Supervisor Mitchell’s Statement on Responding to the Closure of Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement in response to the closure of the privately-owned, Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery located in the City of Carson.

“Worrying about having access to the loved ones you have laid to rest is deeply troubling and something no one should have to experience. This is the current challenge many Carson residents are facing due to the owner abandoning Lincoln Memorial cemetery. I share the concerns of the families and Carson community that are impacted by the closure of this historic and sacred space. My office has been at the table with the State Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, which has the power to administer licensing to a potential new owner and manages the endowment for this cemetery. We are also working with the City of Carson with this being within its city lines.”

“It is my expectation that the Bureau, City of Carson, and County do all we can that we are uniquely positioned to do, to help address this issue so that this space remains operable and that there is a long-term plan in place. While we are committed to assisting the state and the Carson community in finding immediate answers, including the search for a new owner, I want to uplift the need for a long-term solution in light of the fact that the County is not legally required to assume responsibility for privately owned cemeteries that cease operations within any of the 88 cities that together with our unincorporated communities constitute LA County.”

“This is why I have asked for County Counsel to look into potential annexation or the creation of a cemetery district. This challenge has magnified the need for a system that allows for a privately-owned cemetery to change owners without jeopardizing access to the cemetery for the larger community. My office will remain committed to working with all the stakeholders involved in identifying solutions that honor the sacredness of this deeply personal and historic space.”