Ignorance, bigotry revealed

“The surprise next door” [page one, July 29] is a shocking article.

Saying “not in my back yard” about a garbage dump or a strip club is one thing, but when you say it about a protected class of vulnerable citizens it becomes a bigoted statement. After the mentally-ill shooter at Cafe Racer, can we really say this state doesn’t need mental-health treatment?

The state isn’t doing it due to budget cuts, so I welcome the private sector. The stigma surrounding mental illness refuses to be alleviated, and this article highlights the ignorance and bigotry associated with a mental disorder. What if these people are veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder? These people need help, and they’re getting it.

— Marley Harrison, Tukwila