EPIAn Ways April-May 2013

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Echo Park Improvement Association Newsletter EPIAnways

April-May 2013

Volume 20 Issue 2

Echo Park Improvement Association meets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each Monthin Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park

I

ECHO PARK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

I

I

by Peter Lassen

Community members have been complaining for years

about the broken sidewalk around the bus stop at Echo

Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. The roots of the twocus trees that shaded the bus stop had undermined the

sidewalk, and it was a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

Realizing that inevitability, the bureaucracy nally sprang

into action.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) received a

community complaint. METRO then gave money to the

City to remove the two cus trees and x the sidewalk.

Since its budget is tight, the City could not have reacted

this fast if the work was to been done with City money.Furthermore, the work would not have been done on the

weekend, as the City doesn’t authorize overtime. Once

the money had been authorized, the tree removal was

approved.

Was there no other way to x the problem sidewalk?

Indeed there was! Root pruning has been shown to

be effective in keeping tree roots from undermining

sidewalks. And enlarging the tree wells along the curb

would provide more space for the roots to grow. Further,

root pruning would conne the surface roots to the well

without destroying the walk.

While the Council Ofce was told of the removal, no

public notice was required. By City rules, public notice of

tree removal is not necessary for fewer than three trees.

Echo Park AvenueFicus trees removedwithout notice

Echo Park Farmers’ Market Spotlight

Kids’ Craft Table

Los Angeles City Elections 2013 Report

(Continued on page 2)

(Continued on page

by Andrew Garsten

The proposed development

at Barlow Hospital remains a

central divider between the

candidates in CD1 and CD13 in

the upcoming run-off election,

and may be representative

of the type of direction these

council ofces will take on future issues of concern to t

If you’re shopping with little ones at the weekly Farme

Market, be sure to bring them to the free craft table! T

kiddos get to socialize, make art, and even organize the

own events. There’s even talk of bringing in an instruct

to teach sign language to the children!

The Farmers’ Market is also now open until 7:30 p

during the summer months.



April-May 2013 • Volume 20 Issue 2

www.epia-echopark.org

P.O. Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026 • Message Phone 877-860-EPIA

EPIAnwaysPAGE 2

by Kelly Erickson

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since I’ve

walked along the shores of Echo Park Lake, and it won’t

be long until we can all enjoy it again. Recently, the nal

Echo Park Lake Oversight Committee meeting took

place before the grand opening, where representatives

from the Bureau of Engineering and Council District

13 joined community members in providing the nal

details on the project wrap-up.

The good news? The lake will reopen mid-May! Plans

are to have a grand opening open to the public. A few

notes on the rest of the items, including festivals, the

Lotus blossoms, and more below:

Lady of the Lake

The Lady of the Lake statue was reinstalled just earlier

Echo Park Lake to reopen in mid-May

Cont.: Ficus trees removed (Continued from page 1)

The trees were taken down on one weekend, and the

sidewalk was replaced the following week.

The shade that the cus trees provided was a

welcome break from the heat generated by Walgreen’s

parking lot. Bus riders and the Echo Park community

mourn the loss of the cus trees and the dense shade

they provided.

Visit www.epia-echopark.org for more photos.

Get meeting notices and

announcements in your email

inbox! Visit our website and click

on “sign up for our newsletter.”


EPIAn Ways

Newsletter Credits

Subscribe to our online

mailing list

EDITOR: Kelly Erickson

ADVERTISING: Darren Hubert

PRINTING: Davco

Copyright © 2012 Echo Park Improvement Association

[email protected]

That’s right, we’re onFacebook!

Follow us at:

facebook.com/EchoPark ImprovementAssociation

or tweet us at @epimprovement

this year. This time she is at her original place, moved

from the east side of the lake to the north side, and is

also now facing north in the original position. She also

has her ngers again after some vandals took a likingto the statue in 2010.

Lake Pathways

The pavement around the perimeter of the lake is

made up of a porous pavement (a concrete mixture)

and is a light tan color. Bicycles will not permitted on

the path.

Lotus PLants

Currently the lotus bed, along with some of the

other planted areas, have a thin netting around/over

them. This is to ensure the plants have enough time

(Continued on page 8)






EPIAnways PAGE 3

“Monty” is a young, one totwo year old brown and whitepittie mix. He was abandonedin Elysian Park, and after a week of being fed andsocialized, he quickly warmedup.

The Echo Park Animal Alliance will be fostering himand doing some basic training.He is very smart and learnedto “sit” right off. He walks wellon leash, loves other dogs,and was very good around

children.He would do well in an active

household, perhaps withanother dog so that he’s notalone while you are gone.

