The end of Slab City?

[GotSmart]

[font='Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]California May Shut Down Decades-Old ‘Squatter’s Paradise’[/font]
http://news.yahoo.com/california-may-shut-down-decades-old-squatters-161225693.html

Anyone want a job cleaning it up?

 

[cyndi]

I've been hearing that every couple of months for at least the last 10 years. One day it's going to happen.

 

[ramblingvanman]

Statists just cannot abide people living freely. They must have you under their thumb.

 

[gcal]

[font='Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif]California May Shut Down Decades-Old ‘Squatter’s Paradise’[/font]
http://news.yahoo.com/california-may-shut-down-decades-old-squatters-161225693.html

Anyone want a job cleaning it up?

I've been there. You could hardly blame CA for shutting it down. Piles of trash everywhere. There was a pit into which people were literally dumping raw sewage. The hippies are OK. They are actually pretty cool. But the substantial number of sticky fingered and often belligerent druggies and drunks are not. If you leave anything of value outside overnight, it is gone in the morning.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

im not seeing any new tangible threats /sources mentioned about actually shutting down. the author just alludes to the attempt to sell and the resident attempts to buy, which has been happening for a while. I was thinking some official was crackin down. Yahoo puts out more clickbait than facebook these days [emoji14]

 

[SoulRaven]

My take on the place is that it is a modern day Spahn Ranch.

 

[jimindenver]

At one time it sounded like a place to see but the more I learn about it, maybe not so much. There is enough trash and crime without having to travel.

 

[highdesertranger]

like anywhere there is good and bad. the slabs seem to tilt more to the bad. how people can just leave their garbage where ever they please is beyond my mental capacity. the thought that this would be ok doesn't even enter my thought process.
drug use is pretty rampant, I am not talking about someone smoking a joint I am talking meth heads. unfortunately I see this though out the rural west. they think if they get out into the desert no one will bother them. thank god they haven't invaded everywhere, but I have run into them in some pretty out of the way spots. to see evidence of these meth heads at the slabs just go on you tube and search slab city, they are there.
after saying all these negative things I will say there are some great people at the slabs there are some nice camps in nice areas. so if you go be aware of your surroundings and stay safe.
o yeah besides pack it in and pack it out take an extra bag of garbage out. if everyone did this it wouldn't be a bad thing. highdesertranger

 

[mockturtle]

Yes, it seems that there are more 'tweekers' [meth-heads] than ever before in the BLM & NFS lands. And they often bring a lot of drama with them, too.

 

[jimindenver]

Trash, they bring trash and leave it. Three bags of it and a easy up frame at the last site, I couldn't imagine slab city.

 

[mockturtle]

Don't get me started on trash. I spend hours picking up other peoples litter, including cigarette butts, at otherwise beautiful campsites. Beer cans, plastic water bottles, assorted wrappers and occasional dirty diapers. What I don't understand is that this often happens where there is a readily accessible trash receptacle.

 

[dhawktx]

And the folks who think nothing of leaving those dirty diapers everywhere have a conniption fit if they find out you're using a bucket in your van.

 

[ryegal]

Slab city  is not going anywhere they have been talking about it for years. The Oasis Club takes up a collection for a large dumpster which has helped. My question is just how do you  expect people with no vehicle to get rid of furniture or other things. Here in Seattle we used to once a year be able  to have a free day to get rid of unwanted items. that would be a great help there. The town of Niland and Capertria will suffer greatly if the slabs were not there. As with any place there is good and bad.

 

[Sameer]

I think Slab City is a wonderful place. My first year of vandwelling I lived in a wonderful spot in 2012 for two months. People were very friendly and they put on a great Thanksgiving feast. I stayed in November and December. I met lots of interesting and 'totally free' people. Lots of creative people The water sellers sold water for 25 cents a gallon. Lots of dogs. The place had a distinctive odor, that after awhile I got used to. My favorite spot was the hot springs for soaking and taking a 'sort of' bath...The little store and post office in Niland were very friendly but expensive. Great place for photography. Even UPS worked with me on a delivery. "Gray Van across from the Shoe Tree" was my address. Between Niland and the Slabs is a landfill. Something should be worked out to save The Slabs. May be this Winter I will return for a photographic adventure. I always thought of it as sort of 'inner-city in the middle of the desert. Everyone should visit at some time.

 

[Sameer]

View attachment 4777
The discussion of The Slabs brought back such good memories I had to look for a photo of my spot on my external hard drive.  I never saw open sewage.  Actually I saw a very creative way of digging a 'sort of' septic system in the ground and covering it over with wood and a little dirt.  Brawley, CA was the nearest Walmart at 18 miles and a Rest Area in between with a sanitary dump.  I think someone has to live at The Slabs to understand the cultural dynamic.  I am sure that the State of California will be unsuccessful in trying to sell the place and The Slabs will endure.

 

[MikeRuth]

I hope not, never been there but I think it's probably a really nice place for the folks who hang there. Always will be those that don't want to "keep it clean" but I bet the majority do.

My real comment here is don't ever think the State will be unsuccessful, Ca has a great habit of screwing folks over if they want something.

Some very sad and scary tactics have been used and will be again.

 

[highdesertranger]

little heads any revenue generated from the slabs goes to the CA state teachers retirement fund. which is not in the best shape financially. so I wouldn't get your hopes up about them not trying to generate revenue off the property. highdesertranger

 

[Sameer]

Why they would decide to sell it now is beyond me. Since the area is agriculture it would just become a cotton or cantaloupe field. Some Anthropologist should lobby to have it declared a 'cultural' treasure. California does that kind of thing...born and raised in Los Angeles...I know.
Thinking about The Slabs...it reminds me of a Basquiet painting. Sort of has everything, and it works when viewed from the inside... and when it is viewed from the outside...? It gets lost in the translation..
MikeRuth...I found the people proud of their 'digs' and proud of their creativity.

 

[ZoNiE]

Hmm... Looks to be 7 or 8 miles from the beach...

The Salton Sea... Yuck. :dodgy:

 

[Sameer]

It is farther than that to visit the shore of the Salton Sea....The lower portion is mostly wildlife management...15 miles to access the shore. Chemical/Agriculture is responsible for the condition of the Salton Sea. Small improvement over the years. Was wonderful in it's heyday. Interesting places to camp, even today.