Oldest Known Human Footprint in the Americas
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 21:12:18 PDT
To: "MHOCCA List" <mhocca@egroups.com>
From: "Andrew Phelps" <starfish@northcoast.com>
Subject: [s-acc] Ca. Network mental Health Client new Web-Page
Cc: "Social Accountability" <s-acc@egroups.com>

I wanted to congratulate the network on its new web-page and I also wanted to post a message I just got through sending. The intent is not to rattle cages, as much as to get people to think about who and what we are, as well as what we do. Please excuse any mis-spellings, I’m dyslexic, and did not go to college.

My name is Gerald Minsk. I live in the city of Los Angeles and have been a consumer of mental health services for many years. For the last eleven years I’ve worked full-time for multi-service continuum of care mental health providers. I’ve been actively engaged in the consumer movement, for almost 15 years.

The one thing I continue to struggle regarding empowerment and inclusiveness is how the leadership continues to manipulate the masses by retaining their power base and marginalizing the rest of us. This could not be any or more evident here in the south where three or four specific individuals have conflicts of interest, by maintaining employment with outside agencies and as members of the network influence what we hear, see, do, or do not.

These charges might sound ludicrous or sour grapes to some, but I’m going to be very specific.
  • Bill Compton is the Exec. Dir. Project Return, which is not a self help, it is a propaganda arm of L.A. M.H.A.
  • Ron Schraiber is the Dir. of Office of Consumer Affairs, for L.A. DMH.
  • Pearl, oh my God don’t say anything about Pearl, has a no-show job at DMH’s cont. care at L.A. County USC.
    • These are some of the key people of influence who continue to represent and distort any kind of clear message re public policy, or any attempt to bring others on board. Of all of them I would exempt Ron and give him credit in his support of me personally and his loyalty in the many projects we’ve worked on.

    The point to this self-criticism is we need to look at ourselves, motivations and be honest. We are either going to be inclusive or not. We are either going to open our ranks to everyone or not. And in closing if we continue to allow a handful of people to make all of our decisions, we will continue to be led around like sheep.

    Gerald Minsk

    L.A.