Antelope Valley Says Using Its Name for Prison Would Be a Crime : Lancaster: The new maximum-security facility needs an identifier. But nearby towns dread any association.

What’s in a name? Plenty, if you’re talking about naming the new prison in Lancaster.

For all city fathers care, state prison authorities can call it the Desert Big House or the Cage in the Sage. Just don’t mention the Antelope Valley.

Lancaster City Council members said they only learned recently that the 2,200-bed maximum security prison scheduled to open early next year within the city’s boundaries was going to be named “California State Prison-Antelope Valley.”

They were not flattered. The city next door to Edwards Air Force Base did not want to become identified with some other men in uniform. Local officials want prospective visitors to think poppies, not license plates.

“When we do promotional things, we don’t want them to think of the prison,” Councilman George Runner said. “It’s a name association that could easily be avoided.”

Runner said Friday that council members don’t want either “Lancaster” or “Antelope Valley” included in the name.

The council is expected to pass resolutions Monday asking Los Angeles County and state prison officials to change the name to “California State Prison-North County.”

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said his city is likely to take a similar position.

The name “California State Prison-Antelope Valley” was chosen by prison officials in May with the concurrence of Supervisor Mike Antonovich and the city managers of Lancaster and Palmdale, Antonovich aide Sherry Lasagna said Friday.

Lasagna said a Department of Corrections official had also suggested “California State Prison-Lancaster” and “Lancaster State Prison.”

“This may all be my fault,” Lasagna said. “I did not tell the city managers when I phoned them that other names could have been offered. If I had, they may have done something different.”

Lasagna said Antonovich will support the two cities’ efforts to rename the prison.

Department of Corrections spokesman Craig Brown said the prison wants to be a good neighbor and state authorities don’t care, within limits, what the prison is named.

“We’re willing to do whatever they like, as long as it’s responsible.”

That probably means no chance for Cactus Cooler.