Houston Herczog, my beloved son--WE NEED HELP

[meherc]

Some of you may or may not know that I was arrested on Friday, for an act of civil disobedience in defense of my son who had a psychotic break last year and killed his father, Mark Herczog, a popular musician here and in SF. My son was then diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and even though 3 psychiatrist's reports have agreed that he is getting worse, getting little or no care in jail and should be moved to a hospital immediately. Instead the prosecutor called for a jury trial and was granted one.

It was a surprise hearing, was not on the docket till the night before and no one called us to let us know. I consider my actions to be an act of civil disobedience, not the cell phone story (which I really couldn't figure out how to turn off). I took pictures of the bruises the officers inflicted when the four of them shoved me repeatedly and held my wrist so tightly that he bruised it. I kept saying "you're hurting me, please ease up." He insisted I wasn't standing still though I was, and was cooperating when I left the courtroom. I said I was leaving and to please stop shoving me. I held up my purse in front of me when I saw he was coming at me again and pushed it at him to keep him from hurting me again. Thus the charge of battering a police officer.

I held up a picture of Houston and his father before he, Houston, became sick, held it over my head for about 30 seconds. I held it by my side as I was leaving and the bailiff grabbed it and tore it. Those are the 2 people I love most and it was very disrespectful. There was another picture on the floor that had fallen out of my purse and some security guy gave it to me and said " I thought it was garbage."

As I was walking out the door , 2 officers were holding on to me (i suppose so this 120 lb woman would beat up the 2 big 190lb men and escape). They pushed me so hard I almost hit the railing and started to fall but caught myself because i just had knee surgery and knew I'd really get hurt if I fell.

Anyway, arrested., the police officer was holding my wrist so hard, he left bruises. When I told him he was hurting me, he said, well stand still then. Couldn't stand any stiller. Even my friends say I should just be the quiet demure mother but that obviously didn't work very well.

I don't know why the DA has it in for my kid. The reports couldn't be any clearer. He couldn't be any crazier. He needed cuffs on, though I'm not quite sure what I was arrested for - having a ringing cell phone, holding up a photo, or assaulting a police officer. Boy, they sure are mean to you in jail.They said they were taking my service dog to the pound.

I spent the '70s in Berkeley when civil disobedience and protests were what you did when you saw an injustice. You do the right thing, even if you go to jail or get beaten up, etc. Or you might embarrass your friends and and family. My boyfriend of over 2 years immediately left me because I'm always "making a scene." Many of my friends think I should just play the demure mother and watch my child go to prison when he needs a hospital. I Don't want this to happen to any other family.

We sent him to a psychiatrist for almost a year. He said he might be schizophrenic in his first session notes and NEVER followed up on it. When he was served the malpractice papers, he moved to Maryland the next day. As if that were Switzerland or the Virgin Islands. It's damn Maryland. GLICK is his name. G--L--I-C-K.

We need help. I am out of money, my 18 year old is working constantly to make enough money to help out paying her college expenses. We need people to show up at the hearings so Jill Ravitch who knows nothing about mental health won't think he's a danger to the community if he's in a hospital. The prosecutor is going for Murder 1 , life in prison. My boy is only 22 and this is killing me, let alone what it's doing to him.

The next hearing is tomorrow, April 2 (again, a surprise to me. it was just changed again), Courtroom 1, Superior Court, then Wed, April 3 at 8:30am, same place and the trial begins Friday, April 5 at 9am. Please come if you can, Please.

Marilyn Meshak Herczog, EA
Tax Preparation for the
Small Business
(707)887-8339

[Shandi]

I'm so sorry to hear about this severe injustice to you and your son. Have you spoken with NAMI? They can be very influential in cases involving the mentally ill. I don't have the phone number handy, but I'd suggest you give them a call if you haven't already.

Some of you may or may not know that I was arrested on Friday...

