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TO: California Treatment Advocacy Coalition
FROM: Carla Jacobs & Randall Hagar
DATE: May 25, 2000
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SPEAKER EMERITUS STRONGLY BEHIND AB1800

We are not alone in our fight to reform LPS. Ms. Thomson is one of the key players in the Assembly. But AB1800 has numerous other important political allies. For example, below is a letter supporting AB1800 that Assemblyman Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Assembly Speaker, sent to the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. The chances are that some of you are the "constituents" he refers to.

May 16, 2000
Honorable Carole Migden
State Capitol Room 2114
Sacramento, Ca 95814

Dear Chairwoman Migden,

This letter is to inform you of my support for appropriations to fund outpatient Assertive Community Treatment programs, provided for in AB 1800, for people with severe mental illnesses. The investment in these programs substantially increases prospects of recovery for severely ill people, and reduces the costs of untreated mental illnesses.

The failure to provide assisted community treatment is very costly in terms of the human tragedies people suffer, and in terms of the costs to the State in "revolving door" hospitalizations and the criminalization of mental illness. Constituents I have met with tell me very compelling accounts of the failure of the mental health system to provide the services that could save lives and prevent more people from entering the criminal justice system. I am convinced that assisted outpatient programs will help people get the appropriate treatment that could reduce both hospitalizations and incarcerations.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Speaker Emeritus