April 2010 Letters to the Editor

Error noted in article on TWDC annual meeting

To the Editor: (Plain Press, April 2010) I am sending this email to note a relatively minor, but important error in your March 2010 article TWDC members celebrate accomplishments and tackle challenges at annual meeting. The article reads, “Garland noted the Board of Trustees voted in July of 2009 to expand TWDC’s service area to include the business corridor on W. 25th from I-90 to I-71 and Clark Avenue West to Fulton.”

In fact, the TWDC board technically only voted to amend the scope of our current CDBG contract (to provide business technical assistance on West 25th and Clark) --- but not to alter our boundaries as your referenced in your article.

Thank you for publishing the well-documented summary of our recent annual meeting.

Chris Garland, Executive Director
Tremont West Development Corporation

Open letter to Governor Strickland and members of the 128th General Assembly

To the editor: Dear Governor Strickland and Members of the 128th General Assembly,

(Plain Press, April 2010) Last summer NAMI Ohio testified before the General Assembly’s respective finance committees in opposition to the Governor’s proposed additional massive cuts to the community mental health system. In our remarks, we said, “make no mistake, people will die.” The Ohio General Assembly ignored our plea, and those of many other advocacy groups, and passed a budget bill that set the stage for a string of tragedies in our state. It is ever so true that we reap what we sow. Governor, ladies and gentleman of the legislature, it is our very sad duty to report to you just a few examples of the high cost Ohioans have paid over just the past six months for our failure to adequately fund community mental health services. These deaths were preventable and occurred because these people slipped through the cracks of our crumbling public mental health system.

Whitehall: Last week, Richard A. Napper, age 53, was fatally shot by a police officer. His sister said he had struggled for years and had been frequently hospitalized. Police had been called to the residence at least twice in recent months on reports that Richard was threatening suicide.

Columbus: This month, Ryan Clayton, age 26, died in his home. Ryan’s mother had made several previous calls to the police in the past year, reporting that her son was schizophrenic and off his medication. She was concerned he might hurt her, himself or others. She sometimes mentioned he had guns.

Cleveland: Last month, Raymond Ice, 48, killed shelter manager Rita Ciofani, 59. After being asked to leave a shelter for veterans where he has been staying since May, Raymond attacked Rita. Police were called and Raymond was shot by one of the responding officers. The shelter discharges residents if they need additional medical care or treatment for substance abuse or mental illness.

Lancaster: In December 2009, Chester Henson, 36, took his life at the Fairfield County Jail. Chester took his own life by hanging himself with bed sheets attached to the upper bunk of a bed in his cell. The Sheriff stated that Chester, who had undergone psychiatric evaluations as part of his criminal case, previously had been on suicide watch but was removed after he was cleared by mental health workers.

Toledo: In December 2009, Linda Hicks, 62, was shot and killed by a police officer responding to a call from the Adult Care Facility where Linda lived. Donald Perryman, a local pastor said, “we are also concerned ... about what may be a growing culture of callousness when it comes to the most vulnerable in society, including the mentally disabled.”

Beavercreek: In October 2009, Julie Neeley was shot and killed by her son Daniel Neeley, 22. His sister was left with serious injuries. “Daniel is a ‘paranoid schizophrenic,’” his sister told authorities minutes after the shooting. In fact, after a run-in with the police back in August, his father told officers his son “has mental health issues and was not taking his prescribed medicine.”

These deaths received considerable media attention. But there have been others who have died without such attention and thousands more who are suffering deeply. The 30% cut to community mental health services and the closing of two state hospitals have devastated Ohio families and is costing the state money instead of saving it. How many more deaths, how much more needless suffering and how much more inefficiency will it take to convince you that current state funding policies are cruel and counter-productive? Please help Ohio families!

Jim Mauro
Executive Director
NAMI Ohio

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