NEIGHBORHOOD PERIL

This letter is written on behalf of David H. Crumbie, a disabled neighbor,
to vehemently oppose the proposed housing of a drug treatment center on the
property of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church located at 4615 S. 3200 West in
West Valley City. Said property adjoins the playground of Truman Elementary
School.

In the first place, it defies reason that Rev. Diana Johnson and her
congregation would even consider housing such a facility next to an
elementary school, separated only by a chain-link fence. Further, it is hard
to believe that St. Stephen's would persist in its efforts to house this
facility on its property in the face of such overwhelming fair and
reasonable opposition. Is there no limit to which do-gooders will go to
impose their own will upon others "because their cause is just and their
hearts are pure?"

One has to wonder how many of St. Stephen's parishioners live within the
boundaries of Truman Elementary School since there are only 6,000 members in
the entire Episcopal Diocese of Utah. What seems to be in play here is the
same old liberal con to do as I say, not as I do; that is, build it
anywhere, just not in my backyard.

Should the rights of recovering drug addicts and alcoholics to live in a
neighborhood environment under the Fair Housing Acts supersede the rights of
school children to a safe school environment? I think not.

Every parent of school children should be alarmed that such a facility
adjacent to an elementary school not only is being seriously considered but
is being vigorously pursued by St. Stephen's and its attorneys.

What on earth does it profit St. Stephen's if it wins the battle but loses
the war by engendering enduring bitterness and hostility among its
neighbors? No matter how noble and well-intentioned St. Stephen's considers
its cause to be, it should accept the fact that housing this particular
facility at this particular location is wrong, wrong, wrong and give it up.

Mr. Crumbie has had a disabling stroke and was unable to write this letter
himself. He has a keen interest in the outcome of this dispute because his
home of 25 years is just four houses removed from the proposed facility.

BILLYE F. ROWE, Murray