Letters to the editor: Porter the pick for Senate; poor treatment for the mentally ill

Elect Porter to U.S. Senate

Recently I received notice of our primary election in March.

For the open Senate seat, we Democrats are blessed with three remarkable candidates — Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, and Katie Porter. Good reasons to elect each of them.

Congressman Schiff brought the former president to answer for crimes and misdemeanors by impeachment on two occasions, acting with courage and probity. The word stalwart comes to mind.

Barbara Lee, another longstanding congressional rep, deserves special recognition for her single vote against the Iraq War (as does former Senator Barbara Boxer for the same authorization down the same very expensive rabbit hole).

One might recall that as a matter of fact, for those who care about facts, Iraq had no weapons of mass distraction and Saddam Hussein, an unquestionably deplorable person, had not participated in the 911 attack on America. Had Congress heeded the two California Barbaras, our treasury would be several trillion richer and many vets saved from death and disability.

The third candidate, formerly representative for an Orange County district, made her mark as a formidable advocate wielding a “white board” while explaining why her constituents deserved more than the Republican majority would allow them. Often, she got it.

Few possess Ms. Porter’s extraordinary ability to frame issues so that the average voter grasps immediately their relevance to herself and her family. California needs this woman’s talents.

By the way, the Republicans’ chief contender is a celebrity athlete with no serious experience for the job.

Margaret Morris, Ventura

The county’s humanitarian crisis

Re: Mary Haffner’s Jan. 10 guest column, “Breach of public trust in mental healthcare system in the county”:

I am in full agreement with everything Ms. Haffner said in her guest column. Unfortunately, our county is experiencing a humanitarian crisis when it comes to the treatment of people with severe mental illness. These people are involved in a revolving door when it comes to inpatient hospitalizations and multiple incarcerations in jail. The effect of this is that their chance for recovery is diminished over time. In addition, their families are suffering trying to get needed care for their loved ones to no avail.

I was a member of the County’s Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Mental Health Board and Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board for just under 19 years, serving as chair for many terms. Over the years our boards have reported that a severe lack of inpatient beds exists in the county, recommending that additional beds are needed along with additional crisis stabilization units. The truth is that Ventura County is experiencing a mental health inpatient bed crisis that has gotten worse over time.

Our county government holds on to a delusional need to ensure that county agencies look good to the public no matter what. It seems as if they refuse to admit that severe problems exist in the county’s system of care. It is my opinion that these problems do exist, and nothing is being done to effectively address and resolve them. It is OK to admit that problems exist along with the development of realistic plans to address those areas of need. But this is not what is happening.

With respect to transparency, what has happened to the recently appointed Director or Mental Health, who was hired as a result of a nationwide search, and subsequently placed on administrative leave. We have asked this question many times and all we hear back is crickets.

Jerry M. Harris, Moorpark

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Porter's pick for Senate; poor treatment for the mentally ill