L.A. Reaffirms Support for a Castaic Prison

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for state legislation designating use of land near the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic, instead of a site on Los Angeles’ Eastside, for a new state prison.

The action, taken unanimously and without discussion, was requested by newly elected Councilwoman Gloria Molina.

It was Molina, a Democratic assemblywoman before her election to the council last month, who introduced the bill first endorsed by the council last May to build the prison in Castaic. Molina’s Assembly district included the Eastside site favored by Gov. George Deukmejian but strongly opposed by her constituents.

The council resolution approved Tuesday read:

“Proponents for the Castaic site point out that three county jails are already located at the rancho, thereby saving inmate transfer costs; that land is available for construction because 1,900 acres of the approximately 2,500-acre site are either vacant or used for agriculture, and that the site is located in a sparsely populated area.

“Most importantly, selection of this site would satisfy the concerns of the members of the Los Angeles City Council who wish to advocate construction of a prison outside city boundaries.”