Meet Eddie Torres

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eddie Torres and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eddie, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am from East Los Angeles, California. My background, born and raised in East Los Angeles, seeing the community underserved and underrepresented, and watching the 1970 Chicano Moratorium, I was involved with my uncle and father in community activism-oddly, as it may seem, being a gang member. How my background and upbringing impacted me now, the majority of East Los Angeles residents feel one of three ways. One, politicians don’t care about East L.A., therefore why should I waste my time, no one is going to listen. But, my belief is you have to get involved and not take no for an answer, never give up, and remember, you are not going to win every challenge you come across. But, you have to stand your ground, and sooner or later, people realize your voice will be heard. If you do not get involved, then you are the reason nothing changes. Just a couple of examples of how I’ve used my community involvement: Years ago, we fought to save Belvedere Park from being used as a High School site. East Los Angeles, even with the existing parks we have, the fact that we have 120k residents, we are park poor, and per our population we are on the negative integers for East L.A. population. For the first East Side Metro extension that devastated Third St. in East L.A., Metro gold line at grade construction, we lost parking, business, and right of ways. We fought for compensation of businesses, which is now being implemented by Metro. The second leg of the East side gold line extension, option 1: travel south bound on Arizona St. at grade which disturbed residents. We fought to remove option 1, and we did. Option 2: Gold line to continue from Atlantic-Pomona station, head east bound through an F intersection and attach itself for the first portion on the South side of freeway. Then, act as a monorail to avoid a toxic dump. Head to the North side, of freeway, then come back to the South side of the freeway, continue east, we found no benefit to East Los Angeles, and fought to remove this option. Also, army core of engineers, So Cal Edison and Cal Trans, all agreed and this option was removed. We were told by Metro, L.A.C.P.W., every public official, except for our congresswoman Royball-Allard, we fought for this option that would remove Pomona-Atlantic station, and start going underground, before the East Los Angeles Sheriff station would free up right-of-ways, and go underground and have an a station. Then, head underground, under Atlantic Blvd. also to get another underground station on Atlantic and Whittier Blvd. This option would continue to Commerce, CA. with this massive business expansion, and have stops in Montebello, Pico Rivera, and end at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital. The last option we fought against, was to do all of East Los Angeles at grade that would devastate East L.A. once again. We had that option removed. I want to say, as humbling as possible, that I led these fights and did not do it by myself. However, there is a lot more situations fighting for the rights of East Los Angeles, for a better quality of life that I have been involved in. But, I strongly believe that I do this because of my upbringing with my family.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started doing banner sign and art work for the Boulevard and Golden Gate theater. Then, was in a sever car accident, lost one kidney and spleen, and had a steel plate put in my leg. Then, was depressed, ran into a sign shop owner, Art Romero, and he started to mentor me. Art made me enroll in tradetech sign graphics, I started doing signs only hand painted, then learned the tray of electrical signs. The hand painting was a bit difficult but still continued on. Myself and brother did some of the largest signs in East Los Angeles such as East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital roof sign 8ft by 24ft, Via Care Community Health Center pole sign 8ft by 16ft and 45ft high, Altamed, and American Bank roof sign 12ft by 20ft, Smith and Cline accountants poll sign 7ft by 14ft and 60ft in the air. The lessons I have learned along the way are to take on all challenges, keep your word, and do the best job that you can. What I would want the world to know about me is that anything is possible coming from being a drug addict from the age of 17-35 years old, listening to all the wrong people doing all the wrong things, being hated by law enforcement and doing damage to my own community. Now only through the grace of God, working hand in hand with all law enforcement, advocating with public officials, for a better quality of life in East Los Angeles, and being sober for over 30 years and not being addicted to cocaine, pcp, and liquor, no longer getting into physical altercations with law enforcement, but donating banner signs to Sheriffs, CHP, Fire Dept., Boys and Girls Club, schools, and last but not least, Garfield High School Alumni Foundation for scholarships. In closing, if you’re willing to open your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, he can work in your life just like the Lord has worked in my life, and I’m blessed with a beautiful 22 year old daughter that is seeking a career in the medical field.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the taste of East Los Angeles or somewhere in East L.A.’s best food and entertainment. Or, a concert at the East L.A. civic center outdoor amphitheater.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The East Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Website: info@eastlachamber.com

Instagram: eastla.chamber

Twitter: @EastLACham

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlachamberofcommerce

Image Credits
Christian Photography, Google Images