[Barry]

Here's the PD article on this unfortunate incident:

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...tc=pgall&tc=ar

[lindasw]

marilyn, dearheart...sending all my best to you and the kids..xoxox linda

Some of you may or may not know that I was arrested on Friday,...

[meherc]

Yes, the first day it happened. The director then talked to the press and represented herself as spokesperson for the family and told them my 17 year old daughter's name, school, grade and the printed a picture of her car. This was because it was a quote from her (director). Usually they keep minor's info private. I later found out from the national organization that Sonoma county's NAMI is known as the "crazy NAMI."
But I'm sure they help some people so thanks for the suggestion. They have never shown up in court to support us either though this is supposedly part of what they do. My, I'm sounding pessimistic. I'm just so tired of calling everyone I can think of to help to no avail.

I'm so sorry to hear about this severe injustice to you and your son. Have you spoken with NAMI? They can be very influential in cases involving the mentally ill. I don't have the phone number handy, but I'd suggest you give them a call if you haven't already.

[meherc]

Thank you. So you'll show up at court?

marilyn, dearheart...sending all my best to you and the kids..xoxox linda

[lrsmile11]

Dear Marilyn
I read the article on Friday and still can't believe it. I am so sorry that they didn't act on the psychiatrist reports and wonder if your lawyer can ask for another review of the reports by an Dr not already working for either side? Do you have any records from the first psychiatrist? Keep making copies and try to present all the documented information again.
I wish I could come for moral support, but can't leave my job at that hour, so I will write the DA a letter.
Please keep posting so we will know how we can support you in the future.
Laura

[Magick]

Dear Marilyn, I am just hearing about this now, it's a cold-hearted travesty, creating more suffering where there has already been so much...I am so sorry this is happening. When will we learn compassionate justice and recognize mental illness as needing treatment not punishment?
I plan on coming on Friday. Where is the trial..please post the Courtroom number, is it number one? I am assuming its at the Courtrooms over on Administration Drive behind the Board of Supervisors meeting room in Santa Rosa, yes?
You are a strong woman, Marilyn..stay the course...
In Solidarity, magick

Dear Marilyn
I read the article on Friday and still can't believe it. I am so sorry that they didn't act on the psychiatrist reports and wonder if your lawyer can ask for another review of the reports by an Dr not already working for either side? Do you have any records from the first psychiatrist? Keep making copies and try to present all the documented information again.
I wish I could come for moral support, but can't leave my job at that hour, so I will write the DA a letter.
Please keep posting so we will know how we can support you in the future.
Laura

[Magick]

I just sent the following message to DA Jill Ravitch via her Facebook page. Please do the same and keep the conversation going here so that she knows we care...

"Dear Jill, I appreciate your motto, Justice with Integrity, and ask that you search your soul to consider what true integrity is in the case of Houston Herczog.
This tragic story begs for healing. He is diagnosed schozophrenic and is in desperate need of help.
I highly recommend a book called, "Returning to the Teachings" written by a Canadian Crown attorney in Canada who explored the ancient systems of restorative justice. He was profoundly changed by the experience and found that just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to heal and take responsibility when one of our children is suffering so deeply that he has lost touch with his own integrity.
You have the power to be in touch with yours, may you be an example for restoration and compassion and not punishment that makes our mentally ill community members even worse then when they entered the system.
With deep sincerity and hope, Magick Altman
You will be in my thoughts daily as this story unfolds...may this be a learning and healing experience for all involved."

marilyn, dearheart...sending all my best to you and the kids..xoxox linda

[Ice Queen]

Thanks Majick, This is a good start. There are a multitude of residents of Sonoma County (and the world) suffering with mental illness and many of us are active participants in running, counselling, advocating and participating in recovery programs. In this time of glaring publicity on the handful of sensttional stories a blanket is being tossed over millions who suffer silently.

Public education in reducing the stigma attached to mental disorders must be addressed. It is chilling to see our efforts at de-stigmatizing our illness further cast aside while we are characterized as gun-toting loonies.

