have our horror/got kicked out on our ass stories. Besides if any of the people in

[ik23]

(cont...) While I'm not saying that everyone should be shopping at Gelsons or Von's, the sentiment poured out here for the Pioneer is a bit over the top, as if someone had paved over the Echo Lake (a REAL local landmark, not a half-assed commercial venture).

Plus I love the underlying racism here too. It's that classic chesnut 'the white man' whose fault for these independent business being priced out. Last time I checked the county record it seemed to be a mixed bag of ethnicities

[ik23]

Man people have an insanely rosy view of Pioneer Market. The place was a DUMP. The boxes and cans of food had layers of dust on them, as well as having labels on them dating back to the 80's (i.e. they were that out of date). The place looked like it hadn't been swept in 2 years, and it often had a 'B' or 'C' rating. What was scarier was the produce section, which had nothing but rotting fruits and vegetables and so help me god rat sh*t littered on or around it.

[flojogrande]

It's sad but the Anglo saxons lived in these areas before the Latino invasion and now they are coming back. They call it regentrification. Before the lady in the video probably even moved in there. I remember Canada shoes being on the block between Lemoyne and Sunset and Whoolworth being right on the corner. I remember the old Pioneer market building before the rebuilt the new one. The old one use to come to the edge of the sidewalk on Sunset. The parking lot was behind the building.

[boNgsteR79]

oh my god, a fellow angelino...that is soo awesome. dude me and my mom use to shop at woolworth (memmories) there was an electronic/discount store across the street where i use to buy my nintendo games. those were the good old days for me.

echopark is drastically changing...mostly for the good, but i'd hate to see those old mom n' pop stores shut down because of high prices. i love the culture of LA.

[cwbrl3]

LATINO INVASION??

[nene213]

only because they see all this with people they put up the rent thats sucks but i dont think they will never change hell no

[nene213]

fuckin white people trying to change echo park fuck them we still rolling and controling echo parke

[aquanomadic]

When I was a kid I'd shoplift mechanical pencils and play Mortal Combat at Pioneer Market. It closing its doors was probably the biggest loss to true Echo Park dwellers.

[jumpthestump]

all the places theyve shown are only several blocks away from my house.

[jumpthestump]

yeah ive been going pioneer since way back in 96 when i was a kid. They closed it down when i was 12. back in 2003

[merlynsdaughter]

Great video. We used to shop at Pioneer when we lived in EP & I was shocked to find it gone when when I returned for a visit.

[echoparkresident]

I do enjoy going to Chango, and I do enjoy going to Fashions of Echo Park, as well as getting mexican food and going to the park.

I think we all can live in harmony together. I admit that there have been times I couldn't afford my own rent either.

I have almost been evicted several times. The thing is that Los Angeles attracts many people and the capitalism that runs this country is hard to control.

[echoparkresident]

I feel like those that are low income should find ways to work with the city to keep your rent low based on your income.

Work with people that have higher positions, rather then putting them down.

I want you all to know first, that I was born just up the street at the Kaiser hospital.

I believe it is my right to live in this neighborhood just as much as anyone else.

[demoted33]

who is putting them down? i lived in echo park for 26 years...most of the new people moving in do not know what they are doing to neighborhood. You give a simple answer to a complicated question. its easy to talk to your council member but for them to listen is another story.

[echoparkresident]

I don't love the gang violence.

I witnessed a shooting on sunset right in front of Lucy's.

I think those killers and parents of those killers better start teaching their offspring to not kill!

The crime is something that won't be tolerated, and I know that there are very good people as well.

[echoparkresident]

I believe we all can live in peace.

I love the hispanic and artist culture in my neighborhood.

[solimiansky]

@echoparkresident fuck off white man

[baangel510]

dam,i miss spelled san francisco

[baangel510]

i guess this is happening all over.the same thing is happening up here in the bay area specificlly san fransico's mission district.they're building alot of condominiums that not alot of people can afford and raising rents in some business locations.

[MecTTBM]

I've been in this neighborhood since 1986. It was safe and enjoyable then.  Today the scruffy unwashed gabachos hanging out at Chango (and studiously avoiding almost all of the rest of the neighborhood, no doubt out of fear) are the most depressing thing this neighborhood has seen in at least my 20 years here. Ojala the downward spiraling economy will send them packing.

[SIBANNAC42]

yeah beaners are the manority so fuck you if we want our towns back we will dam well take em back and make em all white again bye bye beaners off to mexico u go

[kirua113]

God, I hate the usage of "Anglo" in this video. Learn the etymology of the word "Anglo", people. "Anglo" implies English ancestry. Not all white Americans are of English descent. Many have ancestry from Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, etc.

I grew up in Echo Park. Moved away two years ago. Living in Monterey Park, now.

[granados78]

stop feeling sorry 4 urselfs this city is evolving and THATS THAT!!!!! echo park has cleaned up u couldnt even walk down the street there a few years ago...and stop blaming white people for every hardship...its getting OLD!!!!! ohand 1 of the owners of masa is hispanic...yuppies how are u allowed to be racist???

