Eric Garcetti, Bernard Parks, EP tenant Jonny Lee in Echo Park on Friday.

Countrywide went to work in Echo Park recently, foreclosing on a property on the west edge of the neighborhood. The action provided Eric Garcetti, council rep for CD 13, a chance to speak out against illegal foreclosure actions -- as they affect renters. Yesterday, Garcetti spoke in front of the building, a rent-stabilized tri-plex at 2129 Scott Ave., where renters were told, illegally, to pack up and leave by Countrywide, which opened its hideous maw wide enough to offer them $2,000 for their trouble. The alternative offer was furniture out on the street. Naturally, the company failed to mention that their "offer" was illegal.

Julie Wong, Garcetti's press agent emailed me that:

We imagine this is happening to other renters, too, and we want to get the word out that what Countrywide is doing is illegal and that people can get help.

The building address is 2129 Scott Ave (at Allessandro). It's a triplex with four tenants. All four tenants were notified of the change in ownership and told they had 48 hours to decide whether they would leave on their own in 30 days (and get $2,000) or be evicted in 30 days.

Full text of press release after the jump.