Someone close to YOU suffers from a mental illness (a word, not a label). The compassion, understanding and acceptance in society of a people with a variety of challenges needs to be addressed. Remember what we have done to Indians, Blacks, Asians, Gays, Latinos and others. Must we visit the same prejudices on groups perceived to be different from us?

I just sent the following message to DA Jill Ravitch via her Facebook page. Please do the same and keep the conversation going here so that she knows we care...

"Dear Jill, I appreciate your motto, Justice with Integrity, and ask that you search your soul to consider what true integrity is in the case of Houston Herczog.
This tragic story begs for healing. He is diagnosed schozophrenic and is in desperate need of help.
I highly recommend a book called, "Returning to the Teachings" written by a Canadian Crown attorney in Canada who explored the ancient systems of restorative justice. He was profoundly changed by the experience and found that just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to heal and take responsibility when one of our children is suffering so deeply that he has lost touch with his own integrity.
You have the power to be in touch with yours, may you be an example for restoration and compassion and not punishment that makes our mentally ill community members even worse then when they entered the system.
With deep sincerity and hope, Magick Altman
You will be in my thoughts daily as this story unfolds...may this be a learning and healing experience for all involved."

[Shandi]

What a beautiful, heartfelt, and responsible action to take. Thank you Magick for being an inspiration to all of us, who are touched by the pain of mental/emotional illness.

I just sent the following message to DA Jill Ravitch via her Facebook page. Please do the same and keep the conversation going here so that she knows we care...

"Dear Jill, I appreciate your motto, Justice with Integrity, and ask that you search your soul to consider what true integrity is in the case of Houston Herczog.
This tragic story begs for healing. He is diagnosed schozophrenic and is in desperate need of help.
I highly recommend a book called, "Returning to the Teachings" written by a Canadian Crown attorney in Canada who explored the ancient systems of restorative justice. He was profoundly changed by the experience and found that just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to heal and take responsibility when one of our children is suffering so deeply that he has lost touch with his own integrity.
You have the power to be in touch with yours, may you be an example for restoration and compassion and not punishment that makes our mentally ill community members even worse then when they entered the system.
With deep sincerity and hope, Magick Altman
You will be in my thoughts daily as this story unfolds...may this be a learning and healing experience for all involved."

[meherc]

NAMI was apparently going to come to court for support for the first time in a year and a half. They read my posting and got offended and said they were pulling out of any support for Houston. I guess they thought I said a mean thing but I thought their mission was to help the mentally ill, whether they like his mother or not. God knows what they'll do when they read this. I repeat, they have helped many people, they were just not a good fit for us.

I'm so sorry to hear about this severe injustice to you and your son. Have you spoken with NAMI? They can be very influential in cases involving the mentally ill. I don't have the phone number handy, but I'd suggest you give them a call if you haven't already.

[meherc]

I have every record and piece of paper that has been produced.
Can't really say more than that or I'll get in more trouble than I'm in.

Dear Marilyn
I read the article on Friday and still can't believe it. I am so sorry that they didn't act on the psychiatrist reports and wonder if your lawyer can ask for another review of the reports by an Dr not already working for either side? Do you have any records from the first psychiatrist? Keep making copies and try to present all the documented information again.

.
I wish I could come for moral support, but can't leave my job at that hour, so I will write the DA a letter.
Please keep posting so we will know how we can support you in the future.
Laura

[tommy]

I've worked with NAMI over the years, to help my sister who's schizophrenic. It sounds like things didn't go too well for you and NAMI. I felt really sad when I read you posting about NAMI. The local NAMI, to my knowledge, is a group of volunteers, probably only a couple, who probably have sons or daughters, or parents, who are mentally ill. They deal first hand with the stigma of mental illness, not only caring for their loved ones, but in volunteering for NAMI. It's a hopeless task.

Who would ever want to volunteer for an organization helping the mentally ill, in addition to caring for their loved ones? Who would ever want to go through the experiences that you've gone thru, with their loved ones, and local authorities, such as social workers, therapists, educators, the police... and spend their free time listening to or trying to help others dealing with mental illness? Anyone who's volunteered for NAMI is an angel.

