RECOVERY NOT FOR MY NEIGHBOURHOOD

The Editor,

Re: "Recovery house plan scrapped," News, July 1.

I vividly remember the day I came home and picked up the newspaper
off of my porch. The headline was struck me as I read: "Drug recovery
house proposed in Richmond." Questions were racing through my mind as
I imagined the possibilities. Our peaceful neighborhood always
consisted of children biking, elders strolling and pedestrians
walking to and from work.

Time passed, decisions were to be made. Letters were sent to our
house, concerned citizens began surveying the desirability of this
planned recovery house. Fear arrived at our neighborhood. A couple
clearly stated that the construction of such a facility would
certainly depreciate the value of their real estate.

As a Richmond citizen, I know for a fact that house prices have been
soaring through the market for the past few years. For someone to
worry about property depreciation was absurd.

Elders were more than ever involved with the community; I would often
hear people saying things like "even one bed" is too much. However,
the plan was to construct a centre with room for 32 inhabitants.

News was spreading quickly and soon, websites, committees and
facebook groups were being created in opposition to this plan.

On the other hand, I realized that there are those in need of
acceptance within the community. They are human, just like every one
of us. I believe it is a natural instinct that as humans we tend to
stereotype people and things like "drug" and "rehab" are the last
things we'd want to be involved with. However, what about the people
who are in need of help?

Sure, it is a great idea to be involved in the community with a bunch
of support from the neighbours. However, our neighbourhood is still
growing and a drug recovery house brings many potential risks.

Both an elementary and a high school are present, not to mention a
neighborhood pub and liquor store. I agree these people need to learn
to interact with the community; however, I don't believe it's our neighborhood.

Last week, I picked up the newspaper off our porch and read the
headline: "Recovery house plan scrapped." I felt relieved, as did
most of my neighbourhood.

We can live in a tranquil neighborhood without fear that any day
there will be trucks and bulldozers constructing a house that would
create chaos.

Dezmond Mok,

Richmond