Battle for the California Desert: Why is the Government Driving Folks off Their Land?

The Antelope Valley is a vast patch of desert on the outskirts of Los Angeles County, and a segment of the few rugged individualists who live out there increasingly are finding themselves the targets of armed raids from local code enforcement agents, who've assembled into task forces called Nuisance Abatement Teams (NATs).

The plight of the Valley's desert dwellers made regional headlines when county officials ordered the destruction of Phonehenge: a towering, colorful castle constructed out of telephone poles by retired phone technician Kim Fahey. Fahey was imprisoned and charged with several misdemeanors.

But Fahey is just one of many who've been targeted by the NATs, which were assembled at the request of County Supervisor Mike Antonovich in 2006. LA Weekly reporter Mars Melnicoff wrote an in-depth article in which she exposed the county's tactic of badgering residents with minor, but costly, code violations until they face little choice but to vacate the land altogether.

"They're picking on the the people who are the most defenseless and have the least resources," says Melnicoff.

Reason.tv collaborated with Melnicoff to talk with some of the NAT's targets, such as retired veteran Joey Gallo, who might face homelessness if he's forced to leave his house, and local pastor Oscar Castaneda, who says he's already given up the fight and is in the process of moving off the land he and his wife have lived on for 22 years. And, while Antonovich declined an interview, we did catch up with him at a public meeting in order to ask the big question at the center of all this: Why the sudden enforcement of these codes against people living in the middle of the desert, who seemingly are affecting no one?

Views: 100

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Localtarian on August 26, 2011 at 8:09pm
Yeah definitely, Vince. It's quite alarming how the govt'. is going out of it's way to find people out in desolate areas and kicking them out/telling them what to do. soon, you will not be able to hide from the power elite.

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

DTOM's blog post was featured

"Reset the Table" - Rockefeller Foundation planning to communize (and weaponize) the global food supply

Rockefeller Foundation planning to communize (and weaponize) the global food supplyWednesday,…See More
9 hours ago
Less Prone posted a discussion
12 hours ago
rlionhearted_3 favorited Sandy's photo
yesterday
rlionhearted_3 favorited Sandy's photo
yesterday
rlionhearted_3 favorited Sandy's photo
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

JUSTICE FOR HUMANITY [POWERFUL SUBLIMINAL]

You thought I was leaving you alone in these times?Powerful Endgame Subliminal designed by The Tribe Of The Chosen for these outrageous times we are in.#subl...
yesterday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's video
yesterday
Sandy posted a photo
yesterday
Less Prone commented on Doc Vega's blog post Biggest Hoax and Hazard to Health in US History Busted Pt. 2
"Yes Doc, gullibility seems to be another unlimited natural resource that the globalist evil can…"
Sunday
Less Prone commented on Doc Vega's blog post Biggest Hoax and Hazard to Health in US History Busted Pt. 2
"Hey you "innocent" prick, do as we told you or we expose your photos and videos from the…"
Sunday
Less Prone posted a photo

Brian Thompson - UHC CEO

United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been embroiled in several scandals and allegations of…
Sunday
tjdavis's 3 blog posts were featured
Sunday
Doc Vega's 5 blog posts were featured
Sunday
Less Prone posted a discussion
Sunday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Saturday
Sandy posted a video
Saturday
Sandy posted a photo
Saturday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Saturday
tjdavis posted a video

In The Court Of The Crimson King (Full Version) - Duke Levine & The Super Sweet Sounds Of The 70s

In The Court Of The Crimson King (McDonald, Sinfield)Duke Levine - GuitarKevin Barry - Lap SteelMike Rivard - BassDean Johnston - DrumsPaul Schultheis - Keys...
Friday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Biggest Hoax and Health Hazard in US History Busted! Pt. 1
"cheeki kea Thanks for this list of lying bastards! Good to know"
Friday

© 2024   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted