Inside Southern Californian Slums

Near the California desert resorts in and around Palm Springs, huge slums have built up in trailer parks, occupied by migrant farm workers. These areas are overcrowded with thousands of people, many of whom have no access to clean water or plumbing.

1 minute read

March 27, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"Out here - just a few miles from world-class golf resorts, private hunting clubs and polo fields - half-naked children toddle barefoot through mud and filth while packs of feral dogs prowl piles of garbage nearby."

"Thick smoke from mountains of burning trash drifts through broken windows. People - sometimes 30 or more - are crammed into trailers with no heat, no air-conditioning, undrinkable water, flickering power and plumbing that breaks down for weeks or months at a time."

"California Rural Legal Assistance says as few as 20 parks are legal, and they are often as dilapidated as the illegal ones. When county inspectors locate a park without permits, they prefer to let owners bring the place into compliance through loan and grant programs rather than evict the tenants."

"Some of the largest and poorest parks are on the Torres Martinez Indian Reservation where they are not subject to local zoning laws and the county can't monitor safety, hygiene and building standards."

Thanks to Michael Jelks

FULL STORY: The Southland's hidden Third World slums

Monday, March 26, 2007 in The Los Angeles Times

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