Perspective on the March 24th Regional NAMI Meeting

A Perspective on the March 24th Regional Meeting By Hanna Fairchild

I attended the above meeting in Oakland on behalf of our local Santa Cruz NAMI chapter. We had been receiving news regarding the censorship of The Journal’s last two editorials (by the pages being glued together) and of unresolved disputes between its editor, Dan Weisburg, and the NAMI California board. These conflicts were threatening the future of The Journal, which has been an inspiring work of art and a valuable resource for over ten years. We on the Santa Cruz board needed to hear both sides of the story before we could determine where we might direct our support or advocacy.

Anne O’Niell came to the regional NAMI meeting to represent the board of NAMI CA. Chapters from around the bay area were represented and the meeting proceeded in a business-like matter until after the lunch break. When it was time to discuss The Journal, Anne O’Niell left everyone sitting at the table and instead, sat on the nearby stage. She began a histrionic rant, telling no one to interrupt her, that she was going to have her say without having to hear accusations and lies like she’s been reading in her email, like calling gluing pages “censorship.”

Whoa…I raised my hand, hoping to assure her that no one came to attack her and to ask: can we all sit at the table together and have a peaceful discussion? Ms O’Niell actually shrieked at me to put my hand down and to not interrupt her. Another person jumped in to reinforce O’Niell’s right to continue her tirade. Everyone else in the room seemed to be fine.

So, I sat, and listened, and watched as on and on Ms. O’Niell spewed her subjective and irrational diatribe, consisting mostly of endless “then Dan lied and then he did this other thing behind my back” examples. In the end, I was apparently the only one in the room with a question and I had to enter a battlefield just to ask it.

I only wish I were exaggerating. I came to this meeting for reasonable discourse, for clear information that we in Santa Cruz could use to assess the conflict between Dan Weisburg and the California NAMI board. Instead, I was subjected to a verbal assault of bitter and venomous mishmash.

Dan Weisburg’s The Journal shines a favorable light on him; unfortunately, Anne O’Niell shines a very poor light on the current board of NAMI CA.

Opinions expressed in this web site do not necessarily reflect the views of NAMI Santa Cruz County, NAMI California or any affiliated organizations. We attempt to present a balanced perspective on issues by presenting multiple viewpoints.

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