Many suffer from mental illness themselves, and volunteer at NAMI, working in day programs for the mentally ill, and helping other people cope with the illness. I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience with them. I hope you can hold them with love, those few people who volunteer for NAMI, against unsurmountable needs, hugh suffering, their own and others, and all the difficulties experienced with civil authorities.

NAMI was apparently going to come to court for support for the first time in a year and a half. They read my posting and got offended and said they were pulling out of any support for Houston. I guess they thought I said a mean thing but I thought their mission was to help the mentally ill, whether they like his mother or not. God knows what they'll do when they read this. I repeat, they have helped many people, they were just not a good fit for us.

[meherc]

I am really scared and depressed. My son is going to trial for Murder 1 then directly to an insanity trial. He is so sick and I'm afraid they're going to send him to prison. I've just been crying for days, which doesn't help my business much.

I have no money, little credit left, have to go to traffic court and regular court for my arrest. I don't have a lawyer, I don't know what's going to happen. I have to go to court again about my malpractice suit against the dr. who treated my son for almost a year before he had his psychotic break.

I can't find a lawyer. I can't do all this myself. I've worn out my friends. I dont' know what to do. They keep changing Houston's hearings day by day. I can't do this myself.

Please someone find me a lawyer, come to court with me, write a letter to the editor. Please. I can't hold up to this much longer. Only 1% of people win a Not Guiltly by Reason of Insanity. l I can't bear to lose my husband and my son.

[meherc]

I did offer to volunteer for them when my ordeal was over. I have helped many people at the jail who were unable to navigate the system, either because they didnt' know the language or didn't know how to advocate for themselves. I've held many a wife and rocked her in my arms, telling her the things people have said to me -you'll get through it, just put one foot in front of the other. I will find out how to get a translator for you, etc, etc.

I talk about my story ALL the time to try to erase the stigma of mental illness. And invariably almost everyone has someone in their family who has a mental illness and many have told me that their son has been in prison and sick for six years or two years ,whatever, but they haven't even told their best friend. By me telling my story, they see they're not alone. We have the cover story in the Bohemian this week and the cover of Mother Jones. I'm going to work to change this damn system. Didn't Margaret Mead say something about systems only change with one person at a time.

I've worked with NAMI over the years, to help my sister who's schizophrenic. It sounds like things didn't go too well for you and NAMI. I felt really sad when I read you posting about NAMI. The local NAMI, to my knowledge, is a group of volunteers, probably only a couple, who probably have sons or daughters, or parents, who are mentally ill. They deal first hand with the stigma of mental illness, not only caring for their loved ones, but in volunteering for NAMI. It's a hopeless task.

Who would ever want to volunteer for an organization helping the mentally ill, in addition to caring for their loved ones? Who would ever want to go through the experiences that you've gone thru, with their loved ones, and local authorities, such as social workers, therapists, educators, the police... and spend their free time listening to or trying to help others dealing with mental illness? Anyone who's volunteered for NAMI is an angel.

Many suffer from mental illness themselves, and volunteer at NAMI, working in day programs for the mentally ill, and helping other people cope with the illness. I'm sorry you didn't have a good experience with them. I hope you can hold them with love, those few people who volunteer for NAMI, against unsurmountable needs, hugh suffering, their own and others, and all the difficulties experienced with civil authorities.

