good morning. Welcome to LA on the Record, City Hall’s newsletter. Rebecca Ellis, David Zahnizer and Kelly Blakinger bring you the latest on local government.

Nearly a decade after deciding the Men’s Central Jail was too old, Los Angeles County’s top politicians are looking for someone to finally close it.

Oversight committees this week discussed launching a nationwide search after years of paralysis over the closure of dangerous facilities were on full display. Managing director Lead a team with one goal in mind: shut down the downtown Los Angeles jail. Approximately 4,000 inmates are confined.

The update, made at Tuesday’s board meeting, was seen by some supporters as part job announcement, part confession. Even after all this time, it is clear that the person in charge is still undecided.

“Overall, what we’re feeling is frustration.” Janet Asante It worked with JusticeLA, a coalition of advocacy groups that has been pushing for prison closures. “The board basically thought they could just send a directive down the pipeline and it would be done. But they didn’t see that happening.”

Supervisors have acknowledged that the shutdown did not go as expected. Chidinma Ume County commissioners announced this week that they had received about 60 reports on how to close the jail, but a specific timeline for the closure has not yet been determined.

“It’s a bit of a crazy make,” said the supervisor Lindsay Horvathlater adding that the county is “really at a standstill.”

“This is, I hate to say it, but it’s incremental,” the supervisor said. Hilda Solisthe district includes a prison.

Over the years, this dungeon-like facility has been the scene of a series of scandals and federal lawsuits alleging widespread abuse and neglect. Tests have found cells covered in mice, mold and feces, and the mortality rate inside has decreased. sharply I woke up. A recently resurfaced county report says the 60-year-old building is a seismic hazard and one expert said a moderate to large earthquake could “certainly” kill people. .

County officials have agonized over the idea of ​​closing the jail for years, unsure of what would be needed to replace it. In 2015, regulators approved plans to demolish it and construct a modernized building. lock up Focus on mental health treatment.

Then, as a wave of prison reforms swept the country, regulators decided in 2019 to close the prison without building a replacement facility. Instead, it would divert as many inmates as possible to alternatives such as supportive housing and treatment.

Three years ago, this prefecture created A team cuts through thickets of bureaucracy to shut down prisons and divert inmates. However, teams based within the county; Department of Justice, Care and Opportunitieshad trouble getting buy-in from agencies in other counties. The effort failed.

This spring, supervisors appointed a director to the chief executive officer’s office. prison closure program Instead. This office is home to complex initiatives important to the board. reduce homelessness and Fight racism.

chief executive officer Fesia Davenport Before her office took over, “there was no one dedicated solely to closing prisons,” she told the board Tuesday.

Advocates say they have been sounding the alarm for years.

“I was shocked that the board was shocked,” he said. Megan CastilloPolicy and advocacy manager for La Defensa, an organization that advocates for alternatives to incarceration. “How do you not know?”

Although the population is decreasing, there are still too many inmates at Men’s Central Prison, so it has been abandoned.

To close the jail, the county said: need to reduce The total number of inmates in county jails decreased by 45%, leaving about 7,160 inmates. sheriff Robert Luna and his top prison official told the board Most were charged this summer with crimes too serious for a diversion scheme, but some lawyers and inmate advocates immediately questioned that claim.

Still, question marks remain over the timeline for prison closures. The original deadline was early 2023. holly mitchell She says she is constantly asked for updates.

“I’m not going to pick a date out of thin air,” Mitchell said. “We have to do it well and do it right.”

The county is just beginning its search for someone to lead this effort, and janice haan She said she was worried that things were already “stuck” and “would love to have a schedule someday.”

The clock is ticking, advocates say. California voters this November will consider increasing the following penalties: low-level theft and some drug offenses; This could lead to a sharp increase in the prison population.

County voters also Voting measures That could add four more supervisors to the board, threatening to undermine consensus on the issue and send the prison closure back to square one.

State of play

— Choose a top cop: After months of searching, the mayor Karen Bass selected Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as the city’s next police chief. His nomination heads to the council for a confirmation vote.

— Redistricting? California Atty. Gen rob bonta has begun pressuring L.A. leaders to sign an agreement that calls for new boundaries for the city’s 15 legislative districts by the 2026 primary election. Officials told the Times that Mr. Bonta is concerned about the strength of the Latino vote in the San Fernando Valley and East Side. City council members have not yet said whether they plan to push back.

— Strike averted: Los Angeles County and Service Employees International Union Local 721, which represents more than 55,000 county employees, announced this week that it had called off a strike that threatened to shut down county services. The union had accused the county of posting inaccurate collective bargaining agreements online and improperly using contractors for union work.

— Plum picking: Member of Parliament marquise harris dawson It was announced on Friday that council members had been elected. john lee He is the new chair of the powerful Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM), which reviews major real estate projects. Harris Dawson, who is resigning from the commission, tapped City Council member. kevin de leon in his place.

— Discussion is dashed: This weekend’s discussion de leon and Isabel JuradoHis opponents in the November 5th election are: postponed After Jurado announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Jurado said he plans to attend Sunday’s rally and address the crowd virtually using a projector.

— Heading to prison: former vice mayor raymond chan On Friday, he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a massive extortion and bribery scheme. There’s only one year left until the former city councilman’s sentence. Jose Huizarplans to surrender to authorities this weekend.

— Last minute lobbying: government. gavin newsome on Sunday vetoed a bill that would change the statute of limitations to give people who were sexually abused in juvenile facilities more time to file lawsuits. Los Angeles County emerged late as the bill’s chief opponent, arguing it had no way to pay for the onslaught of costly lawsuits.

— Cop cleared: A Los Angeles police officer who also works as a gun rights influencer on social media has been completely acquitted in the fatal shooting. The police commission previously found that Toni McBride, the daughter of a senior police union official, should not have continued to fire with a box cutter at the man as he fell to the ground. The hearing examiner reversed that decision.

— The beginning of RVS: Buss’ office said this week that the number of RV camps in the city will soon decrease thanks to a new law signed by Newsom that will allow more real estate near Los Angeles freeways to be used as RV storage. Announced. City officials have struggled for years to figure out where to tow large vehicles.

— Get the scoop: Want to learn more about the candidates and how to vote this election cycle? The Times has election guides for everything from school board elections to presidential elections. You can find it all here.

quick hit

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s program to combat homelessness was implemented in the San Fernando Valley area on behalf of city council members. Imelda Padillafocuses on the area around Penrose Street and the 5 Freeway. The operation focused on RV encampments.

• On next week’s calendar: Congressional Public Works Committee meet on wednesday Discuss a proposal to grant “fast track permits” to companies seeking to install bollards on sidewalks. Member of Parliament heather hat said This system is necessary for companies to deter vehicle ramming attacka thief intentionally crashes his car into a building to gain entry.