TREATMENT CENTRE WON'T BE MUCH OF A TOURIST DRAW

I was stunned to learn city council is considering an application to
develop a building on Abbott Street to accommodate an IV drug addiction
treatment centre. I feel no shame in writing a NIMBY letter, since my
"backyard" is already long-beleaguered and badly in need of some sensible
ideas for its revitalization. It is one thing for our mayor and council to
suggest that a mix of people keeps an area vibrant. But how prudent is it
to create a confluence of children making their way to Spiderman matinees
at Tinseltown and a persistent flow of people with addictions heading for a
supervised fix of heroin or methadone?

Despite council's claims that it aims to attract legitimate businesses and
clientele to this part of town, its consideration of this location for a
treatment centre flies in the face of those lofty goals.

It seems doubtful that an addiction centre would be much of a draw to
entice tourists to stroll from Gastown to Tinseltown. The COPE council is
beginning to show as little insight and sensitivity to the needs of our
larger community as the previous NPA administration -- but just as much
self-promotion.

Jerry Cohen

Vancouver