[meherc]

Thank you, Magick. I think you are the first person who has told me I am strong instead of a pill by holding up my son's and husband's picture in court, for knocking on every supervisors; door, for going to the papers, for saying fuck this secretiveness, I am telling the truth and my kids tell the truth and I don't care anymore who I am supposed to be saying what to. I cry , I fight, I gather evidence and no one gives a damn. I've called everyone I can think of, got Chris Andrian to help us probono. But I just embarrass everyone. But I told my kid, I'm getting you into a hospital if I have to kick fucking Obama's door down. My friends have mostly left me - my life is too stressful for them.!!! Very hurtful but what can you do? I cry by myself and go to court and work for my son and take care of my daughter and feel powerless. None of those people in power will help. they try. Efren Carillo went to meet with Jill Ravitch in person. I think the more support she feels from the community, the more she will worry about being re-elected. That's what I used to get an appt. Let me find her direct e-mail [email protected] [address corrected] and the prosecutor is Bob Waner[email protected]. Perhaps mention something something about the community supporting sending the mentally ill to hospitals instead of prisons and we are not feeling you are fulfilling your election promises and I am certainly not going to vote for you again and will complainto the Attorney general about your lack of integrity.

Dear Marilyn, I am just hearing about this now, it's a cold-hearted travesty, creating more suffering where there has already been so much...I am so sorry this is happening. When will we learn compassionate justice and recognize mental illness as needing treatment not punishment?
I plan on coming on Friday. Where is the trial..please post the Courtroom number, is it number one? I am assuming its at the Courtrooms over on Administration Drive behind the Board of Supervisors meeting room in Santa Rosa, yes?
You are a strong woman, Marilyn..stay the course...
In Solidarity, magick

[meherc]

Houston has a hearing tomorrow April 22nd at 10am Courtroom 1. The purpose says jury trial but it always says jury trial. They have been choosing the jury. I just can't lose everything. I can't find a malpractice lawyer -they all say they won't make enough money. I don't know how to be a lawyer but I have to do it myself. My friends are all sick of me talking about this. I tried to post a TED story here. about schizophrenia and didn't know how to do it. I'm afraid my son is going to die if he has to go to prison. I've been pretty much alone at the hearings. My arrest hearing didn't go so well. I was sure they'd dismiss it but the judge rambled on and the only thing I heard was a year in prison. I really need help doing the practical things. Find me a civil lawyer and actually talk to him for me about the malpractice suit. I have to write some case management paper by May 1st for the malpractice hearing which is May 16. He'll have a lawyer and I'll be trying to do it myself. I think there's a fine if I don't do it right. What's going to happen at the arrest hearing? I've never been arrested. I need someone to make me eat. I've been trying to work but I always have to be calling lawyers or journalists or trying to comfort my kid and pretending to both of them that everything is all right. There's a couple of web sites set up to give ongoing info about Houston, his state of mind and the trial and I'm completely confused and can't find them. I'm falling apart. So that's my story.

[meherc]

So, please write to them!

Thanks Majick, This is a good start. There are a multitude of residents of Sonoma County (and the world) suffering with mental illness and many of us are active participants in running, counselling, advocating and participating in recovery programs. In this time of glaring publicity on the handful of sensttional stories a blanket is being tossed over millions who suffer silently.

Public education in reducing the stigma attached to mental disorders must be addressed. It is chilling to see our efforts at de-stigmatizing our illness further cast aside while we are characterized as gun-toting loonies.

Someone close to YOU suffers from a mental illness (a word, not a label). The compassion, understanding and acceptance in society of a people with a variety of challenges needs to be addressed. Remember what we have done to Indians, Blacks, Asians, Gays, Latinos and others. Must we visit the same prejudices on groups perceived to be different from us?

[Magick]

Dear Community,
This is a chance to actually help significantly by encouraging the DA Jill Ravitch, to do the right thing, and get Houston the help he needs. This will also help his sister, mother, friends, and in the big picture possibly change the way mentally ill people are dealt with by our law enforcement and justice system.
If you haven't read the Bohemian article please do. Houston's father was terrified of calling the police because two other mentally challenged men had been killed by the police.
HERE"S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
write to DIstrict Attorney Jill Ravitch
THEN POST YOUR LETTER HERE:
So we can see it and get the momentum going to make an impact.
This is a real action that can change minds, remember Jill is an elected, not appointed official.
As a mother my heart goes out to Marilyn, I cannot imagine what she is going through, but we can do something to help.
Activist-at-large,
magick

[Barry]

If you haven't read the Bohemian article please do. Houston's father was terrified of calling the police because two other mentally challenged men had been killed by the police.
HERE"S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
write to DIstrict Attorney Jill Ravitch
THEN POST YOUR LETTER HERE:
So we can see it and get the momentum going to make an impact.
This is a real action that can change minds, remember Jill is an elected, not appointed official.
As a mother my heart goes out to Marilyn, I cannot imagine what she is going through, but we can do something to help.

