The Referenda—MHS

Here’s another of the several referenda on which the voters of my area will be voting on Tuesday:

Shall there be established, pursuant to the Community Mental Health Services Act (405 ILCS 22), to serve the territory commonly described on this ballot or notice of this question, a North River Expanded Mental Health Services Program, to provide direct free mental health services for any resident of the territory who needs assistance in overcoming or coping with mental or emotional disorders, where such program will be funded through an increase of not more than .004 of the real estate property tax bill of all parcels within the boundaries of the territory (for example, $4 of every $1,000 you currently pay)?”

This is another example of a measure in which the precise wording of the actual final measure makes all of the difference between getting my support or not. For example, would the NREMHSP refuse services for non-residents? If it did not, would the city reimburse the taxpayers of the territory for the cost of the services provided? My concern is that my area would find itself financing mental health services for the entire city of Chicago. I’m also concerned about the possibility that my area would become a magnet for mentally ill persons from all across the city. I presume that’s not the intention but if some areas approve of such a measure while others don’t that could be the upshot.

My concern is heightened by the phrase “direct free mental health, etc.”. I presume “free of charge to those receiving the services” is meant rather than actually free services, presumably donated by mental health professionals. As it stands, it’s sloppy diction. Advocacy posing as legislation.

Bottom line: I think this measure needs to be something city-wide unless the services provided are limited by residency, something I’m skeptical of actually taking place.

10 comments… add one
  • PD Shaw Link

    Community Mental Health Centers exist all over the state and certainly exist in Chicago. This appears to be an effort, based upon new state authority, for the Northside to have its own center run as a special government district. Ostensibly I suppose this provides more local control and convenience, but it would strike me as a carve-out from whatever existing mental health services Chicago provides.

    My father-in-law created a Community Mental Health Center in the sixties. They were part of federal Great Society, and I think receive money through Medicaid for operations and are one of the the main victims of the state not paying for the ‘free’ services. I seem to recall some of them in smaller cities are closing.

  • Andy Link

    I voted today and here in Florida there are a whole ton of constitutional amendments, most of which are stupid. We didn’t have much at the local level except an education levy increase.

  • I voted today and here in Florida there are a whole ton of constitutional amendments, most of which are stupid.

    Wait, they weren’t all stupid?

  • Andy Link

    On second thought, I think you are right.

  • Honestly I just voted straight “NO” on the state issues. At least two of them were just too damned long – there has to be something wrong with them if they require all that verbiage. And most of the issues are ones that I believe properly belong in the realm of active politics, i.e. stuff for the pols to decide. We do pay those bums for a reason.

    And at least one of the issues was a real puzzler.

    Amendment 12 – Appointment of Student Body President to Board of Governors of the State University System

    Really? Seriously?

  • Amendment 12 – Appointment of Student Body President to Board of Governors of the State University System

    Because the inmates should always be in charge of the asylum.

  • Oh, it’s worse than that, Schuler. There’s ALREADY a student representative on said board. This is strictly about changing how that worthy is chosen. From the Independent Florida Alligator article on the proposed state amendments:

    This proposal would change how a student representative is selected for the Board of Governors, the body that oversees the Florida university system. Currently, the chair of the private organization Florida Student Association becomes the representative, said UF SG Director of External Affairs Billy Vranish.

    The amendment, if passed, would mandate that the Board of Governors appoints the new student representative from one of the 11 universities’ Student Body presidents, he said.

    I know that state constitutions are much more malleable than the federal one, but is this really in any way an issue that rises to even the low bar of amending the state’s governing document?

  • A good jobs report. And just four days before the election. What a surprise. I’m expecting a big revision downwards for the NEXT report.

  • Too depressed for blogging and commenting, eh?

  • Mike Link

    Good question! The enabling legislation that allows the referendum explicitly states that only residents living within the referendum area can receive the services. This is to assure that a community that chooses to approve an Expanded Mental Health Services Program is not overrun.

    Also, the “direct free mental health services” wording is exactly what it says… residents who live in the area will receive free services. They will not have to pay a dime to receive help.

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