Letter: Social services are insufficient

Friday, July 30, 2004 | 8:47 a.m.

Is the oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution obsolete? It must be because elected officials, who take this oath, are standing by while the homeless are harassed and jailed and their property trashed.

In Las Vegas we have Mayor Oscar Goodman, a nationally known lawyer proud of having protected the constitutional rights of mobsters, who, along with the City Council, city attorney and others, has declared virtual war on the homeless. They would never dare treat us or tourists with the same unconstitutional actions.

People with mental illness or addictions deserve treatment, not harassment or jail time. Clark County Manager Thom Reilly recently declared an emergency because area emergency rooms are overflowing with the mentally ill. These are people who need the services of WestCare. They don't need the justice system being used against them as a club.

The state of Nevada released $100,000 in emergency funds to provide for the mentally ill until the Legislature meets the mandate to provide mental health services. It is presently not fully meeting this need. The legislature is $577,000 short and must make certain that there is funding through the beginning of the following legislative session.

Social services for children and adults are inadequate and must at least be brought up to standards to serve Southern Nevada's population of 1.6 million.

FRANK PERNA

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