California's prison boom saved this town. Now, plans to close a lockup are sparking anger and fear

[Demovictory9]

California’s prison boom saved this town. Now, plans to close a lockup are sparking anger and fear


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Then in April, the state announced it would close the California Correctional Center, which provides nearly 1,100 jobs and among the highest wages in this impoverished, shrinking town of 8,000 residents, excluding prisoners.

Scores of “for sale” signs have popped up on front lawns. Owners of restaurants and hotels — which rely on inmates’ visitors — fear business could plummet. School leaders are bracing for families with children leaving, which could lead to a cut in funding.

“It’s going to devastate the whole community,” said Gary Bridges, a Lassen County supervisor and third-generation logger.

The California Correctional Center, which houses more than 2,300 inmates, is scheduled to close by June 2022. Inmates will be transferred; there will be no expedited releases because of the closure, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

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Few places rely on a prison as much as Susanville, the only incorporated city in Lassen County. The nearest city, 86 miles away, is Reno.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-21/newsom-plan-will-shut-rural-california-prison-lose-jobs-susanville

[ZonkerHarris]

1. too bad for the town but being part of the prison industrial complex is not good for anyone.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. Corporations do this all the time to towns ... just saying (nt)

[XanaDUer2]

3. This is why we want diverse thriving

towns. I don't know what the answer is. I feel for the workers, I truly do. But it's this a for-profit prison?

No good answers from me

[GulfCoast66]

4. I bet dollars to donuts they always say they vote for smaller government.

Well, they get their wish. Now they need to pull up those ole’ bootstraps and make something of themselves.