New state solutions to homelessness leave counties like SLO on the hook for the bill | Opinion
Same old frustrating pattern
“SLO County mental health care report reveals gaps in system,” (sanluisobispo.com, Aug. 25)
I worked in mental health for 37 years, 25 of which were as head of a program, including 16 years as SLO County mental health director. I’ve been quiet since retiring 20 years ago, but I can’t resist the irony of your last two reports. The first focused a lot of criticism on the terrible shortage of local inpatient services for people in extreme crisis. I know from trying to help people access such services, public or private, how difficult this remains.
The second article described the governor’s plan to reduce homelessness by requiring counties to divert a large proportion of existing mental health funds to housing assistance, plus data collection and audits. This is in accordance with a long and frustrating pattern: the latest state priority is mandated to the counties, usually without funding, and the local programs are forced to end one type of service to start another. Any investment in program evaluation is ignored regardless of success.
This has happened with youth programs, jail, court services, substance abuse and crisis outreach. The least likely people to get any funding are those urgently needing acute inpatient services. The tradition continues.
Dale Wolff
San Luis Obispo
Where’s our will?
“Electric cars are great — charging them when you’re away, not so much,” (sanluisobispo.com, June 21)
Yes, we should drive less, fly less and eat less red meat, but there’s no reason we have to settle for less comfort and convenience. Our big brains, ingenuity and opposable thumbs created this mess and are perfectly capable of digging us out of it.
If only we can find the will.
John Sherwood
Topanga
Another purpose for Diablo
“Electric cars are great — charging them when you’re away, not so much,” (sanluisobispo.com, June 21)
We all want to help the environment. But when we charge our hybrids or EV vehicles, how is that electricity made? If it’s made from fossil fuel-based sources such as a gas burning power station, we’re not helping the environment — making electricity with natural gas adds to the CO2 in the atmosphere.
If we could charge our electric vehicles with the pure, clean electricity coming out of Diablo Canyon, that would definitely help the environment! Absolutely no CO2 would be created!
Could PG&E set up a charging station with Diablo Canyon-made electricity on highway 101 near the plant? We would succeed in being truly green.
It would not take much money to run a wire from Diablo Canyon to Highway 101 and set up a charging station. This would be a big PR win for PG&E contribution to the environment in this innovative way. In fact, with a little more money, charging stations couldn’t be set up north and south of Diablo Canyon on Highway 101 to reach larger cities with charging stations.
We must do all we can to limit the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere and further heating our precious planet.
William Peter Gloege
Santa Maria
Presidential promises
“Biden administration proposes rule that would require more firearms dealers to run background checks,” (sanluisobispo.com, Aug. 31)
Here’s a record of what politicians have promised to Americans over the last century:
1923: A chicken in every pot
1943: A car in every garage
1963: A TV in every living room
1983: A computer in every den
2003: A robot in every home
2023: An arsenal in every household
2043: Free universal (posthumus) life insurance for gun victims
Gene Strohl
San Luis Obispo
No more war zone
“Biden administration proposes rule that would require more firearms dealers to run background checks,” (sanluisobispo.com, Aug. 31)
When did the Republican Party become a terrorist organization? You and I are being held hostage by a party that insists on taking money from the National Rifle Association.
Democrats want common-sense gun reform, as do the majority of Americans from all parties. But the majority of Republicans are on the take from the NRA. No one needs an AR-15 or any assault weapon outside of the military in combat. What we do need are background checks, purchasing waiting periods and the licensure of anyone wanting a gun. America is in trouble when the leading cause of death among young people is gun violence.
Republicans say they are the pro-life party, but they don’t care if your children are slaughtered
in the classroom, a movie theater, church or shopping mall. They refuse to do
anything about this.
Call your congressman or senator and tell them you are fed-up living in a war zone!
Diane Griffin-Duenow
San Luis Obispo