MEDIA ADVISORY – August 4th, 2014
Contact:
- Patrisse Cullors-Brignac of Dignity and Power Now at 213-375-4518 or patrissemarie@gmail.com
- Whitney Richards-Calathes of Youth Justice Coalition at 917-414-8609 or whitneymrc@gmail.com
When: Tuesday, August 5th. Rally begins at 9:00am prior to LA County Board of Supervisors meeting.
- S-1, set for 11:00 AM, motion on Sheriff’s Oversight Commission.
- Item 24, no set time, recommendation from CEO to establish capital project for jail construction and fund $14.5 million for further planning.
Where: Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple St. LA.
Los Angeles: On Tuesday, August 5th Los Angeles residents are calling a press conference and rally prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting that will focus on two highly controversial items regarding the county jails. First, the Supervisors will be voting on a motion by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to create a civilian oversight commission for the LA County Sheriff’s Department, followed by a recommendation from the CEO to spend $14.5 million to start planning for the jail expansion plan.
The Coalition to End Sheriff Violence in LA Jails will be joined by community members, services providers and survivors of jail violence at the meeting to support civilian oversight of the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Amid allegations of widespread abuse of people locked-up in the county jails and misconduct by custody deputies, Sheriff Baca announced his retirement last January.
Advocates from Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) and the LA No More Jails coalition will be in attendance to push Supervisors to not move forward with the controversial plan to expand local jails. Instead, residents will encourage Supervisors to support and expand a Comprehensive Diversion Plan proposed by DA Lacey, along with other alternatives to incarceration.
“I’m outraged that the Supervisors would even consider a recommendation to waste $14.5 million to start planning for the mega million dollar jail, before fully funding diversion, treatment, housing and other alternatives to jail” exclaimed Diana Zuñiga Statewide Coordinator for CURB. Advocates have been pushing for a minimum of 30-50% of the counties realignment budget to be invested into community programs. Los Angeles County has received over $1 billion in realignment (AB109) funding since October 2011 and over 80% has been allocated to the Sheriff’s Department.
LA residents continue to voice opposition to the county’s plan to build $2 billion of new jail cells, and are gearing up for an August 16th caravan from Lynwood Jail to the Mira Loma Detention Center, the proposed site for the new women’s jail.
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