Keep Bailing

A new jail has been approved for Santee, California near the 52 and 67 freeways. The new 45 acre jail facility is budgeted at $308.5 million. It will replace the current Las Colinas women’s jail which was built in the 1960′s. The San Diego county Board of Supervisors approved these plans last month. But since then, the City of Santee has brought a lawsuit to San Diego Court Wednesday, citing that the county violated the state environmental law. Santee city argues that the county did not consider the impact on traffic and public safety for the city.

Santee also filed a lawsuit last year against the county involving a $100 million state grant to expand the Las Colinas jail, which it lost. Santee currently is appealing this lawsuit. Santee sights differences in the city since Las Colinas was first built as well as environmental impact as reasons for County Supervisors to look elsewhere for a new women’s jail.  just doesn’t want a jail or even a new jail in their area. They might have some help from Ryan Companies US who is also filing a lawsuit against the jail project. Ryan Companies has a 1.9 million square foot project going on in Santee and fears loss of property value if the Las Colinas jail is expanded.