02.16.12 Frustration and anger boiled over Wednesday as members of New Orleans' political, criminal justice and medical communities pondered the dire consequences of pending cuts to state-financed mental health services for the poor and uninsured. The upshot of the three-hour hearing before the New Orleans City Council's Criminal Justice Committee was this: Short of an 11th-hour change of heart by Gov. Bobby Jindal or the Legislature, an already-frayed mental health safety net in the city could collapse.

"We hope the message from New Orleans is loud and clear," said Councilwoman Susan Guidry, the panel's chairwoman, who called the meeting. "This is unacceptable."

 

Read the full story at the Times-Picayune.