A federal judge will convene a trial on Tuesday to determine the fate of a trailer park on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Reservation in southern California.

Harvey Duro, a tribal member, owns the Desert Mobile Home Park, also known as Duroville. The Bureau of Indian Affairs says he has failed to maintain a safe and healthy environment at the 40-acre site.

Duro, who was reportedly making $150,000 a month in fees from tenants, had said he wants to close the facility. But it's being overseen by a receiver who was appointed by Judge Stephen Larson.

The BIA thinks Larson will order the trailer park's closure within the next six to 12 months. Not everyone agrees with that assessment, mainly because no one knows where all of the tenants will go or who will pay for their relocation, if it comes to that.

An estimated 4,000 people live at the site. Most are Indian or Hispanic migrants from Mexico and Central America.

Get the Story:
Trial to begin on fate of Duroville shantytown (The Los Angeles Times 4/4)

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