To the editor:

I’ve never been a political person. In fact, I’ve avoided it like the plague. But the public conversation about Proposition 1 has forced me out of my comfort zone.

This issue hits close to home for me. That’s why I decided to speak out in support of the ballot initiatives.

The place where I have worked for almost 20 years, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, was involved with planning these mental health initiatives, along with other health care partners, from the very beginning. I’m proud of where I work and I’m proud of the people I work with. They are committed to making people’s lives better.

I’m a preacher’s kid, and I’ve been disturbed by the angry tone coming from some of those opposed to the ballot initiatives, particularly over the jail issue. For me, that’s not what Christianity is supposed to look like. I don’t want to be part of that anger.

Others are willing to gamble with the safety at the jail, and that’s upsetting. They’re not denying the conditions at the jail, but they’re willing to gamble with it. They’re not denying the need for a crisis center, but they’re willing to gamble with it. I care about the people at Bert Nash. I care about the people who are at the jail. And I’m not willing to gamble with the crisis center or with the safety of staff at the jail, or the safety of people in jail, to prove a point.