Letters: An unfair homeless plan + Need for mental health training + Shedding tears
Homeless plan
Re “Homeless shelters are coming. And this neighborhood is furious” (sacbee.com, Sept. 22): At the Sacramento City Council meeting, Woodlake and North Sacramento residents made pleas for a fair city plan so that all neighborhoods share proposed new homeless shelters. Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the city was looking at another site in South Sacramento on Florin Road for another shelter. That is not a fair solution. It is not make Land Park, Curtis Park, McKinley Park, East Sac, River Park, and the Pocket share in solving the homeless crisis. It relieves stress on Midtown and downtown and piles it on already burdened north and south Sacramento. It is, once again, how the rich get richer, and the less fortunate don’t.
Michelle Hewus, Sacramento
Jury award
Re “Jury awards $6.5 million to family in deputy’s shooting of mentally ill son” (sacbee.com, Sept. 27) I have followed the story of Jonathan Rose, the mentally ill man who was killed in his parent's home by a sheriff's deputy. Many municipalities have crisis assessment teams consisting of an officer and a social worker or counselor, to respond to cases involving people with mental illness. They are specially trained and can often diffuse a situation, while evaluating the need for medical intervention. I hope Sacramento will consider forming a crisis assessment team to deal with these situations in the future.
Teresa Rossi, Elk Grove
Shedding tears
Re “My country” (Letters, Sept 27): This nation was founded on the principle of worshiping as one wishes; and prayer to whomever could include pleas for righting wrongs and human betterment and not mere slavish adulation. Aren't there also ways to honor our flag as we wish? By his deeds, Colin Kaepernick serves America's causes and decency. Bowing one's head in silence on bended knee is not disrespect. Letter writer John Paul may have found reason to cry. Oppressed Americans denied equality have been shedding tears for generations.
Spencer P. Le Gate, Sacramento
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This story was originally published September 29, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Letters: An unfair homeless plan + Need for mental health training + Shedding tears."