Editorial: Guinn made right call

Thursday, April 22, 2004 | 8:42 a.m.

Owing to a commendable decision by Gov. Kenny Guinn, and lamentable inaction by the Las Vegas City Council, a new state psychiatric hospital will be built at the corner of Jones and Oakey Boulevards. Guinn approved construction of the hospital on Wednesday, despite opposition from some neighborhood residents. He made the right choice, as the hospital, when fully built, will mean a net increase of 87 badly needed beds for mental health patients.

Last month the City Council refused to vote on the hospital's site development plan, which had been approved by the Las Vegas Planning Commission. A majority of council members prejudged the state, saying it would do whatever it wanted regardless of the council's vote. After the city's cop-out, the governor's spokesman, Greg Bortolin, said, "We, of course, were looking for some direction from the City Council, and that didn't happen."

Communities nationwide average 33 mental health beds for every 100,000 residents. Here, it's 4.5 beds for every 100,000. The result is 35 to 40 mentally ill people -- or more -- taking up room in area emergency rooms every day, drastically inflating the cost for mental health services and reducing the quality of care for typical ER patients. We're glad the leadership vacuum left by the City Council did not delay the governor's decision, or cause him to abandon the project.