Скачать или смотреть Slab City at Risk: New Laws May Change Everything

Slab City, often called “America’s Last Free City,” sits in the desert of Imperial County, California. Built on the remains of an abandoned Marine base, this off-grid community has long been a refuge for artists, travelers, and those seeking freedom from modern society. But its future is now uncertain.

In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed cities to enforce camping bans even when shelters are full. Soon after, California’s governor unveiled a model anti-encampment ordinance, backed by billions in new state funding. Combined with new mental health and housing initiatives, these policies give counties powerful tools to regulate or even clear out large encampments. For Slab City, that means pressure could mount in ways the community has never faced before.

At the same time, the land itself is changing hands. Most of Slab City still sits on state-owned school lands, where nonprofits have applied to buy parcels. If sales go through, it could shift from free-wheeling desert commons to managed property—with new rules, leases, or even evictions.

But one part of the Slabs stands apart. In 2016, the nonprofit behind East Jesus successfully purchased thirty acres from the state. That makes East Jesus one of the few places in Slab City with true land ownership. While much of the community faces uncertainty, East Jesus has legal security to preserve its sculptures, art installations, and experimental desert culture.

In this video, we explore what these changes mean for the Slabs. Will it remain a haven of freedom and creativity? Become a managed commons? Or fade away under enforcement and summer heat?

👉 Watch as we uncover the history, the new laws, and the uncertain road ahead for America’s most infamous desert community.

‪@Desertusa‬

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