HomeCCC UpdatesSusanville Files Temporary Restraining Order against CDCRSusanville Files Temporary Restraining Order against CDCRThu, July 29, 2021SHARE NOW City of Susanville Administration *****PRESS RELEASE***** On July 28, 2021, the City of Susanville filed a Writ of Mandamus and an Application for a Temporary Restraining Order against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Secretary of the Department Kathleen Allison and Governor Gavin Newsom to stop the closure of the California Correctional Center (CCC) in Susanville, California. The City contends that prior to commencing closure, and contrary to legislative mandate, the State did not conduct review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA,” Public Resources Code section 21000 et seq.). The State failed to conduct such review, even though there can be no reasonable dispute that the decision to close the prison was a “discretionary project” subject to CEQA. (Pub. Res. Code, § 21080(a).) Further, the State violated Penal Codes §§ 2067 and 5003.7 when it selected to close CCC without doing a formal and adequate review, and prior to ending contracts with its private facilities. The City of Susanville remains concerned about the devastating effect the closure will have on the hard-working people in Lassen County. According to Mayor Mendy Schuster, “Closing of the CCC would devastate the community of Susanville by putting approximately a thousand of our citizens out of work and crushing our local economy. Governor Newsom’s decision to select this prison for closure was done for purely political reasons, and was done without environmental review or proper legal analysis. The City of Susanville is asking the Governor’s office to come to the table to discuss alternatives to closure.” Further, City Administrator Dan Newton commented that “in a summer plagued by devastating wildfires, closing a fire institution that trains inmates to provide lifesaving firefighting services is unconscionable. There are other options that need to be considered, and the City of Susanville is willing to discuss these with Governor Newsom.” Please contact this office for additional information or a copy of the lawsuit filed. Dan Newton Interim City Administrator