FRASER SENIOR FUMING ABOUT REHAB CENTRE

To the editor:

Re: "Neighbours, businesses worried about impact of rehab centre," July 11).

Just two weeks ago, we accidentally discovered plans are underway to
build a four-storey, 39-unit drug rehab centre at 5616 Fraser St.

Area residents were never informed of these plans and we were given no
chance to voice our opinion, which leaves us damn good and mad,
especially when we've lost count of how many public meetings have been
held concerning "big box" stores and slot machines in our city.

It's quite obvious why this code of silence from city hall
exists-those behind this drug rehab centre knew residents would turn
it down. I have resided here almost 80 years and I refuse to see my
Fraser Street disfigured forever. The Woodward's building should have
been used instead of spending millions of dollars of our tax money to
put such a facility in a residential neighbourhood.

Can you imagine if this centre was to be located in the
Arbutus-Kitsilano area? How loud city councillor Anne "not in my
neighbourhood" Roberts would be screaming? Now, strange, not even a
little whimper out of her.

On Wednesday, I spent almost three hours on the phone to city hall
trying to get information regarding the proposed rehab centre. I
discovered there is an almost sinister silence. I swear that I would
have had better luck getting an audience with the Pope. When Larry
Campbell was running for mayor he promised to clean up Canada's most
notorious street corner, Main and Hastings.

I just figured how he intends to do it-he's moving Main and Hastings
to 43rd and Fraser Street.

Ron Robinson,

Vancouver