The Bohemian article is here.
Jill Ravitch's email address is [email protected] (corrected)

[Dixon]

I only met Houston Herczog briefly once that I recall, so I have no dog in this fight. But reading the Bohemian article makes the situation pretty clear. Having worked with many a psychotic person in my mental health career, I've personally known at least a couple of them who, though very nice people when mentally clear, murdered someone when in the throes of a psychotic break, as well as another guy who cut off his own hand because the voices told him to, etc. ad nauseam... One of the guys mentioned in the Bohemian article as having been killed by the police is a guy I'd worked with extensively a few years back. As they say: Hate the illness, not the person.

In case this is of any value to anyone, here's the text of the email I just sent to prosecutor Jill Ravitch:

Dear Ms. Ravitch;

The Houston Herczog case has attracted my attention. As one who has studied psychotherapy (my MA is in Counseling) and worked in Mental Health for about 20 years, having worked with many hundreds of psychotic people, it's abundantly clear that Mr. Herczog is, through no fault of his own, suffering from a major psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. His occasional use of psychoactive drugs is irrelevant; disorders such as schizophrenia are due mainly to a genetic predisposition. There but for fate go you and I.

I can't imagine why you deemed it necessary to get another opinion about Mr. Herczog's sanity over and above the initial ones. Regardless, it's inappropriate to put someone as mentally disturbed as him in prison, where he would assuredly be victimized by real criminals. I urge you to seek appropriate psychiatric placement rather than prison placement for Mr. Herczog, thus protecting the public without victimizing a person who is unfortunate enough to have been born with a schizophrenic brain.

Sincerely;
Dixon Wragg
Santa Rosa, CA

[Barry]

Sorry, I posted an incorrect email address for Jill Ravitch earlier. Her correct email address is [email protected].
[corrected] Previous references have been corrected as well.

[Magick]

Thank you, Dixon, great letter and I hope others will step forward and write to DA Jill Ravitch [email protected]
you could also write to any of the local papers about the situation as well. Best, magick

I only met Houston Herczog briefly once that I recall, so I have no dog in this fight. But reading the Bohemian article makes the situation pretty clear. Having worked with many a psychotic person in my mental health career, I've personally known at least a couple of them who, though very nice people when mentally clear, murdered someone when in the throes of a psychotic break, as well as another guy who cut off his own hand because the voices told him to, etc. ad nauseam... One of the guys mentioned in the Bohemian article as having been killed by the police is a guy I'd worked with extensively a few years back. As they say: Hate the illness, not the person.

In case this is of any value to anyone, here's the text of the email I just sent to prosecutor Jill Ravitch:

Dear Ms. Ravitch;

The Houston Herczog case has attracted my attention. As one who has studied psychotherapy (my MA is in Counseling) and worked in Mental Health for about 20 years, having worked with many hundreds of psychotic people, it's abundantly clear that Mr. Herczog is, through no fault of his own, suffering from a major psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. His occasional use of psychoactive drugs is irrelevant; disorders such as schizophrenia are due mainly to a genetic predisposition. There but for fate go you and I.

I can't imagine why you deemed it necessary to get another opinion about Mr. Herczog's sanity over and above the initial ones. Regardless, it's inappropriate to put someone as mentally disturbed as him in prison, where he would assuredly be victimized by real criminals. I urge you to seek appropriate psychiatric placement rather than prison placement for Mr. Herczog, thus protecting the public without victimizing a person who is unfortunate enough to have been born with a schizophrenic brain.

