Long-term mental health needs funding

It has been over 40 years since Ronald Reagan ended funding that resulted in the closure of most long-term psychiatric facilities.

While good-intentioned, it is long past time to realize this idea was wrong. All it did was move those with more severe mental illnesses out of long-term hospital care and either out on the streets or in prisons.

The recent tragedy with Jordan Neely on a New York City subway would never have happened were services still available.

Those with severe mental illnesses either don't think they need their medications, think they are being poisoned or controlled by their medications or choose to self-medicate with illegal drugs and alcohol.

The most compassionate and sensible thing to do is refocus money towards long -term mental health care, which would be paid for by reduced prison populations and reduced crime.

Bruce Levy

Fredericksburg, Va.

The writer is a former Schenectady resident.

Inflation refund isn't fair to single parents

Under Gov. Kathy Hochul's "inflation refund" plan, a family of four including two parents and two children will receive a $500 refund if the combined income of the working parents is $300,000 or less.

But a family of four including a single working parent and three children will get no refund if the single parent's income is higher than $150,000.

How does that make any sense? I voted for Gov. Hochul. That was a mistake. One I won't make again.

John Darling

Niskayuna