Homeless

In response to “Tough New Homeless Policy Triggers Furor in Santa Ana,” Part I, July 10:

Society seems to treat criminals in a more humane way than the homeless. As a former employee of the Department of Corrections, I have observed that felons are fed, housed, provided medical and dental care, entitled to educational and vocational opportunities, and even in some cases helped with cosmetic surgery to make them more employable upon release.

The above are provided not on a coddling basis, but as a cost-effective means of saving taxpayers money by reducing recidivism.

The same concept could apply to the homeless problem except for the current mistaken fear by politicians of the words “tax increase.” These words scare me too, but as an American citizen I am embarrassed to the point of wanting to pay my share of whatever it takes.

WILLIAM W. WILSON

Yucca Valley