Sincerely;
Dixon Wragg
Santa Rosa, CA

[tommy]

Dear Jill,

I have followed the tragic events regarding Houston Herczog. I have attended the same church as Houston's father, who was killed. I am the brother of Debbie Phillips, who has been diagnosed as schizophrenic since the age of 20, over 45 years ago. I personally know the difficulty of this illness, the scarcity of public facilities for treatment and housing, and the advisability of providing independent housing for mentally ill people. Debbie lived with our mother for many years, in a difficult and strained relationship, due to the illness, until I found her independent housing. Knowing the value of independent housing, I became involved and served as the Board Chair of Community Support Network, a Santa Rosa nonprofit, that owns and operated 11 houses for the mentally ill.

While the specifics of Houston's crime are hard to comprehend, I ask that you care for him as if he was your son, or your brother, or part of a family of a loved one. See that he gets treatment. See that he is able to live in a place where you'd be comfortable with a loved one living. See that he somehow gets the chance to live a live that you would want for yourself, if you were in his shoes. Make those of us who care about Houston, proud of you. Thank you.

Tomas Phillips
Sebastopol, CA

Dear Community,
This is a chance to actually help significantly by encouraging the DA Jill Ravitch, to do the right thing, and get Houston the help he needs. This will also help his sister, mother, friends, and in the big picture possibly change the way mentally ill people are dealt with by our law enforcement and justice system.
If you haven't read the Bohemian article please do. Houston's father was terrified of calling the police because two other mentally challenged men had been killed by the police.
HERE"S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
write to DIstrict Attorney Jill Ravitch
THEN POST YOUR LETTER HERE:
So we can see it and get the momentum going to make an impact.
This is a real action that can change minds, remember Jill is an elected, not appointed official.
As a mother my heart goes out to Marilyn, I cannot imagine what she is going through, but we can do something to help.
Activist-at-large,
magick

[tommy]

Barry,
I sent Jill an email thru the address you provided, but it bounced back. I was able to email her thru the Sonoma Co website, though it didn't indicate her email address.
Tomas

The Bohemian article is here.
Jill Ravitch's email address is [email protected] (corrected)

[Magick]

Dear Tommy, Thank you for writing to our DA Jill Ravitch, and sharing your personal story in the letter. This is becoming an unfolding of our community's story in relationship to mental illness as it serves to hopefully awaken the compassion of our legal system.
Your request that she think of him as part of her family is particularly poignant, and the truth that we all need to abide by in a world that can be so alienating. Your words remind me of the Mayan definition for human, "I am another yourself".
Warmly and with Respect, Magick

Dear Jill,

I have followed the tragic events regarding Houston Herczog. I have attended the same church as Houston's father, who was killed. I am the brother of Debbie Phillips, who has been diagnosed as schizophrenic since the age of 20, over 45 years ago. I personally know the difficulty of this illness, the scarcity of public facilities for treatment and housing, and the advisability of providing independent housing for mentally ill people. Debbie lived with our mother for many years, in a difficult and strained relationship, due to the illness, until I found her independent housing. Knowing the value of independent housing, I became involved and served as the Board Chair of Community Support Network, a Santa Rosa nonprofit, that owns and operated 11 houses for the mentally ill.

While the specifics of Houston's crime are hard to comprehend, I ask that you care for him as if he was your son, or your brother, or part of a family of a loved one. See that he gets treatment. See that he is able to live in a place where you'd be comfortable with a loved one living. See that he somehow gets the chance to live a live that you would want for yourself, if you were in his shoes. Make those of us who care about Houston, proud of you. Thank you.

Tomas Phillips
Sebastopol, CA

[Barry]

I have double checked her email address and sent an email to [email protected] without it bouncing back. I had posted an incorrect email address yesterday. I have corrected all references to her email address on this thread.

