You people act like Slab City is some sort of leper colony. I would guess many of you have never visited or if you did you stopped at Salvation Mountain and drove through Slab City with the windows up and the doors locked.
Slab City is no where near as bad as you imagine. Sure there is drug use which is not much different than middle America suburbia. There is not a whole lot of drug pushing and related crime. After all the market is more than small. As to other crimes, well it is a small community. It is pretty easy for the community to identify and deal with thieves and other criminal behaviors.
Next time consider rolling down the windows, get out and visit at least a couple of the businesses. Meet some people. You will find all sorts there including those down on their luck, those who just want to be left alone, plenty of characters and left over hippy types. Stay a couple of nights, listen to the music performances. You might just learn something and open your mind and hearts to different types of people with different lifestyles.
As to other "services", there are outhouses, water is available at least for hauling or for a fee, and there is even a bathing area within a short walk. Sure there is plenty of left over trash in some areas. Some of the residents consider it building materials. Others removed it from their claimed areas. Others don't care. In a way it is a refreshing alternative to the neurotic suburban fixation with weed free grass.
