TIME TO RESTORE HARMONY

Re: "Richmondites selfish," News, July 15

Although I was neither born nor raised in Richmond, and I have lived
in this city for only eight years, I love and care about this city
just as much.

I do not know when we started separating the "new Richmondites" from
the "old" ones, and identifying them as a selfish superficial bunch
who only look after their own self interests.

I live in close proximity to the proposed site for the 32-bed recovery
home and I have been giving much attention to this issue.

Over the past year I read a number of articles with "not-so-nice"
comments/labels fired at each other due to this topic.

I recognize freedom of speech but I do not see anything constructive
from those comments.

They definitely do not create harmony in our community.

I do not support having a large-scale rehab facility in any
family-oriented neighborhood.

Everyone deserves a safe and peaceful neighborhood. The fears are not
without reasons and no one can just casually say that "the people in
recovery aren't the ones you should fear."

The location of such a large scale facility must be carefully chosen
to address these people's needs, as well as their neighbor's concerns
in confining risks and disturbances.

Give the neighbors of the proposed site the respect they deserve. Stop
judging them and start restoring the harmony. I pray those that I love
and people I do not know would never need these services.

Amy Chiu
Richmond