$160M Approved For New San Mateo County Jail

REDWOOD CITY (KCBS) – The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved $16o million in funding for a new county jail, despite protests by dozens of members of the public.

Critics of the project like Nancy Arvold of Californians United for a Responsible Budget said that the money earmarked for the jail would be better spent on other programs.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

"And you know it's going to cost more than that. In doing that, it makes sure that there won't be money for other recovery programs," she said.

But Marshall Wilson with the County Manager's Office said that's just not true.

"What we're looking for in a new facility is not just brick-and-mortar and building new beds, but really building that classroom and counseling space," Wilson said.

Realignment, where low-level offenders are sent to local jails instead of state prison, has contributed to overcrowding.

"We've purchased the property. It's on the east side of Highway 101," said Wilson.

The county is aggressively going after state funding for the jail, which is still not expected to open for several years.

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