Mentally Ill

The Op-Ed article by Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy (Aug. 10) regarding the mentally ill in California was excellent. The outstanding work by McCarthy, Assemblyman Bruce Bronzan (D-Fresno) and others gives hope that by next year a common-sense, fiscally responsible and humane system will be in place to end our costly “experiment” of the past two decades.

We used to have regional mental health centers and community follow-up services in California. They were called state hospitals and Community Service Centers, strategically placed throughout the state. County hospitals were in place and provided a much-needed and utilized service.

All this ended in the late 1960s when the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act was implemented. The academics and social planners involved in this fiasco have been very quiet of late. The dismal failure and costly (in funds and lives) results have been well demonstrated.

WILLIAM A. WEATHERS

Redlands