Commission asks mayor to accelerate Juvenile Court replacement after testimony on mold, inaccessible elevators and damaged records

Members of the juvenile court staff and the judge described unsafe and unsustainable conditions at the Juvenile Court building (616 Adams), including mold remediation costs, inoperable elevators that make the building inaccessible, compromised records and staff health impacts. Clerk Janine Gordon said the office had been without restrooms for more than 30 days at times and that staff members with asthma face daily difficulties.

Judge Tarek Sugarman said independent assessments in 2017 recommended replacement rather than continued repairs and that conditions remain unsafe and unsuitable for court business. "These needs are not diminished," the judge said, urging the commission to accelerate replacement. Administration representatives said $92 million is in the county's five‑year CIP plan starting in 2028; a Special Assistant to the Mayor indicated the mayor would like to know whether the commission wants to prioritize the project now. The commission approved a resolution requesting the mayor bring forward an accelerated funding plan.