Echo Park : Community Party a Resounding Hit

The message was clearly “unity” Tuesday night as about 100 residents and merchants got together for their first “get-acquainted” community party at Les Freres Taix restaurant.

The party was organized by about 20 residents, Sunset Boulevard merchants and other community leaders to improve relations and bring life back to the struggling “downtown Echo Park” commercial strip.

Organizers, many of whom are members of the Echo Park Improvement Assn., spent several weeks walking door-to-door to invite people to the party. They also distributed multilingual flyers in an attempt to draw Korean- and Spanish-speaking immigrants.

During the outreach effort, organizers also asked merchants about their concerns and ideas for improving the area. Organizers said they will use the survey results, which are still being tabulated, to guide improvement projects.

The efforts of party planners paid off. Several people said they specifically attended the party because someone had personally invited them. And everyone seemed to agree that the community must work together to improve business, reduce crime and beautify the area.

“I love this community,” 22-year resident Jesusita Murillo said in Spanish. “This is a beautiful community but there’s a lack of communication. I came tonight with the hope that everyone will help each other, listen to each other, to solve these problems . . . without violence or exchanging bad words.”

Some of the beautification suggestions included getting decorative planters and trash receptacles for the streets, and painting murals on the walls and roll-down metal doors used to protect the entrances of stores.

Mike Taix, owner Les Freres Taix, said the community must take action “because if you wait for the city to do this, it’s not going to get done.”

“I’m very optimistic,” said Taix, president-elect of the Echo Park Chamber of Commerce. “We have big plans for this area. I’m not saying we’re going to be Beverly Hills, but we’re going to be a viable community.”