Shutdown meltdown: Elderly residents kicked out of private Lake Mead homes; 60 families affected

Nail on the head.

Thanks to President Stompy Foot, elderly residents have been forced out of their private homes on Lake Mead because they happen to be located on federal land.

It’s shutdown theater gone wild.

Obama administration forces elderly couple out of their home because it sits on federal land. http://t.co/yiYDZxDa5A

— B Fojtik (@PositiveEnerG) October 6, 2013

Elderly couple forced out of home at Lake Mead #insane #obama #shutdown RT #viral http://t.co/jpKTOUd6Mg

— 3QuartersToday (@3Quarters2Day) October 6, 2013

The government shutdown has forced those with vacation homes on the north shore of Lake Mead to pack up and leave. http://t.co/JsC9uz86A9

— Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) October 6, 2013

As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports, some 60 families were given notice:

Bob Hitchcock is in his “least favorite place” these days — inside his landlocked Las Vegas home instead of at his cabin on the North Shore of Lake Mead, tooling around with old engines in his garage.

He’s one of an estimated 60 families with vacation homes along the lake who were given notice by the National Park Service earlier this week to gather their stuff and leave, according to Christie Vanover, a spokeswoman for the Lake Mead Recreational Area.

The homes — from Stewart’s Point on the north to Katherine’s Landing and Temple Bar on the south — sit on federal land.

As a result, the federal government shutdown left Hitchcock just 24 hours to evacuate his two-bedroom, two bath cabin in Stewart’s Point, about 70 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

…“I wouldn’t call it a government shutdown,” said Hitchcock, 71, a retired zone manager for 7-Eleven. “I’d call it a government meltdown. If my kids ever acted like these politicians are acting — it’s probably not politically correct to say this anymore — but I’d beat the crap out of them, then send them to their rooms.”

The government shutdown is being felt close to home for some locals. They say they’re being forced out of private homes on Lake Mead because they sit on federal land.

Joyce Spencer is 77-years-old and her husband Ralph is 80. They’ve been spending most of their time in the family ice cream store since going home isn’t an option.

The Spencers never expected to be forced out of their Lake Mead home, which they’ve owned since the 70s, but on Thursday, a park ranger said they had 24 hours to get out.

“I had to go to town today and buy Ralph undershirts and jeans because I forgot his pants,” Joyce Spencer told Action News.

The Stewart’s Point home sits on federal land, so even though the Spencers own their cabin outright, they’re not allowed in until the government reopens.

Obama kicks people out of private homes. Blames government shutdown and Republicans. http://t.co/A2rplVKrX9

— William L (@WDLKD) October 6, 2013

Why does @BarackObama hate senior citizens? > Lake Mead property owners forced out until shutdown ends http://t.co/WB6VUDxOJL

— Rachel (@esqcapades) October 6, 2013

Attention, GOP.

If this couple isn't testifying on Capitol Hill by Tuesday, I want the entire House GOP caucus impeached: http://t.co/51RwqYM4gg

— David Freddoso (@freddoso) October 6, 2013

Reminder:

@CAAmyO Apparently 0bama & Biden forget *their* homes are on Fed’l land.

— (((WitCoHE))) (@E__Strobel) October 6, 2013

https://twitter.com/Tom_Francois/status/386715583456104448

Turnabout is fair play.

If senior citizens in private homes on fed lands are thrown out of homes, then people in taxpayer owned homes should leave too. @BarackObama

— Rachel (@esqcapades) October 6, 2013

If the feds are doing this, why hasn't the East wing been roped off? http://t.co/51RwqYM4gg

— David Freddoso (@freddoso) October 6, 2013

Americans are pretty attached to the idea of Home. Kick somebody out of their home for no good reason… That's gotta have consequences.

— Arthur Kimes (@ComradeArthur) October 6, 2013

Remember: You can’t fix craven fecklessness, but you can vote it out.