I am writing as a concerned resident of Santa Clarita regarding the proposed construction of a 278,000-square-foot courthouse and holding facility in the heart of our community. While I fully support the need for an upgraded courthouse that meets the needs of our growing region, I strongly oppose the chosen location and the long-term impacts it will have on the Santa Clarita Valley.

This facility would not simply be a courthouse—it would be a large-scale judicial and detention complex that will process thousands of suspected and convicted criminals each year. With it we will have permanent, daily in-custody transports, an ongoing heavy security presence, and a dramatic increase in traffic congestion. These impacts are not temporary. They will fundamentally alter the character and livability of our community.

Placing such a high-intensity justice center near homes, schools, family-oriented entertainment areas, and locally owned businesses threatens the safety and quality of life that Santa Clarita residents have worked hard to build. Property values may be damaged, and crime rates could increase as the area inevitably attracts bail-bond storefronts, criminal-defense advertising, and related activities typically found around major detention hubs. Instead of enhancing our vibrant, welcoming community, this project risks reshaping it into something more reminiscent of the San Fernando Valley—an outcome that many residents do not want.

There are far more suitable locations available—sites away from dense residential areas, commercial corridors, and family-centered districts—where a courthouse of this scale could be constructed responsibly, without imposing irrevocable changes on the heart of Santa Clarita.

I live a stones throw away from the proposed site and I am very worried on what it might do to the safety and values of our homes. I urge you to reconsider the proposed location. Please pursue an alternative site that meets judicial needs while respecting the homes, businesses, and shared quality of life that define our community. We deserve a courthouse that serves us—not one that overwhelms us.

Thank you for your attention and for considering the long-term impact this project will have on the Santa Clarita Valley.

Sincerely,