Barry,
I sent Jill an email thru the address you provided, but it bounced back. I was able to email her thru the Sonoma Co website, though it didn't indicate her email address.
Tomas

[Dorothy Friberg]

We can rattle our cage and shout and write letters all to no avail. "be the change you want to see in the world". We need to see our neighbors as what they are, as imperfect as ourselves. When we stigmatize people with mental illness as something 'other', we have lost sight of the people in our own lifes, and ourselves, and the way we treat them. This is not one family's story, it is OUR story. Dorothy Friberg

[lindasw]

Dear Ms Ravitch,
I write to you as the former Food for Thought food bank manager, who for over fifteen years, worked with the Herczog family in their capacity as volunteers.

When they were small and well into their early teens, Houston Herczog and his sister would stand with Marilyn and Mark in front of a designated grocery store on a Saturday, approaching strangers and asking them to donate a can or two of something needed to help feed those living with HIV/AIDS. They always were present and supportive at the food bank's fundraisers. Houston's mom was a regular fixture as part of my Wednesday morning crew, calling clients each week for their grocery orders, taking time to reach those who were on delivery because they were too feeble or unable to come in to receive their food. Like clockwork, this family showed up to give from their hearts---and now, I beseech you to take a moment, search your heart and return the favor for a family that has given so much.

There was a time where those living with HIV/AIDS were stigmatized here in Sonoma County because of their illness. And as we well know, this marginalization still exists in this world. Humans, suffering from a virus, those already living with such a horrific illness, punished. Services and care here once was non-existent and we fought, systematically and diligently to fill this void with housing, food, healthcare. Dual diagnosis issues were addressed. People took care of one another and of strangers. And, the battle still rages on.

Today, we stand at a similar crossroads: how to re-create what the Reagan Administration so thoughtlessly dismantled so that we may, somehow, help to restore services and assistance for those in our county who are dealing with such severe mental illness issues. As you well know, in the last 20-30 years, the resources that were set in place to care for those in our midst and their families living with these issues have all but dried up. Oakcrest closed its doors, as did most of the direct services provided by our own Public Health Department. Funding that once trickled down from the Feds to the State to our county for helping the mentally ill among us, has all but dried up. And what remains? Families, in the throes of crisis, watch their loved ones 5150'd or taken away to Oakland or Marin for temporary holding and evaluations, with little or no follow-up care plans once released. Families, unable to afford pricey private facilities, deal with the issues of their sons and daughters behind closed doors, fearful--as Mark and Marilyn Herczog were---that an uneducated and un-trained law enforcement officer called to intercede may accidentally murder their seemingly out of control child, as we saw happen here in Sebastopol a few years back.

But, today, we here reaching out to you, have one life to think about among many: Houston's. My last dealing with him was at the food bank, just a few months before Mark's murder. This kid, whose mom had dragged him in to volunteer because she was so concerned about his depressive state, stood in the walk-in freezer with me, stocking the shelves. I asked him to hang in there, to keep coming back and maybe it would help him feel better. He said, "nothing can help me feel better". And, in all my motherly wisdom, I told him, "just hang in there kiddo, its gonna be alright".

So, I implore you, Jill. Carefully read through these missives that are coming to you on this family's behalf. See that, instead of friends of Mark's yelling to lock his son up for what he took from them all that morning, this community is pleading for Houston's life and asking that we, that you, offer instead a compassionate alternative of treatment that can hopefully lead to eventual wellness, so that this troubled kid may have a true shot at becoming a productive member of society. I know there's goodness in there, inside of Huston, a decent kid, filled with regret who misses his dad, and who suffers, locked away behind his demons of mental illness. Look beyond the "letter of the law" as a true leader, and try to imagine what its like in the complicated and often untoward world of those living the nightmare of mental illness. As family, as friends and loved ones, as mothers filled with such fierce love for our children, and as those that voted wholeheartedly for you to take over and turn around the former DA's office and practices, we beg you to reconsider this case. Give this kid the care he needs. Maybe you can be the one to make it eventually "alright" for him and countless others like him, after all.

Thank you for your time.
Linda Schram-Williams