I follow Council meetings religiously and campaigned for him in 3 election cycles. Yes, in the past Fields joined me in a hospital visit and a parade and was supportive of mental health for which I was most appreciative - but in the last few years he's been *all about* Climate action. Now, he's rarely supportive of mental health services on the Dias. He doesn't mention it or initiate discussion. For 40 years I've lived with a serious mood disorder and 2 comorbidities. I'll never forget two hurtful meetings I had with him. 1) referencing schizophrenic medication TV advertisements that could scare residents away from me. 2) laughing and waving his arms that "EVERYONE knows I'm impulsive." Though I struggle with mental illness, I'm recovered and am still an ordinary person; Progressives should acknowledge me and others like me and get the government behind us with a better support system. Recovered mentally ill would like to be included too. I like Janet Manuel Richards because as Co-Chair of Human Services she has the mind-set, heart and experience to organize the community and focus the government. (And there's a lot more to her than that.)
JANET RICHARDS IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT STEVE FIELDS. Below is a Facebook comment from President Claudia Ballduci of the King County Council:
I have been disappointed in CM Fields’ attitude toward housing our chronically homeless, people who have experienced trauma, mental and behavioral health challenges and social isolation. I spoke to him more than once before the last council meeting on Health through Housing and he assured me repeatedly he supports permanent supportive housing, but there is always a “but”. And when there are opportunities to speak out in favor, he repeatedly slips back into the kind of speech he apologized for here. I have unfortunately had to conclude that CM Fields’ instinct is to feed fearfulness. I’m disappointed that someone who has such a progressive reputation isn’t leading on this issue.
I follow Council meetings religiously and campaigned for him in 3 election cycles. Yes, in the past Fields joined me in a hospital visit and a parade and was supportive of mental health for which I was most appreciative - but in the last few years he's been *all about* Climate action. Now, he's rarely supportive of mental health services on the Dias. He doesn't mention it or initiate discussion. For 40 years I've lived with a serious mood disorder and 2 comorbidities. I'll never forget two hurtful meetings I had with him. 1) referencing schizophrenic medication TV advertisements that could scare residents away from me. 2) laughing and waving his arms that "EVERYONE knows I'm impulsive." Though I struggle with mental illness, I'm recovered and am still an ordinary person; Progressives should acknowledge me and others like me and get the government behind us with a better support system. Recovered mentally ill would like to be included too. I like Janet Manuel Richards because as Co-Chair of Human Services she has the mind-set, heart and experience to organize the community and focus the government. (And there's a lot more to her than that.)
ReplyDeleteJANET RICHARDS IS CHALLENGING INCUMBENT STEVE FIELDS. Below is a Facebook comment from President Claudia Ballduci of the King County Council:
ReplyDeleteI have been disappointed in CM Fields’ attitude toward housing our chronically homeless, people who have experienced trauma, mental and behavioral health challenges and social isolation. I spoke to him more than once before the last council meeting on Health through Housing and he assured me repeatedly he supports permanent supportive housing, but there is always a “but”. And when there are opportunities to speak out in favor, he repeatedly slips back into the kind of speech he apologized for here. I have unfortunately had to conclude that CM Fields’ instinct is to feed fearfulness. I’m disappointed that someone who has such a progressive reputation isn’t leading on this issue.