Echo Park Animal Alliance pet spotlight

For more info about fostering or givingMonty a forever home, please [email protected]






EPIAnwaysPAGE 4

Event Date Location Comments

EPIA Meetings

EPIA SteeringCommittee

EPIA NeighborhoodIssues Committee

Community SafetyMeeting (EPSA)

Citizens Committee to

Save Elysian ParkEcho Park Chamberof Commerce

Edendale LibraryFriends Society (ELFS)

EP Farmers Market

Edendale Book Club

Greater Echo ParkElysian NeighborhoodCouncil Meeting

Positive Energy Groupof Echo Park andSilver Lake Area

Every 1st Thursday7:00 pm

Every 2nd Monday7:15 pm

Every 3rd Wednesday7:00 pm

Every 3rd Wednesday2:00 pm

Every 1st Wednesday

7:00 pm

Every 3rd Thursday7:00 pm

Every 2nd Wednesday7:00 pm

Every Friday3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Every 3rd Monday6:30 pm

Every 4th Tuesday7:00 pm

4th Wednesday6:00 - 7:00 pm

Williams Hall at BarlowHospital, 2000 Stadium Way

Email [email protected] location



Taix Restaurant

Edendale LibraryCommunity room2011 W. Sunset Blvd.

Parking lot #663 -- half a bock south of Sunset Boulevard(323) 463-3171 x13



Email EPIA to get monthly remindersof meetings and to be on email list.

Take an active part in EPIA. Join theSteering Committee.

Hosted by EPSA. Call (323) 860-9914 for meeting location.

Call (213) 666-9651 formeeting location

Call (213) 630-3032 for furtherinformation.

Find out how you can help yourneighborhood’s branch.

Call (213) 250-3400 for location or visit www.GEPENC.org

For info: www.positiveenergygroup.blogspot.com

Echo Park Community Calendar






EPIAnways PAGE 5

Community Resources

POLICE CITIZEN COMPLAINTS

COMMUNITY SERVICES

POLITICAL

More info also available at our website, www.epia-echopark.org

CLEAN-UP

RAMPART DIVISION

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Emergency ....................................................911Spanish Line ................................... 213-928-8222

Narcotic Hotline ............................ 1-800-662-2878Child Abuse Hotline .....................1-800-540-4000Police Non-Emergency ....................1-877-275-5273LAPD Air Support Division ................ 213-485-2600

Department Building & Safety .........1-888-524-2845Department of Health.....................1-800-427-8700

Department of Transportation ............213-580-1177Department of Water & Power ........1-800-342-5397Parking Enforcement .......................................311Loose/Stray Animals/Barking Dogs ....888-452-7381Legal Aid Client Referral ................ 1-800-399-4529Operation Bright Lights ....................................311Film LA .......................................... 213-977-8600

Report Grafti/Free Paint.................................311

Copies of Crime & Trafc Reports ......213-485-4193Dodger’s Neighborhood Focus .......... 323-224-2636Dodger’s Community Affairs ..............323-224-1435North Central Animal Shelter ............ 213-847-1416Elysian Park Ranger ......................... 323-913-4688Health Information ..........................................211Los Angeles City Information ............................311Neighborhood Prosecutor Program .... 213-847-8045

1st District Ed Reyes ......................... 213-473-700113th District Eric Garcetti...................323-957-4500Congressman Xavier Becerra ............213-483-1425Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard .. 213-628-9230State Senator Gil Cedillo ...................323-225-4545 Assemblyperson Kevin de Leon ......... 213-612-9566LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina ..213-974-4111Mayor’s Ofce................................ 213-978-0600

Abandoned Vehicles .......................................311Cars Parked in Yards .....................1-888-524-2845Hazardous Waste Disposal Info ......1-800-988-6942Storm Drains ...................................213-485-5391Trash & Bulky Item Pick Up ..............1-800-773-2489LAFD Brush Clearance ..................... 818-374-1111

Division Desk ..........................213-484-3400 ext 1 Vice Unit ........................................213-485-4080Division Watch Commander .............213-485-4062Senior Lead Ofcer Ford ...................213-793-0775Community Relations ...............213-484-3400 ext 2

China Town Sub-Station ................... 213-621-2344

Division Desk .................................. 323-344-5701Northeast Report Unit ...................... 323-344-5701Senior Lead Ofcer Gina Chovan ......213-793-0760Senior Lead Ofcer Al Polehonki ........213-793-0763Detectives ....................................... 323-344-5731Community Relations ....................... 323-344-5712Gang Detail ................................... 323-344-5754

w w w . U R B A N H I L L S I D E S . c o m






EPIAnwaysPAGE 6

Cont.: Recap o the L.A. City elections (Continued from page 1)

community. Echo Park residents need to pay attention

to these candidates, evaluate their positions regarding

community issues, and make sure to actively get out

the vote on May 21st.

