The Neighborhood

I have not posted anything recently as I have been busy working, going out, watching movies, cleaning, babysitting and visiting a good friend in the hospital. I found myself sitting in front of the computer a few times, trying to jot something down but felt uninspired, I want to say: not passionate about anything, but that would be a complete lie. Anyway, here's what's up in my head...

The Lotus Festival was much fun last weekend. As usual, I got together with several friends to enjoy the festival, eat good food, buy plants, people-watch and enjoy the fireworks display. I then headed to a friend's house near the park for drinks and wound up at a bar in the neighborhood I don't really enjoy but where friends were going.
It is interesting to see how Echo Park has changed so much. I have been calling this lovely neighborhood my home for the almost 10 years and it is clearly evident that there have been several changes happening. Some good, some not so good.
First, I must say, that I enjoy seeing people walking around the neighborhood all the time, and at various hours of the day. I enjoy seeing cyclists everywhere. I love going to Sea Level Records, which is walking distance from my house. I love that I have my options of coffee shops, walking distance. I love most of the new shops popping all over the place. I love that I have so many different friends, within walking/cycling distance in all directions from my house. Back in 1996, when I first moved to my house above the intersection of Glendale/Berkeley/Alvarado, almost everyone I knew lived in Silverlake, Highland Park or Hollywood.
What I do not like about the changes in the neighborhood is all the elitist, classist insensitivity I see everywhere.
I hate all the SUVs I see everywhere. There are people driving Hummers and Mercedes, BMW SUVs in our narrow streets. I hate all the fast, impatient drivers everywhere.
I am also not fond of new residents of the neighborhood who "love" the area so much, but are constantly complaining of how "ghetto" it is. As an immigrant and "person of color" who grew up in the city and not some suburb or hippy commune I am offended by such talk. These people seem to forget the real reason they moved to these neck of the woods in the first place: cheap rent! (Although rent here is no longer as cheap as it used to be). I am saddened that many of the neighborhood's newer residents are not able to appreciate its diversity, funkiness and its eccentricity. I love having a panaderia, next to a thrift store, next to a botanica, next to an indie rock record store! If everything were clean-cut and homogenous around here, this would not be the vivrant neighborhood that Echo Park is today. And I must say, I do feel afraid of some of the changes I see. Everytime I see an old mom & pop shop close down, I fear for what will eventually oppen there. "Not another over-priced boutique, not another hipster bar." But I admit that I enjoy the new restaurants and cafes.
There is no real resolution to what I make of all these changes. I simply want people to be more tolerant and sensitive. People to care more about the neighborhood and its history, not just its romanticized early Hollywood history, but its recent history. For the last 40 years or so this has been a lower-income neighborhood. We can't just sweep or push people aside. I don't know what else to say. Love thy neighbor, maybe???