Prison or Mirage?

Gov. George Deukmejian is still stubbornly insisting that the state build a prison on the Crown Coach property in downtown Los Angeles even though a developer has bought the land out from under him. That is the governor’s prerogative. But he should also insist that the state finally proceed with the required environmental-impact report on the coach site and on alternative sites so that ground can be broken without more years of useless debate.

The political stalemate that is holding up agreement on a site in Los Angeles County is also holding two new state prisons hostage. Despite massive overcrowding throughout the California prison system, state law says that no new prisons can accept inmates until a Los Angeles site is approved.

Although 500 bunks are ready today at a new medium-security prison near completion in San Diego, the facility cannot open. Although 100 beds are ready today at the new women’s prison under construction in Stockton, the facility will remain empty. What a waste of money.

Two things have not changed since last year: A prison remains a prime subject of talk in Sacramento. The talk still points toward the same conversational gridlock that it produced in 1986.

The governor can continue to insist on a downtown site, and the state can try to buy the Crown Coach parcel from the new owner or take it it over under the laws of eminent domain. The state can also try to build a taller prison on a smaller piece of land adjoining the coach site. Or it can try toput together a larger site and keep fending off opposition from residents of nearby East Los Angeles and their powerful Democratic allies.

Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) plans to introduce legislation to designate a prison site near Castaic in a rural northern section of Los Angeles County. Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) plans to introduce a bill to allow the San Diego and Stockton prisons to open before a Los Angeles site is agreed on.

But none of these three approaches hold any more promise of producing a prison than did last year’s argument. Everyone agrees that California needs new prisons. Everyone agrees that a prison belongs in Los Angeles County, which furnishes 38% of the state’s male inmates but has no state facility within its borders. What will it take to get an agreement on a site in Los Angeles? What will it take to open the San Diego and Stockton facilities? What will it take to get a quick compromise in Sacramento? Some common sense, all around.