Comments by vlhamilton
Posted on February 29 at 11:54 a.m.
Right wing policies under then Governor Reagan shut down mental hospitals in the state of California, leaving jails as the only institutions to house people with mental illness and drug addiction problems--the "dually diagnosed". The unfortunate outcome of this decision was that no community treatment centers were set up to take care of our growing mentally ill population, as was supposed to me done under Reagan's plan.
Families Act has developed a 42 page plan to address this growing problem at the local level, by using a portion of the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act (CA Assembly Bills 109/117) funds coming into our county ($6.5 million dollars on July 1st is just the beginning) to provide for the men and women being released from our state prisons by an order of the U.S. Supreme Court. Families Act's report is called "In Search of Solutions to Santa Barbara's Revolving Door" and is being presented to the SB County CEO this Friday, March 3rd. . (http://www.familiesact.org)
Posted on February 22 at 5:46 p.m.
$55. dollar per night? In what universe do you live,,jukin? We need long term, compassionate, long-term
solutions to the homeless problem, not right wing condemnation of a population that your policies have created!
Posted on February 21 at 10:37 a.m.
Well said, but many of these homeless people are mentally ill and need housing AND treatment and, often times, medication to keep them stable and sane. Families Act is one of the finest organizations in our community. They are comprised of a group of parents and professionals who speak for the dually diagnosed who, because of mental illness coupled with self medication with drugs and alcohol, are unable to speak for themselves. They are not criminals; they are ill. Families Act is working tirelessly to draft a plan for the county of Santa Barbara to direct funds to help these people who are now being cycled in and out of jail at a tremendous cost to the county tax payer because there is nowhere else for them to go. We need more residential treatment centers and a more compassionate, trained rehabilitative minded police force who can recognize these people and get them help rather than brutalizing them and throwing them into jail over and over and over again. Please check out http://www,familiesact.org. This fine, solutions-oriented organization could use more help to move the ball along to a compassionate continuum of care, including housing, treatment and job training, to help these special needs human beings get off the streets permanently.
Posted on February 3 at 2:07 p.m.
All I can say is "YAHOOOOO"--one more obstructionist out of power in Wahington D.C. who was preventing our country from moving forward in a Progressive direction for the good of the people of California. People in his district need to get a good Progressive Democrat to run against Tony Strickland, who is the Rebublican who will be running to replace this do-nothing Congressman. As our current state Senator, we cannot even get Tony Strickland to talk to us face to face about Single Payer Health Care for Californians. These men are examples of what is wrong with our state and federal government. "NO" is all they can say to anything for the PEOPLE.
Posted on May 12 at 1:54 p.m.
Has it ever dawned on you, Mr. Clausen, that Latinos have come here to find a better life for their families? How many white people do you see out in our agricultural fields doing that back breaking labor so we can all have cheap fruits and vegetables? If you lived in the war-torn areas of Mexico where work is scarce and life is dangerous, largely caused by our "War on Drugs", by the way, would you come to California to work your butt off in the fields to support your family? Probably not. These people are a HUGE PART OF CALIFORNIA'S ECONOMY--you should be grateful for their hard work. We need comprehensive immigration reform, not the scape-goating of Latino workers that people like you regurgitate--eat your greens and be glad that you can afford them.
Posted on April 15 at 11:11 a.m.
I will tell you what is wrong with the Cliff Drive part of this state highway 225. It is not safe to cross without going over a mile in some cases to a traffic light crosswalk at the intersections of Las Positas, Flora Vista, Meigs or Loma Alta. I also drive this route often. I live off the top of Meig's Rd. and my grandson rides his bike from the City College to my home to study each week. With no bike lanes and nothing to slow down the traffic along Cliff Drive's 40 mph speed zone, pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to the surrounding neighborhoods or beaches are in danger of being hit by the many cars so often speeding down this highway. As Mesa and City residents, we need to have some say over making this road safer for our pedestrians and bike riders! What price would you place on the loss of just one of their lives Mr. Hotchkiss or Ms. Self?
Posted on April 15 at 10:39 a.m.
There is no question that this rush by PG&E to procure a re-licensing agreement so far in advance of the current lease's expiration, is suspicious, knowing that these "newly discovered" faults (Hosgri and Shoreline) have not been thoroughly analyzed for their potential destructive potential in case of an earthquake. After Japan, this cannot be allowed--time to suspend re-licensing until a thorough and INDEPENDENT study can be done. What about the nuclear pools and waste? What about the FACT that we are overdue for a major earth quake in this area? With major earthquakes happening worldwide in recent months, too much is at stake to continue this dangerous means of procuring our power. There are better ways and it is time for America to turn to safe and sane renewable energy. Thanks Lois Capps for protecting your constituents.
Posted on April 2 at 1:17 p.m.
The truth is that most Americans are clueless as to what is happening to our Democracy and our Civil & Human Rights. The Corporate Rich are getting all the breaks, mostly tax breaks, and foreclosures are continuing at an exorbitant rate. The stock market is doing just fine and Wall Street is rolling in OUR dough. Remember how we bailed out those "too big to fail" banks? Now these fanatical Right Wing Governors are trying to take away worker's right to bargain, when wages have not increased for almost 3 decades! Our economy is based on wars and occupations that are costing us $1 TRILLION Dollars a year, but we cannot afford Public Education or Residential Treatment Centers for our growing population of desperate and mentally ill people. When will this greedy insanity stop? NOT until the PEOPLE rise up and make it happen. WE BETTER NOT SIT THIS ONE OUT, PEOPLE!
On Can We Talk?
Posted on March 23 at 2:35 p.m.
After looking at several houses that house Willbridge projects around Santa Barbara, I realized that these houses look better than many of their neighbor's properties--in fact they look great, and schools in the areas where they are located have not had problems with these people who are transitioning into permanent housing. They are drug and alcohol free and many employed part time or going to school. Come on Peabody School, get your nose out of the air and teach your children some compassion.
Previous Month
Posted on February 29 at 12:15 p.m.
What a sad state of affairs. This district needs a progressive Democrat like Hannah-Beth Jackson in the CA State Senate seat, and to keep Das Williams in the Assembly, so we can stop the petty gridlock in Sacramento. Let's be honest, Republicans are worthless when it comes to governing these days. the Democrats are getting tired of trying to clean up their messes.
On S.B. Republican Party Issues Endorsements