Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 Source: Richmond News (CN BC) Copyright: 2008, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.richmond-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244 Author: Amy Chiu Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n686/a02.html?1395 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 - --- MAP posted-by: dan