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🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Environment & Climate

Trump administration reportedly seeks to grant Yosemite land parcel to private developer

From The Guardian · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Reports suggest the Trump administration is considering transferring a land parcel within Yosemite National Park to a private developer.
  • The developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, aims to build a private road connecting its adjacent land to a central park route.
  • The proposal has drawn criticism from environmental advocates and some California politicians, who view it as a move towards privatizing public lands.

A report alleges the Trump administration is advancing a plan to transfer a parcel of land within Yosemite National Park to a private developer, sparking concern among conservationists and politicians. The proposal involves giving a quarter-mile parcel inside the park to Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Nevada-based company that already owns adjacent undeveloped land.

has been no political pressure to reach a predetermined outcome

— Aubrie SpadyAn Interior Department spokesperson denying allegations of a predetermined outcome regarding the Yosemite land transfer.

According to the report, National Park Service staff have been exploring the transfer, which would allow Kingsbarn to construct a private road connecting its property to a main Yosemite route. This would bypass the current lengthy access road, which is over 10 miles from the nearest park entrance. The Interior Department's top political leaders reportedly support the proposal, creating internal tension within the park service.

suggesting the Department is secretly working to hand over National Park Service land to a private developer [is] false.

— Aubrie SpadyAn Interior Department spokesperson refuting claims of a secret handover of park land.

However, an Interior Department spokesperson denied the report, stating there has been "no political pressure to reach a predetermined outcome" and calling claims of a secret handover "false." Despite this denial, the report has ignited outrage from environmental groups and elected officials.

push to sell off public lands and privatize America’s national parks

— Jayson O’NeillA spokesperson for Save Our Parks describing the alleged motivation behind the proposal.

Jayson O’Neill of Save Our Parks criticized the move as part of a broader "push to sell off public lands and privatize America’s national parks." California Congressman Jared Huffman vowed to fight the proposal, emphasizing that "National parks belong to the American people, not monied developers." Both of California's senators have also voiced opposition.

Our parks belong to all of us. These places should be protected for every generation, not sold off to Trump’s ultra-wealthy friends to profit off of.

— Jared HuffmanA California Congressman expressing opposition to the potential land transfer.
About this summary

Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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