“A lot of people are not aware that Gov. Reagan signed a bill letting mental patients out of asylums. Back in the 60s there were do-gooders who thought that locking people against their will was wrong.”
It was a perfect storm of bad ideas- Mainstream politicians hoping to reduce spending. Utopian libertarian fantasies that there is no such thing as mental illness. ACLU lawsuits making it harder to involuntarily commit insane persons for treatment.
Now southern California has been turned into an open air asylum. Has been for years, but now it’s getting to the point where typhus has become an issue.
... Correct.
And, the police downtown have become e babysitters. They are put in all sorts of dangerous situations due to crazy people pulling weapons on them.