Property Maintenance Ordinances: The Slippery Slope to Eviction

In This Edition:

- Why is the Government Driving Folks off Their Land? Classism Gone Wild!
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Why is the Government Driving Folks off Their Land?
http://youtu.be/yw3RiMdS7sE



L.A. County's War on Desert Rats

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LA Weekly Articles:

"The crackdown, and the denial by some that a crackdown is under way, have fueled speculation as to Antonovich's, Cooley's and the NAT teams' motives. Residents suggest "they need to justify their jobs — and fill their budget." Others fear a land grab for future development plans. Bell calls that an "absurd" idea that he won't "validate" with a response."

"L.A. Weekly found in a six-week investigation that county inspectors and armed DA investigators also are pursuing victimless misdemeanors and code violations, with sometimes tragic results."

"Los Angeles County has left some residents, who appeared to be doing no harm, homeless."

"Until the county enforcers came calling, Gallo led a stable life. He wasn't in any danger of becoming homeless."

"Interestingly, county officials appear to understand what they are forcing Gallo into: A recent NAT visit was from "a lady at the gate," he says angrily, who handed him a flier for Stand Down, a program for homeless vets."

"Before NAT came around, Sterner had two valuable, sturdy cargo containers — and no neighbor gave a damn. "
"Fahey points out that those who purportedly "hate" his buildings remain anonymous. "They said it was A. Nonymous," he jokes."

"Robert McNamara is an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which litigates nationwide on behalf of individuals whose rights are violated by the government. Property rights is a key area in which "the courts are completely deferent to government, and have stopped acting as a check on government," he says."

"Tim Cavanaugh, senior editor of Reason, a libertarian magazine, says Los Angeles County has "started going after the lifestyle that has existed forever in the Antelope Valley." And such campaigns, Cavanaugh says, can escalate."

"city people are moving to the desert and they expect a higher level of cleanliness and conformity."

"They're not talking about setting up whorehouses," Rajkovacz says. "They live in the high desert, a lot in Antelope Valley. There's a reason they live in rural, downtrodden areas — because that's all they can afford."

"Cavanaugh suggests what is under way in the high desert is an intolerance toward working-class and poor people who are 'different.' 'Thank God they don't have resources to go around enforcing everything,' he says. 'It may not be your cup of tea, but that's the way people live.' "

L.A. County's Private Property War
By Mars Melnicoff
published: June 23, 2011

Defending Desert Rats
By L.A. Weekly readers
published: June 30, 2011
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See Also:

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009
Property Maintenance Jihad Targets Disabled Life-long Baker City Resident

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2009
Democracy In Baker City, Plus Calder Update (YouTube)

War on the Poor Escalates--City Ordinance Would Add Restrictions to Burn Barrels (There is a New Burn Fee Too!)

(The City relented on the burning permit fee later, and relaxed some of the restrictions, but no campfires for the relatives when they visit, and no burning after normal working hours.)