California's past failures in mental health care persist. Leaders previously shut down mental hospitals, promising community care that was never delivered, resulting in thousands suffering on the streets. Current efforts to address homelessness and addiction risk repeating history if investments in treatment remain inadequate. Treatment programs require robust funding, staffing, and support to succeed. The letter emphasizes the need for ethical responsibility to assist those in need rather than perpetuating neglect. Additionally, there are sentiments expressed in support of strict punishment for violent criminals, aligned with advocating for public safety and accountability.
California has been here before. Decades ago, leaders from both political parties shut down the state's mental hospitals. They solemnly promised community-based programs to provide care for the mentally ill. It never happened.
Treatment programs will never succeed if they are underfunded, understaffed and overwhelmed. Let us not echo the past mistake of promising care but delivering profound neglect.
Ethical behavior requires us to stop neglecting those who are suffering in our midst. They need our political will and our resources to finally build the community system we were told to expect generations ago.
Thank you, DA Ursula Jones Dickson, for protecting the public and holding criminals accountable. Those who victimize the public with violent crime should receive the harshest possible punishment.
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