After years of lawsuits and fines regarding the state’s treatment of people with mental illness, Aaron Martinez said Washington state has reason to celebrate. Martinez is heading up the Department of Social and Health Services expansion of Western State Hospital in Pierce County. Construction crews are demolishing 12 structures on the campus to make room for a new 350-bed facility. ”This is once in a lifetime. DSHS has been waiting for this process, and just getting to this point is just like a dream come true,” said Martinez. Read more: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/expansion-underway-at-western-state-hospital/281-58fdfe3f-d9a2-4f94-9e86-35a1c2ee778e