Residents of Mobile Home Park Evicted by Fracking Withdrawal Facility

[marmar]

Breaking: Residents of Mobile Home Park Evicted by Fracking Withdrawal Facility
Community Thrown Off Land to Make Way for Business


Residents of the Riverdale Mobile Home Park in Jersey Shore, PA may have lost the battle to secure their community today. Members of the park have been calling on Aqua America, one of the country’s largest private water corporations, to stop their plans for building a fracking withdrawal facility since late February, when the company bought the 37-unit mobile home park. The facility would withdraw 3 million gallons of water per day from the Susquehanna River and then transport the water via pipeline to fracking companies in the north.

The residents’ leases were terminated, and they were given until June 1 to vacate their homes. Aqua America offered the residents a $2,500 incentive to move out by that deadline. On May 31, the six families that remained in the park because they could not afford to move started building a barricade, which was draped with large banner that read: “We will fight for our homes.” Along with nearly 50 supporters from across the nation, including some Occupiers, Save the Riverdale Mobile Home Park members built a communal living space on their land and kept Aqua America at bay for eleven days.

Yesterday morning, however, they received notice from the company that excavation on their land would begin today. On their blog they pleaded for help stating, “The encampment is in urgent need of support at this time! Now is the time to show your conviction and solidarity with these brave residents and volunteers who have decided to stand their ground in the face of ruthless corporate giant — Aqua America.” .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/964079/breaking%3A_residents_of_mobile_home_park_evicted_by_fracking_withdrawal_facility/

[Angry Dragon]

1. Another Satanic corporation

[limpyhobbler]

2. This may still be a victory for the people who resisted moving.

I think the trailer park residents were in negotiations with Aqua America and they have been offered something to get out, and to ask the occupy-style protesters to stand down.

We will know more if the details of the deal are ever made public. But assuming that the residents got significantly more than the $2500 they were originally offered, then that is a win, and a reason to follow this up with more similar actions.

Hopefully we will find out what the residents have been offered, and they haven't had to sign any non-disclosure statements.

I read somewhere that some negotiations are still continuing.

[freshwest]

3. Ugh, shades of SCOTUS and Kelso... Too often. Hope they resolve it.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Capitalism is breeding ever better capitalists. n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Kick