A small group of Yosemite homeowners is being pushed out of where they live due to concern over some power lines near the site, and in the latest tactic, they've had their power shut off.
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The residents of the El Portal Trailer Park were ordered to move or give up their mobile homes, without any kind of relocation payment or other support, by March 13, according to reporting by The Sacramento Bee.
The trailer park is located just off of the entrance to Yosemite National Park on Highway 140, and most of its residents work for the national park in some capacity.
According to a change.org petition filed on behalf of the residents being evicted, "Most who live in the trailer park now are older people who have worked in Yosemite for decades, raising their families in the homes they are ordered to leave behind."
Many of the commenters on the petition were appalled that such measures were being taken, particularly in the coldest time of year.
"To evict these folks in winter, into a market where there is no affordable housing available, is cruel and hard to understand," wrote one petition signer two months ago. "This is how working people become homeless. A better strategy for rehousing residents is needed. This is a heartbreaking development."
The homeowners in the trailer park were notified of the move in December of 2021, as officials in the area grew worried over some power lines near the site. The residents were supposed to vacate on Sunday, according to the paper.
Along with the power being cut, a metal fence with a lock was also built at the trailer park entrance on Tuesday, according to the paper. But none have officially received written notice of eviction, just the initial notification from December telling them they'd need to vacate within 90 days, the paper said.
The official reason for the trailer park being closed is due to the concern over the power lines, but the site will also be repurposed into a campground, according to the paper.
According to the petition, another reason for the decision is "to use the land as a staging area for construction equipment for various Yosemite projects starting the spring of 2022."
As of Wednesday, the petition had nearly reached its goal of 2,500 signatures, at 2,342.
A GoFundMe has also been launched to provide support for the trailer park's residents, and emphasized the important service the residents of the trailer park have provided over decades.
"They are the front line workers, so recently touted as heroes, who have continued to work through the covid pandemic to serve visitors who continue to come to Yosemite," said the donation page's description.
"These people are not asking for much from the National Park Service; just some time to make good, workable decisions about housing and consideration of benefits under the Federal Relocation Assistance Program," the description continued.
As of Wednesday, just $2,365 had been raised out of the $100,000 goal.
The National Park Service did not respond to KCBS Radio's request for comment at the time of publication.
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