When I think of prison, I usually think of “punishment.” You do something wrong, you get thrown behind bars; if you did something really wrong, you stay there, but if not, hopefully you learn something about consequences and realize you might want to change your behavior.
What doesn’t come to mind are podcast studios, soothing Scandinavian-designed recording spaces, cafes, or stores. Those amenities, however, are part of the new “San Quentin Learning Center” that California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled Friday.
It looks cozier than many of the public high schools. I have two in my neck of the woods, and they both look like, well, prisons.
At least these jailbirds can make podcasts or work on their music:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing blowback after unveiling a new $239 million rehabilitation center at the infamous San Quentin prison — complete with a cafe and sweeping views of San Francisco Bay.
Newsom attended the opening of the new San Quentin Learning Center, with the goal of “proving that rehabilitation and public safety go hand in hand,” he said at ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.
Watch:
.@GavinNewsom cuts the ribbon to open the San Quentin Learning Center.
— Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) February 21, 2026
They built the 81,000-square-foot Learning Center in 18 months. The goal? Rehabilitate inmates more effectively.
It includes additional classroom space, TV studios, podcast studios & more.
Video from… pic.twitter.com/AKBQ9o3fDZ
It includes additional classroom space, TV studios, podcast studios & more.
Video from @CAgovernor office.
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In a statement on the official governor’s website, Newsom said it was a “historic milestone” and would stand as “the main pillar of the state’s effort to remake the former notorious prison into a place built on education, rehabilitation, and earned second chances."
The new 81,000-square-foot Learning Center nearly triples available classroom and programming space at SQRC and establishes a campus-style environment dedicated to education, workforce training, media, and reentry preparation.
Maybe these jailbirds will learn something, because students in the CA education system certainly aren’t.
Looks like a Quality Learing Center to me
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) February 21, 2026
The new “center” was, unsurprisingly, not well received by all:
“A prison is supposed to be a prison,” Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland told The Center Square. “He’s putting money, from my understanding, into grocery stores to ‘normalize the environment.’ His words, not mine. A prison should be a prison. People go to a prison because they committed a crime. When you commit a crime, you have to pay the consequence for that action.”
Strickland added that the governor should be funding enforcement for Prop 36, the anti-crime bill approved by voters in 2024, instead of throwing hundreds of millions at an education center for convicts.
Although the goal of rehabilitating prisoners is arguably a noble one — especially if they’re going to be released back into the community — it seems an odd priority when the state is largely seen as soft on crime, coddling to criminals, and uncaring about crime victims. Meanwhile, the homelessness epidemic continues unabated, the state is in a constant years-long budget crisis, we have a bullet train to nowhere, and victims of the Palisades fire are still struggling to rebuild the area.
“San Quentin” used to have a notorious ring to it — it was certainly not somewhere you’d want to end up. Now it sounds rather pleasant.
I’m not sure blowing $239 million on a cushy prison would have been my priority in this state, at this time.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
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