An RV storage lot in the City of Industry has become the site of a contentious battle between Black Series RV, a luxury camper company, and an encampment of squatters who have taken up residence in over 50 campers, as reported by CBS News. The situation has escalated over the past two years, with a noticeable spike in problematic activity starting last December. The squatters, whom the company argues are trespassing, have turned the vehicles into makeshift homes, leading to a considerable amount of damage. According to KTLA, the RVs have been subjected to significant alterations, resulting in torn-out roofs and accumulating garbage. This has spurred concerns among nearby workers, such as Gerardo Torres, who told KTLA about frequent fires and exacerbated safety risks.
Efforts to reclaim and clean the lot have been troubled by the complexities of the legal process and the dangers posed to those attempting to remedy the situation. Marilyn Martinez, an employee in the vicinity, emphasized the increased need for personal safety, stating that she and her colleagues are making it a point to walk in pairs to their cars, especially "us girls," as reported by CBS News. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, acknowledging the challenges, assured that outreach workers and substance abuse teams are being sent to engage with the squatter community, as documented by KTLA.
Black Series RV has followed legal avenues to dislodge the squatters and recover the property, recently securing a judgment for possession. The predicament has been complicated further by some squatters' claims of paying rent for the campers, although it is unclear who may be illegally collecting these payments. Negotiations and coordination with local officials are ongoing to facilitate the site's cleanup and restoration, with the company indicating plans to refurbish and resell the damaged RVs upon their retrieval, according to statements obtained by CBS News.
Amid the legal and logistical chaos, the human dimension of the struggle surfaces through the voices of the squatters themselves. One occupant, Raymond Henderson, described a situation bred from desperation, telling CBS News, "They had the homeless people come in here. They give you a piece of paper and tell you to call these numbers that they already know that shelters are already full." Henderson's sentiment forecasts a grim future for the evicted, predicting a spread of displacement to every "bus stop, every street corner." Solis has involved her office, aiming to alleviate tensions and support those affected on both sides of this private property dispute, a complexity detailed by her office's proactive approach, conveyed by KTLA.