In the March election results for CD1, Gil Cedillo

garnered 49% of the votes just barely missing

winning the election outright. Cedillo is unequivocally

supporting the development at Barlow. His campaign

is heavily backed by labor unions. He will be facing

the runner up - Jose Gardea, who from the beginning

of the campaign publically promised that he would

oppose the Barlow development plans.

In CD13 the campaign had 11 candidates. With so

many candidates dividing the electorate, a run-off

was almost inevitable. Mitch O’Farrell was the winner

of this election, with second place coming to John

Choi. O’Farrell, like Gardea, publically promised thathe would oppose the Barlow development plans from

the beginning of the campaign. Choi on the other

hand denied sufcient knowledge to take a position on

Barlow during candidate forums until very close to the

March election, when he said he was opposed to the

Barlow plans as currently presented. These denials o

sufcient knowledge were simply untrue. Before the

campaign began in earnest, many community leaders

including myself, discussed in depth the Barlow projec

to John, and its importance to the community. Choi’s

campaign, by-the-way, is backed by exactly the same

labor unions as Cedillo.

The March 5th election had very poor turnou

throughout the city – less than 20% of registered voters

participated. It is expected that the May 21st Run-of

will see an even small percentage of the electorate

The EPIA believes that who runs our council ofces

can make a huge difference to our immediate quality

of life issues as well as the long term quality of ourcommunity. We urge our members to learn more abou

the candidates and evaluate their suitability to serve

the communities they represent. We also urge our

members to actively strive to get out the vote for the

May 21st Run-off.

eCho PaRk

PhotoGRaPheRswantedThe EPIA is launching a new project aimed at the

preservation of murals/public artwork in Echo Park.

We need your help capturing photos! Please visit

ecPrMrl.cm for more information on

this project and to submit photos.






EPIAnways PAGE 7

Black and white printing doesn’t do it justice - be sure to visit epia-echopark.org for full-color photos!

by Kelly Erickson

Towering above the 1600 block of Lemoyne Street is

an Echo Park landmark – an enormous glass sculpture

taking shape of Madonna, or “The Giant Glass Virgin

of Guadalupe.” Neighbors know this sculpture well

but even though artist and owner Randlett Lawrences

started the installation in 2001, a lot of Echo Parkians

have yet to experience it.

“Phantasma Gloria” aka Randyland is constantly

being expanded, but the sculpture is about 24 feet high

and 50 feet wide. It’s made from over 1,000 bottles andstrung together with beads, rebar and wire. The swirls

of colored glass refract light from the sun, as well as

distort and twist the landscape beyond as you look

through the water-lled vessels.

Visit our website at epia-echopark.org for more

colorful photos, and check out www.facebook.com

RandylandLA/ for the location and artist information.

A dazzling display of glassand sun on Lemoyne Street






EPIAnwaysPAGE 8

Cont.: Echo Park Lake to fnally reopen in May

to establish without the birds eating them away before

they get big enough. The netting is temporary, but will

take approximately one year before it is removed.

Blooms of the now one-year old lotus plants will

likely occur next spring, depending on the weather.

There were over 300 of the Nelumbo Nucifera species

planted at the lake.

fish and fishinG

As always before, catch and release is the name of the

game. While mosquito sh have already by introduced

into the lake (for obvious reasons), sh will be stocked

regularly in a year or so as long as the water quality is

deemed good. That is, after all, the whole point of the

lake rehab!

“Fish condos” will also be installed in a couple of

weeks.

no festivaLs, foR a whiLe

The landscaping and sod are the nal pieces to go

into place before the lake opens, and needs some

time to establish. This means the Lotus Festival, set to

make its come-back this year, will not be happening at

the Lake nor any other location. Other events like the

annual Cuban Music Festival will also be delayed until

next year.

the Boathouse

The Department of Recreation and Parks has release

the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the boathouse.

They expect that in two months, more information will

be available. However, the boathouse won’t be open

for the lake opening.

the isLand

I’ve never actually been on that small piece of land

connected by the famous bridge, nor on the bridge

itself. The plan is to open the bridge and island to the

public only on special occasions because of the bird

life, but some community members requested it be

kept open.

Stay tuned for details on the grand opening in the

coming weeks!

(Continued from page 2)

EPIAn Ways April-May 2013

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