Echo Park -- “Hipster Beach” is the name some of the residents now living at Echo Park Lake call the homeless encampment that stretches down the western edge of park, according to L.A. Magazine. In its latest issue, the magazine explores the history and culture of the encampment in depth.
While critics were shouted down and even threatened during the early days of the encampment, the article notes that opinions started shifting last August, when Brianna Moore, an 18-year-old honors student who was visiting from Oceanside, died of an overdose in one of the tents.
One current resident told the magazine the encampment’s culture has now become “a high school popularity contest,” and the article explores how the camp's in-house culture manages publicity, enforces the rules, and decides who gets to live in the more desirable parts of the camp - and who doesn’t.
Critics of the story took to Twitter, calling the article a "smear" piece and one that shows "disdain for the homeless."
Read the full story at LA Magazine.
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Queridos amigo del Lago de Echo Park, el descubrimiento del cuerpo de un joven Hispano flotando en el Lago me causo muchísima tristeza. Ese joven fue hijo de, Hermano de, o incluso padre de algún otro humano, sepa dios. Si no me equivoco, hace unos meses una joven murio tambien bajo penosas circumstancias. ¿Que esta pasando en lo que ayer fue nuestro parque, nuestro refugio de naturaleza?
E vivido en este barrio durante mas de 50 años y yo, como todos los vecinos siempre disfrutabamos de ese recinto. Claro esta que el parque siempre a tenido sus altibajos, pero nunca como esta sufriendo ahora. Estoy conciente de los problemas de la falta de viviendas, los problemas economicos que conducen a los desalojos y el maldito COVID. Pero mi preguna camaradas es la siguiente, ¿como podemos remediar la situacion que esta viviendo el parque?
El Sr. Semmelmayer y la Sra. Jane han estado haciendo una labor magnifica con animar a todos los vecinos para buscar una solucion human a las "cartelandias/chozas" que ahora se encuentran en el parque, ¿pero los politicos dicen que sus manos estan atadas? Yo no se si las leyes municipales pueden remediar la situacion, pero quiza protestas/manifestaciones semanales con pancartas al aire libre podran empujar a los politicos. En este gran pais, tradicionalmente las manifestaciones han abierto camino al cambio, aver si haci podemos cambiar la situacion del Lago de Echo Park. Yo estoy dispuesta a formar parte de manifestaciones/protestas semanales, ¡ahorla camaradas!
If covid were the threat we are told it is, this filthy encampment would have been erased, overnight, months ago...
the park is tragic and disgusting
I had lived my entire life within 10 miles of Echo Park, for many years my drive to work from Atwater Village to Downtown was a pleasure because I drove past the park. Then the homeless took up residence and it turned into a dangerous and filthy place. Four years ago I left LA and moved to Arizona. People ask me why I left my home of almost 70 years and the first reason I give them is “homeless” and I describe the situation at Echo Park and under the freeway overpass at Silver Lake Blvd. and tell them that 4 years ago it was obvious it was spiraling out of control and there was no solution.
I tell them I was tired of paying high property taxes and being unable to enjoy the parks, streets that needed potholes filled and people living on the streets and parks that were ripe for disease and crime. My taxes were going to clean out homeless camps over and over again. And then I tell them I still miss LA and love it.
When I lived there I supported the downtown missions. But, there were too many people in the street that I didn’t want to get off the streets and enjoyed their “freedom” to do as they pleased.
It became obvious that for those that did want to get off the streets there were no real solutions and not enough resources and for those that wanted to remain living on the streets there was no way to clear them off permanently.
"Many of the locals not only took the encampment in stride, they embraced it, welcoming their new outdoor neighbors with baked goods and camping supplies, treating it less like a blight and more like a 'happening.'"
Who the f*** thinks of this as a "happening"? And why is the only other option a "blight"? Everyone I know is on the same page: there is a global housing crisis, a raging pandemic, and mass confusion from city officials on the subject of homelessness. Everyone has different opinions on what the solution is. Lots of people think they should be kicked out, lots think the city needs to create housing first. But no one thinks of this as some quirky Echo Park thing, like the article implies. How braindead can you be?
An old buddy of mine has MS and has been physically deteriorating, lost his Silver Lake apartment and his SS check. He lives at the park now. When I saw him over there, not realizing he'd lost his place, I gave him an old, cheap guitar I had at home. Figured it would be a nice gesture for an old friend. I take offense to this article mentioning how some people have guitars, as if that meant it was a cute Echo Park thing.
Also who is calling it Hipster Beach????
No spare room in your home for your friend?
The lake is disgusting. I can't take my 3 year daughter there anymore. And I nearly everyone I know is equally disgusted and stays away. The City needs to find an equitable solution that provides real shelter to these folks and restores the Lake/Park to its original appearance and purpose.
Agreed 1000%!
That article is decidedly one-sided and paints the picture that area residents welcomed the encampment... It's more that after the failure of the City to do anything, residents (owners and renters) gave up. It's a literal $hi7-show at the park.
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