ECHO PARK : Community Group at Center of Debate

Accusations of elitism and racism and its own plans to incorporate into a nonprofit organization have forced a period of introspection at the four-year-old Echo Park Improvement Assn.

Criticism from several residents has fueled community debate over the association, its purpose and its future, giving the association, which focuses on community beautification and crime-prevention projects, plenty to consider as it drafts new bylaws.

Critics say that despite its claims to be a community group, it has failed to include and reflect the entire Echo Park community. They accuse the association of catering to white homeowners and failing to reach out to renters, young people and minorities--particularly those who do not speak English. Association leaders denied the charges and were especially upset at the charges of racism.

Luisa and Bill Mavropoulos, 16-year residents and among the most vocal critics, say they have been silenced when voicing those concerns at meetings. The couple said they have repeatedly chided the association about its dismal minority and youth outreach.

“We want to be a part of this (association), but every time we’ve signed up, my husband and I have never gotten a call back,” said Luisa Mavropoulos. The couple also are concerned that the association will charge high fees and lose its community focus if it incorporates.

In addition, some Latino residents have privately complained that they have not been welcomed despite the group’s open-forum style of meetings and its efforts to distribute bilingual notices. One group of Spanish-speaking residents who felt they were victims of racial discrimination by local bus drivers chose to form their own organization, Grupo Latino de Echo Park, rather than seek the association’s assistance.

Barbara Gonzalez, one of Grupo Latino’s founders, said the few times she attended the association’s meetings, no one solicited her input. Gonzalez and others also said that lack of interpreters at the meetings intimidates those who do not speak English.

Association founders and other community members deny ulterior motives and contend that critics are simply being divisive.

Founder Durk Dehner said the association has always been a collection of volunteers without a formal board of directors or officers. “We came together to fight graffiti and crime and for beautification. Anybody concerned with Echo Park is invited to come work on these projects,” Dehner said.

In recent months, the group has tried to increase its youth participation by contacting the community group El Centro del Pueblo as well as continuing its cooperative relationship with the Central City Action Committee, Dehner said. Association member Rosie Sanchez said she has tried repeatedly to invite Latino residents to meetings and events--even going door to door--but the Latino turnout has been discouraging.

Leaders of other community groups praised the association’s successful community tree-planting and graffiti cleanup projects. Some supporters acknowledged the group could improve its outreach efforts, but said the association is a volunteer group experiencing growing pains.

“They are trying very hard, sincerely, to be inclusive,” said Jeb Brighouse, who regularly attends association meetings and heads a community group, Echo Park 2000. “They’re doing as well as they can with the resources available.”