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Residents, advocates press California City council to enforce codes and curb CoreCivic operations
Summary
Dozens of residents, legal advocates and local activists urged the council to enforce municipal codes, require CoreCivic to obtain a conditional use permit and pursue SB 29 processes; speakers alleged medical neglect and poor conditions at the detention facility and asked the city to pursue alternatives and state HEAL workforce funding.
A steady stream of residents, legal advocates and community groups urged California City's council to take action on CoreCivic's detention facility, citing alleged medical neglect, understaffing and lack of local permitting.
Speakers representing the California Justice Alliance, the Interfaith Movement, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and local organizing coalitions described oversight visits, family testimony and independent reports alleging substandard medical care, inadequate access to medication and poor living conditions. Advocates pointed to a recent independent visit by Disability Rights California and congressional oversight visits that, they said, raised similar concerns.
Bertie H., a coalition organizer, asked the city to suspend operations, require CoreCivic to apply for a conditional use permit under local municipal code and use the city's options under SB 29 to deny or condition approvals. Chriselle Ruiz of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center said a local decision to say no to detention under SB 29 could unlock up to $5 million in California workforce development funds (HEAL) that the city could use for economic alternatives to a carceral economy.
Mayor Hawkins and council members listened but did not take formal action on the topic; the item generated extensive public comment and requests for staff follow-up. Several residents urged expedited enforcement of local code and clarified that the city currently does not have a direct per-detainee payment contract with CoreCivic; council members and staff noted that CoreCivic's contractual relationship is with the federal government.
Next steps: community groups asked the council to initiate enforcement steps and to hold hearings required under SB 29. Councilors and staff acknowledged the public concerns and requests; staff will follow up on enforcement options and report back to council.
