23 families will lose homes for street widening project

“The house, along with 22 others, stands in the path of a city project to widen 24th Street. Though the city has been debating the issue for decades, the City Council voted 6-1 Wednesday night to give the final approval to the project. All of the affected homes are in the Westchester area.

“It’s been an ongoing topic, so we figured we would probably never live to see it, you know? Well, surprise!” said Richard Young.

The couple doesn’t know where they will go once the city acquires their property through eminent domain. But they do not want to leave voluntarily.

“It really has made me sick to my stomach that I am being forced to leave,” said Julie Young. “And I’m not leaving because I want to. I’m being forced.””

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Gaspar, Jose. Bakersfield Now 14 February 2014.