A mental health hospital that provides important and affordable services.
One in five Oklahomans suffers from a mental health issue. These people, our friends, family, and neighbors, are often left with nowhere to turn for help, resulting in arrest or worse. Our state's growing mental health crisis is concentrated in prisons that are not built to adequately address mental health needs.
In March, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for The Donahue, a state-of-the-art facility that will be the state's largest mental health hospital. Located on the Oklahoma City campus of Oklahoma State University, this facility addresses critical areas of need and provides a wide range of services for both adults and children. The Donahue aims to provide Oklahomans facing a mental health crisis with immediate access, from acute care at our Emergency Recovery Center to seamless referrals to outpatient services.
The initiative comes in addition to the Mental Health Lifeline, which allows people to be transported 24/7 to one of 20 mental health urgent care and recovery clinics across the state by calling or texting 988. It is something. These options will ensure thousands of Oklahomans receive affordable assistance when they are most vulnerable.
When we work together to address the mental health needs of our communities through services rather than criminalization, we can foster hope and progress. Donahue is more than just a mental health facility, it's a community that comes together to support each other.
— Sue Ann Arnall, Oklahoma City
The impact of tax cuts will be minimal.Giving kids free summer meals would do more.
A number of local members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives are offering a 0.25% income tax cut in exchange for voicing concerns about the governor's refusal to participate in the federal summer nutrition program for school children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. It is puzzling that this is supported. The $40 per month per child for three months far exceeds what the average family in a rural school district could achieve with her 0.25% tax cut, with more than 60% of families eligible for nutrition programs. It becomes.
It is amazing to me that rural Oklahoma continues to support those in both the state and federal government who consistently vote to deny aid to these families. The Biden administration is spending more than $1 billion in broadband expansion alone in Oklahoma. Not a single Oklahoma Republican senator or representative elected to serve us voted in favor of this aid nationally, which is a positive benefit for our rural communities. will have an impact. Kevin Stitt and the state Republicans in our government are also not appreciated for this. Our rural communities deserve more than what our elected officials provide them. We don't need income tax cuts that have minimal impact at best. We need real programs to support rural communities.
― Penny Barber, Edmund
Anti-Semitism is a 'canary in the coal mine', a sign that something is wrong in society
Why should the average American care, let alone worry, about this alarming rise in anti-Semitism? After all, Jews make up only 2.4% of the US population.
There is a basic humane response that everyone should take when witnessing hatred of any kind, no matter what the target. However, the serious rise in anti-Semitic speech and behavior has far broader and more frightening implications for our society. For decades, the existence and rise of anti-Semitism has been the proverbial “canary in the coal mine”: something is deeply wrong in society, and other layers of prejudice and hatred are lurking just beneath the surface. This is a powerful and troubling indicator.
We need look no further than Nazi Germany, where anti-Semitism opened the door to violence (against other marginalized groups).
— Edie Ludeman, Nichols Hills, Melinda Parks, Oklahoma City
Urges Senator Lankford to support child tax credit expansion
James Lankford, I homeschool all of my children and hope to continue to do so. My children are very happy with their lives and freedom. Recognizing and passing this child tax credit will help more families than just us. Please consider the future humanity of our children and cooperate with us. We parents are also working hard. I need more help.
The structure of the child tax credit currently excludes 19 million children from receiving the full credit. The bipartisan tax package (HR 7024) would benefit approximately 16 million children, including approximately 19 million children in households whose household income is too low to qualify for the full tax credit. This corresponds to more than 80% of children.
Data shows that a temporary expansion of the child tax credit helps people pay for child care so they can work and care for their families. Really, what we all want is a happy life, a happy family, and freedom. Please help us advance this effort to ensure families continue to benefit financially.
I am deeply grateful to you for sending this to you and look forward to your wise decisions in the future.
— Bailey Elwell, Chester
Seniors will benefit from Oklahoma's property tax cuts
It's so fun to sit and read the newspaper while drinking hot coffee. The manga was great. However, there is something more serious to consider. The governor's tax reduction proposal, etc.
While it's good to consider the 0.25% income tax cut and the proposed grocery tax cut, we could also consider other taxes that would be more beneficial to Oklahomans as a whole. Fixed asset tax. The proposed cuts in income and grocery taxes would go a long way toward eliminating those hellish taxes on homeowners. I worked for years to pay off my home, but the state government told me I didn't actually own it. If the state you live in actually owns the home and you want to continue living there, you have to tip the state to say you own the home. And the state says that if you don't pay that honorarium for three years, the county assessor and county treasurer will take away the house you worked so hard to build and sell it at auction. Ta. And once that is over, you won't be able to get the money you paid for the house you paid off.
Seniors living on limited incomes are often evicted from the homes they have lived in for 30, 40 or more years when they can no longer afford to pay those taxes. Some states have no property tax. If you live in one of these states, you're less likely to lose your home to a bunch of greedy politicians and bureaucrats. I suggest to the Governor and the Legislature that they need to reconsider which taxes need to be cut. Because this needs to be cut for seniors living on limited incomes and fully owning their homes.
— Andre Snodgrass, Norman
Bringing hope back to dialysis patients
Last year, I wrote to you about my journey as a kidney patient since being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2017, and I wrote again to call on Congresswoman Stephanie Bice to protect kidney patients like me. I wrote a letter.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allows private insurance to reduce coverage and force patients to enroll in Medicare before the traditional 30-month grace period. It weakened patient protection. The problem is that Medicare only covers his 80% of the bills for dialysis patients, including mine. Luckily, I'm able to keep my job, but I have to fight hard to pay my bills.
I can make ends meet, but not everyone can. That's why it's important to protect health insurance coverage so dialysis patients can pay for the treatment they need to survive. I believe that if the financial burden is reduced, more patients will be able to stay active and well, leading to improved outcomes.
Congressman Bice could support the Dialysis Patient Protection and Recovery Act, which would protect patients like me, clarify ambiguities in current law, and ensure private dialysis coverage for the entire 30-month grace period. can.
― Darren Lyons, Oklahoma City
In memory of Bob Ravitz
Sadly, we recently lost a great friend.
Bob Ravitz was one of the kindest and most caring people I have ever met. Whenever I talked to him, he left with a smile on my face after the conversation was over. He was kind, funny, and always looking out to help others. Most importantly, he changed many people's lives for the better. When he realized he was wrong, he fought passionately to make it right. He believed with all his heart in justice for all.
When I think of Bob's life, I would like to borrow the words of Robert F. Kennedy in his eulogy. But he is remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, who saw suffering and tried to heal it, who saw (injustice) and tried to stop it. ”
To his wife Diane, children and grandchildren, all I can say is God bless you. I truly believe that his early departure was because God needed his help in a bigger project. And Bob, all I can say now is, until I see my friend again.
You will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
— Mark Stonecipher, Oklahoma City
