Dec

17

[Ed., for color: 14 Days In a City With No Laws: Slab City a Squatters Paradise]

A friend Ron in Slab City was a NYC police officer for one day. It was his dream come true to work the beat, the highest pay grade due to overtime, doing what he liked to do. ‘I can communicate with and help any person on any level.’ Two years ago, a Mensa, he completed the cadet course with one of highest grades in history and became a NYC beat cop for one day.

The second day, his lieutenant called him in and said, ‘Are you thinking of taking another job?’ ‘Never,’ he replied. ‘Why don’t you use your degrees in nutrition, business and psychology to become a teacher?’ ‘No, I want to walk the beat.’

The lieutenant continued, ‘I have to let you go. We can’t keep anyone on the force who scores a 90 or above. I myself got a 70. It’s not financeable feasible because it takes five years to become a detective where you’d shine. Nobody will want to work with you until then because you’re too smart. You probably don’t even want to hurt criminals. You’d figure out how things work.’

My buddy couldn’t argue with that, and turned in his shield and gun. He started a window washing company in the Westport, CT area to earn a stake to buy a van and drove it to Slab City, ‘The Last Free Place.’

I stood with him this morning inside what Slabbers call the Fortress of scrap metal and pallets atop a four-story crow’s nest looking over the town as far as the eye can see.


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1 Comment so far

  1. Peter M on December 16, 2023 6:31 am

    I’ve missed your stories Bo, keep them coming

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