Judge Bars ‘Meat-Ax’ Closure of 8 County Mental Health Clinics

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge today barred county officials from shutting down eight mental health outpatient clinics and curtailing services at five other psychiatric centers, calling the plan a “meat-ax approach” that would harm thousands of indigent mentally ill.

Judge Barnet M. Cooperman issued a preliminary injunction halting the closures--which were to begin Wednesday--after ruling that the county Board of Supervisors had failed to fully study the impact the cuts would have on patients who use those facilities and employees who work there.

“I hate to use the vernacular but the board took a meat-ax approach,” Cooperman said of the decision to close the clinics because of a budget squeeze.

The threatened clinics include outpatient programs in Wilmington, San Pedro, South Central Los Angeles, Arcadia, North Hollywood, Canoga Park and Carson. Another clinic in Bell Gardens was also scheduled to close and outpatient services at five other psychiatric centers including four county-run hospitals were also slated for reductions in service.