There have been numerous hard-hitting, well-researched stories in New Times that point to great human and civil injustices in Paradise. Reader response to these very wrenching, human stories is either angry justifications for the inequity or apathy.
The “them or us” rationalizations in “Homeless story shouldn’t have attacked hospitals” (Nov. 16) sadly encourage inhumanity and fear of those literally dying of their disability. Homelessness is a death sentence. “Do no harm” should be a requirement of all public and privatized providers conducting business in SLO County, including the bureaucrats. Closing General Hospital and creating competition for private hospital beds was obviously irresponsible. It is simply untrue that this rich county’s public health care, human services, and “houseless” crisis is an “American” problem and due to a “lack of funds and facilities provided to our social agencies.”
Rev C. Hite
Pismo Beach
This article appears in Nov 21-28, 2006.