[giraffe71787]

duch bAG! i bet u dont even live here! i do! this is my HOOD! thats right i said HOOD!! fuck you!

[yayaya123]

Hommie, this won't be your "hood" for long. Starbucks is gonna GIT YA.

HA HA HA.

[giraffe71787]

starbucks is already here..... and this IS the hood till the day i DIE, and im much too young now! haha GENTRIFICATION SUX, and u can suck it too! lmfao

[yayaya123]

Ghetto-fication sucks much worse than gentrification. Illegal aliens have ghetto-fied so much of once beautiful and safe LA. It's ironic that even the old music and photos at the beginning of the video is from when European-Americans first built the neighborhood.

[mildjeffrey]

Yes, lots of the beautiful craftsman bungalows have been ruin with cheap Vinyl windows and "cake frosting" stucco jobs. Thankfully the "evil Anglos" are restoring the historic homes, painting over the graffiti and making the "Hood" a decent and safe place for EVERYONE to live! I think the A-holes that made this video are racist and we don't need that kind of attitude in EP.

[nelli868]

@mildjeffrey You spew ignorance in your comments. First of all know your history before you make comments on a town that you probably did not grow up in. Second of all they weren't forced out per say but the rent became too high and they were not able to afford it the rent that was going to be charged to them. Thirdly how do you justify the small businesses not being able to pay their landlords while bourgeoisie people are opening up shops that are obviously not for the community seeing as how

[nelli868]

@mildjeffrey they sel overpriced items that working class families earning minimum wage cannot afford. And as for us "racist a-holes" who actually live in neighborhoods that suffer from gang violence and poor living conditions we know that kicking us out doesn't solve the problem it only moves it somewhere else. How about you get to the core reason as to why there is gang violence in the first place rather than pushing it away into another town or city. The problem isntt the fact that the city

[nelli868]

@mildjeffrey is getting "better" or improving, the problem is that its NOT improving for the people of the community (minorities) its improving for the outsiders "evil anglos" that left the city to rot in the first place and built freeways through it and destroyed homes .... its called "white flight" get educated before you talk outta your butt. and if you want to challenge my views go ahead I'm always up for a debate and Im sure i can tear you a new one in an argument any day

[anaricky]

wow! love the video. miss pioneer market. but echo park will always be echo parque...

[yayaya123]

Too bad, suckas. Latinos displaced Anglos who built the neighborhood. Now the Anglos are movin' back. The pendulum swings both ways.

[nolabola]

Continued from below:

But I hate feeling guilty because I am white. I hate knowing that people who look like me are so stupid. But at the same time I feel like saying that whoever wants to live here should be able to live here.

[granados78]

dude never b ashamed of what u are it was back in the day...NOT NOW!!!!

[nolabola]

I have lived in Echo Park all my life, my parents moved here long before the majority of the gentrification. I love that people see Echo Park as an artistic center, but I find the culture much more valuable than the image that is being sent out. It makes me very upset to see buisnesses such as Pioneer disappear.

[momalmighty]

Thank you, Stephanie Cisneros! I've lived in Echo Park since 1966, raised 3 kids here and hate the gentrification that's been corroding our neighborhood. Who in the hell are those creepy white kids who don't work and hang out at places like Chango all day? Trust fund babies?

Yes, I'm bitter over the fact of losing independent businesses that have been our landmarks and rents going up for the rich to move in and destroy the hood.

I'd say GO BACK TO THE VALLEY WHERE YOU BELONG!

[creek213]

I Love Echo Park, and we are not going anywhere, todavia estamos aqui y nos vamos a quedar.

[granados78]

i f in luv ur comment!!!

[tomaraya213]

i live in the neighborhood rent is sky rockiting ,but there are gang wars all up in there big turf wars O.B.S.(gang) vs Echo Park(gang) and other clicks they should mention all the shootings and deaths i could name a quite a few and recollect a lot..gans are having shooting wars right on kellam street and ridge way and all up in the avenues of echo park these gangs will end being the downfall in fact a lot of people are realizing this and constantly moving out.

[777875287]

the video is really well done and important. i added a link on my blog badtexas at blogspot com

thanks for it.

[CellarDour]

I miss pioneer market!

[bridgesoflosangeles]

Do you mean old one with the 1940's neon signs that was right up against the curb or the later one that was pushed back and looked like every other supermarket? If you mean the old one, the neon signs that used to go around the corner with the cars is still around, it is up on City Walk in Universal Studios.

[flojogrande]

Cool, I'm glad they did something with the sign somewhere to represent the community. Yeah, I saw an old Keystone Cop episode where the building across the street was featured in it. The old Pioneer Market building had those foot stones along the edge of the buildings. They need to research the community back to the lady that founded the Angeles Temple. Who invaded who?

[flojogrande]

Across from the Whoolworth there was a Cuban lady friend of the family that had a little mah and pah record store. It was called Olga's or something like that. As that was the lady's name. She sold 45's and LP's before the big record stores forced her out of business. Then it went through a few different changes but mostly stayed as beauty salons. What was Thifty's that became Rite Aide use to be an Akron for those that remember.