The Los Angeles Times ran a story on the gentrification of Echo Park Friday that we still can’t figure out the point of, but that hasn’t stopped it from getting 101 comments from concerned citizens so far. Nothing brings out the shit show like yuppies invading your neighborhood! The beef is pretty standard, really. It seems the newly elected neighborhood council, which just happens to be mostly Hispanic, has been accused by the outgoing incumbents, who just happen to be mostly White, of rigging the vote.

Their allegations included election notices mailed to the wrong addresses, mysterious bags of ballots brought to the polls and a flier distributed by the opposing slate that said it was the “official” poll guide, a misleading description, the challengers said.

For their part, the newly elected officials have vehemently stated that, “there was no hanky panky.” Indeed. At the board meeting Tuesday, Councilman Augustine Cebada argued that the challenge itself was evidence of arrogance and racism. “Stop whining and crying!” he shouted. “It’s over!”

What has us scratching our heads is why this story demanded a two-page, 8-photo feature when according to the Times themselves, these types of neighborhood councils are really no more than “junior varsity city councils” with no real power. Add to that the fact that less than 2% of the neighborhoods’ citizens actually voted in the election and you have yourself the makings of an episode of Weeds at best. The one where all the ugly moms and dads on the Agrestic town council are fucking each other. And not in a fun way.

Gentrification divides Echo Park community in Los Angeles [Los Angeles Times]