LOS ANGELES – Protesters caused the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to declare a temporary recess Tuesday before voting to move forward with plans for a 1,604-bed women’s jail in Lancaster.
The board’s vote — taken roughly 90 minutes after the room was cleared — was unanimous to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for the women’s jail.
Dozens of community activists were in the audience, some wearing hazardous materials suits to highlight concerns about valley fever.
But as county staffers outlined plans for the $136 million Mira Loma Women’s Detention Center, community members began loudly chanting, “no more jails” and standing up to shout indictments of the plan.
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who chairs the board, called for quiet and threatened to call the meeting into recess.
“We understand this is a challenging topic,” Solis said as the crowd continued to shout.
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas took a turn at trying to calm the protesters, who simply changed their chant.
“Walk out on the jail plan, not the community,” the activists shouted. “Reject the EIR.”
The supervisors left the board room as the chants continued.
Deputies told the activists they would be arrested if they didn’t leave the board room and the group slowly filed out and gathered outside.
Community activists have fought the jail for years, pressing officials to find alternatives to incarceration and spend money on community-based programs.
Opponents have raised concerns about the Mira Loma Detention Center, including the potential for spread of valley fever, a fungal infection, and the distance families must travel to visit inmates.
The county has dedicated resources to diversion programs, but maintains that those efforts will not eliminate the need for modern detention facilities.
Female inmates are currently housed in Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, a high-security facility built for men. The Lancaster jail is a retrofit of a federal immigration detention center to create a more open, campus-like environment offering “gender-responsive programs.”
The jails plan “reflects a lot of high hopes for the board,” Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said. “The hope is that we will really have a different kind of incarceration … we’re hoping for rehabilitation and treatment.”
Dr. Mark Ghaly of the county’s Department of Health Services said he envisioned the women’s jail as a “well facility.”
No one involved in the earlier disturbance was allowed back in the board room to comment, but the LA No More Jails Coalition issued a statement.
“The vast majority of those locked up in women’s jails in L.A. don’t need to be there,” said Christina Tsao of Critical Resistance Los Angeles. “This plan for a new women’s jail promises services and programs that cannot be delivered. … Women need quality treatment, supportive housing, employment opportunities and sustained connection with their children in their communities, not another jail.”
Solis questioned how the county would ensure the health of female inmates given concerns about valley fever, which is more prevalent in the Antelope Valley.
An infectious disease specialist with the Department of Public Health said the risk of contracting the fever would be no greater at the women’s jail than elsewhere in Lancaster.
A microbiologist from Cal State Bakersfield disagreed.
“If the county is invested in preventing public health risk, it is not a good idea to have a jail system expanded in an area that is endemic for the valley fever pathogen,” soil specialist Antje Lauer said in a statement.
Speaking for the county, Dr. Dawn Tereshita noted that the state corrections department, which screens for valley fever in other prisons, does not see a need for monitoring at its state prison adjacent to the Lancaster jail site.
Construction on the women’s jail is tentatively slated to begin in 2018.
At Tuesday’s meeting, supervisors also approved $106 million in funding for a 3,885-bed treatment center in downtown Los Angeles to replace the Men’s Central Jail.
Previous related story: Community activists oppose women’s prison in Lancaster
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AV says
If so many people in trouble with the law need jobs, housing, treatment, that they cannot pay for themselves, then STOP HAVING SO MANY KIDS WITHOUT YOUR OWN RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FOR THEM AND PLAN FOR EDUCATION AND THEIR FUTURE! It creates criminality. Taxpayers don’t have to clean up the mess of uneducated breeders. Guilt free!
Funny says
So let me get this straight! Having kids without resources to provide for them is why we have crime? WOW!!!!!
UNEDUCATED BREEDERS is why we have crime? WOW!!!!!
YOU TRULY NEED A CATSCAN BECAUSE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR BRAIN.
YOUR THOUGHT PROCESSING IS TRULY DAMAGED. BETTER YET MAKE IT AN MRI.
THIS IS A DUMBBELL STATEMENT.
MUST BE A DONALD DUCK RUMP SUPPORTER
AV says
No, I am voting for Clinton who is also in favor of limiting taxpayer funding for the poor who BREED without resources of their own to pay for their expenses regardless of her political rhetoric. Bill cut back on tax money to the poor big time when he was in office. Why do you think so many support Trump. The country is done giving a free ride. Go Hilary!
Real smart of you to think that having kids in poverty without resources to support them does not lead to criminality. A real genius. lol
Guy says
Everything “AV” stated is actually very well documented and proven by statistics. The wording might have been a little callous but true none the less. Jails are overwhelmingly filled with people from lower a SES, and while much of this can be attributed to injustices in the system, poor people commit more crimes. Effect of the system or environment, yes.
William says
How do you explain Donald Trump who had many bankruptcies, stiffed contractors and used his charity for personal expenses?
He had resources yet had spawned several sociopathic children such as his 2 sons who are just like him. Ivanka is a special piece of work in her own right. Plus, the trump brand is going downhill fast.
AV says
His Narcissism. T is not the average person. He is an egomaniac.
Vern says
Trump is a lot like Parris, or vice-versa. Except Parris is more nutty with some of this ideas and beliefs, like bird sounds lowering crime. Also Trump isn’t running around claiming to be building a Christian community, living an un Christian life and sucking up to the local political churches like Parris does. They’re both meglomaniacs and narcissists. I don’t know if Trump uses people to the degree that Parris does.
Vic says
Much like Lancaster’s mayor. Meglomaniac. I don’t think T has as many weird ideas like bird sounds and LEAPS.
Minding my own business says
They can provide plenty of jail.but not enough jobs.places for homeless people to eat nor sleep they build the jails to have total control help the people not jail them build more resources to make the people productive so tax money can be put to use .but I guess the government gone eat one way or another making money off ever person they put in jail what a sham
Mike P. says
The Jail “Mira Loma” Is already there and has been since the early 1940’s. Their just going to update and modernize it. It will bring good high paying jobs to the Antelope Valley that needs them very badly!
sbellondra says
How can I apply for a job there.
Mike P. says
Here is a few good websites to look for sworn or civilian jobs in Los Angeles County. Just copy and past it in the search box.
Sheriff’s Department——-http://lasdcareers.org/
Los Angeles County——–http://hr.lacounty.gov/
Tom says
Everyone complains, but it’s a great idea. The men’s jail is already there, juvenile hall, and the pound. So in four years a whole family of criminals plus their dog will all be living less than 1000 yards from each other.
Guy says
For the win!!!
AVResident says
This will bring many jobs good paying jobs to the AV.. I Think that this is a good idea!
Jackie Obarr says
The Antelope Valley is the dumping ground for prisoners, Mira Lima was there for years, now a state prison with a women’s prison next door? This is where many move as it more affordable to live. ir will be interesting to see the ratio of employed persons to those on some type of state aide. Isn’t there anywhere else, Cybil Brand is a woman’s prison, how about that location?
Dan says
Sybil Brand has been closed for years and is in no condition to reopen. It would take to much money and that facility is very small compared to the size of Mira Loma?
San Quentin South says
Rex calls Lancaster the solar capital of the world. That’s not true, but it could become the Prison Capital of the World in no time.
AV supporter says
Now that’s the truth
10doug says
Go buy AV gone to the dogs
Be equal says
It doesn’t matter what the public say they already had their minds made up