SUPERVISORS THROW MILLIONS MORE AT MENTAL HEALTH INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, in their infinite wisdom and boundless generosity with *your* money, just voted to funnel another $1.18 million into Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. Because what's another million or so when you're dealing with mental health, right? This isn't just about 'updating standard provisions'; it's about extending a program for 'Justice-Involved Conservatees' and adding more beds. Apparently, the county's progressive policies are so effective they need to expand their capacity to manage the 'justice-involved' population.

Never mind that Crestwood isn't even a local vendor – because why support local businesses when you can ship your taxpayer dollars out of the county? The Supervisors, bless their hearts, are so committed to helping the 'uninsured members' that they've tacked on a $15 per member, per day fee for 'ancillary services.' One can only imagine what these vital 'ancillary services' entail. Perhaps artisanal kale smoothies and crystal healing workshops to help the 'justice-involved' embrace their inner shaman.

In true bureaucratic fashion, this whole fiscal fiesta is deemed 'not a project that is subject to environmental review' because it's just 'governmental funding' that won't cause 'physical changes in the environment.' Apparently, millions of dollars changing hands and a growing population of 'conservatees' in state-funded facilities have no environmental impact. The only thing changing is the size of your tax bill and the ever-expanding reach of the county's benevolent hand, guiding us all toward a future where mental health is a growth industry.