COMMENTARY : CAMARILLO STATE HOSPITAL WOULD MAKE GOOD CAMPUS.

Byline: Camarillo Chamber of Commerce

The board of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce has voted to support efforts for Camarillo State Hospital to continue serving the developmentally disabled population.

If this is not possible, the board wholeheartedly supports converting the facility to a California State University campus.

The Chamber board does not and will not ever support using the facility to house forensic patients - criminally insane/mentally ill prisoners - or sexually violent predators.

In developing its position, the Chamber board asked itself which business would best serve the economic needs of the community, a university or a facility for forensic patients.

It is the Chamber's understanding that the facility is convertible to a campus, and this would accelerate efforts to bring a four-year university into existence in Ventura County.

Pertinent to the discussion was the realization that during the next 10 years, without a university, more than 25,000 high school graduates will be denied the opportunity to attend a four-year university. Since the funds - $500 million to $700 million - are not available now to build a university at the Central Avenue site, converting Camarillo State Hospital into a university is a more desirable choice than other options that have been presented.

A university would employ twice the number of people and have three times the budget of Camarillo State Hospital.

We commend the superb staff at Camarillo State Hospital for their efforts and accomplishments. However, having a facility with an increased criminal element would negatively affect our efforts to attract future business to the Camarillo area.

We will not tolerate having a facility which houses mentally ill prisoners or sexually violent predators.

MEMO: The Board of Directors of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce voted on its its position on the future of Camarillo State Hospital at its March 20 meeting.