Opinion: Tax Hike Necessary To Avoid Mental Health Cuts
In a Santa Cruz Sentinel opinion piece, Paul Johnston -- community organizer and public sociologist affiliated with the department of sociology at UC-Santa Cruz -- writes, "Over the past three years, California has cut mental health services by $765 million, more than 20%." As a result, he writes, "mental health systems are breaking down," and "seriously ill patients no longer have access to care." According to Johnston, "This breakdown in mental health services calls for leadership from city and especially from county elected officials," who should support Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) comprise tax hike initiative to "prevent even deeper cuts."
- "Paul Johnston: Restore Funding to Mental Health Services" (Johnston, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 7/1).