Latino residents in an East Los Angeles neighborhood protested a popular flea market event, saying it allowed too many “entitled” tourists to invade their community.
The Elysian Valley-Riverside neighborhood, a working-class community with a large Latino population, said hundreds of “trust fund hipsters” attended the Frogtown flea event, “causing traffic jams and They blocked driveways, left trash behind, and even urinated.” Published,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Neighborhood Council President Arturo Gomez told the Los Angeles Times that people attending the event were “a playground, as opposed to the people who live here who are just trying to live their lives in this neighborhood.” “They’re showing an attitude that they have the right to treat people who want to be treated like that.” ”
However, Gomez further suggested that, as individuals, some of the people behind these events do not seem to be aware of the ongoing issues surrounding gentrification.
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Elysian Valley residents criticized the actions of those attending Frogtown’s flea crawl event.
“In Elysian Valley, our concerns about gentrification, lack of public transportation, and environmental pollution have gone unheard and ignored for far too long. Anderson, who saw our community only as an opportunity to play and make a profit at the expense of the quality of life of his neighbors, believed that this conflict would encourage those seeking to do business in our community to “I hope it teaches you an important lesson about working with people. That doesn’t mean you’re going to be kicked out right away,” Gomez told FOX News Digital.
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The Frogtown Flea Crawl launched in spring 2023 and has since become a popular attraction thanks to social media influencers. While some local businesses appreciate the business opportunity, local residents have attacked the event at neighborhood association meetings, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“There are people in this neighborhood who have to wake up at like 3:45 a.m. to go to work, and then they get really tired and wake up at 6 p.m., wanting to get some time with their families. I get home at 7 o’clock, but cars are blocking the driveway because there’s an event going on,” lifelong resident Emilia Sanchez said at one of the meetings. “That’s not cool.”
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Frogtown’s Flea Pilgrimage was canceled in the neighborhood after backlash.
Another resident, Lili Sanchez, added that most community members can’t even attend events.
“I think what people don’t think about is that as a working-class community, we can’t afford a lot of the things that are sold in flea hunting,” Sanchez told the City Council. “We can’t even afford the prices of local companies.”
After the controversy, event founder Annalize Anderson announced earlier this month that she was putting the event on hold, but on Thursday she canceled it completely.
“We would like to express our deep respect and gratitude to the local Elysian Valley community. After listening to your feedback about parking, crowding and the impact on the overall market, after careful consideration we have decided to close the Frogtown Flea. It’s important to me that I respect the residents and their concerns, and that the residents of Elysian Valley know what’s best for their changing region and that they are the ones most directly affected. So it’s important to step back and let them lead the way. Instagram.
As a City Council member, Gomez praised the move as “a successful example of residents and their representatives coming together to protect their communities,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Neighborhood Council President Arturo Gomez advised businesses to be aware of their impact on local communities before relocating.
However, Gomez acknowledged that in his personal opinion as a resident, other businesses will likely try similar events in the future.
“Personally, I think any company looking to set up shop in any community, especially one where residents have lived for generations and are close-knit, should communicate with the community and its representatives to avoid conflicts like this. I think we should work together,” Gomez said. Fox News Digital.
Article source: ‘Trust Fund Hipsters’ infiltrate LA’s Latino community, residents fight back
