An Open Letter to the Hi Vista Community: SVP Wachter Placement Decision...

An Open Letter to the Hi Vista Community: SVP Wachter Placement Decision from Supervisor Kathryn Barger

Dear Residents of Hi Vista and the Greater Antelope Valley,

I want to express my disappointment with the outcome of yesterday’s court decision to place SVP Harold Wachter in the Antelope Valley. This result makes it clear that our current system must be amended and strengthened so that the rights and interests of the citizens who are directly affected by these placements carry meaningful weight in court proceedings.

I understand the anger, fear, and frustration so many of you are feeling right now. You did everything right: you showed up, you submitted comments, and you made your case, yet the outcome still failed to reflect the risk this places on your families and your community. That is not how this process should work, and I will not treat it as settled business.

I want to acknowledge the District Attorney Nathan Hochman's Office, which presented a strong, well-substantiated case on this community's behalf. I am also deeply grateful to every resident who wrote a letter, submitted a comment, or attended the hearing. Your voices are part of the record in this case, and they will shape what comes next.

Here is what I believe needs to change, and what I intend to push for: courts should be required to give real, binding weight to community and local government input in SVP placement decisions. Rural communities like Hi Vista should not be unfairly targeted as placement sites and burdened with housing a disproportionate number of SVPs. And residents deserve a stronger role throughout this process.

I will raise these concerns directly with our state legislative delegation. My office will keep you informed as those conversations move forward.