The Senator and I have been having meetings every day since the surprise announcement that the California Correctional Center (CCC) camps are being shut down in Lassen County. We have met with the Governor’s Director of Finance, the Governor’s Legislative Secretary, the Secretary, and under-Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR); we have met with the County administration, the Sheriff, local labor unions, the Susanville City Manager, and the Mayor of Susanville, and many of our friends and neighbors.
We have been interviewed by the news media and posted our positions on social media. We have been actively seeking a total and complete reversal of the decision – based on the flawed process by which the decision was made. We also started having discussions to get financial help to mitigate the damage this terrible decision will have on thousands of people in Lassen County. We sought immediate funding for lost school enrollment, lost tax revenue, lost property taxes, and lowered Indian gaming revenue. Above all, we were looking for ways to shift State programs to utilize facilities in Lassen County, which would keep jobs in our area.
The City of Susanville has decided to file a lawsuit against the State for closing the CCC facilities, and since the announcement of the suit, the Governor’s office and CDCR have indicated they will no longer meet with us or continue negotiations. We hope the city of Susanville is successful in its independent course of action. We will continue to do all we can.