Editorial: Horizon treatment center in the right location

Sobering stations are effective in that people who are arrested for DUI or public intoxication can sober up there rather than in a jail facility, which might not best suit their needs. In Burlingame, the facility was known as “First Chance” since it provided just that.

And there is a definitive need. The county has been without a sobering station since May and DUI bookings at the Maguire Correctional Facility more than doubled between then and September from the same time period a year before — from 258 to 580.

A new sobering station is being proposed for 101 N. El Camino Real in San Mateo, immediately north of downtown on a very busy road in a medical office building. It would have 16 sobering center beds, 17 detox beds and 36 beds for residential treatment services with medical support. The idea is that the center will allow for the initial detox, and then also have further services available if need be so people aren’t leaving without the help they need. A very small percentage of clients require police assistance after dropoff, but it is in a contained facility with support. The San Mateo police chief said having a sobering center is worth it, so clearly the facility is not a public safety concern.

While the Daily Journal wrote about this proposal back in December, others have caught wind of it more recently and we wrote about it again to reflect the concerns of those who believe another location is preferred.

We understand the concerns, especially if there is a lack of understanding about what the facility will do and how it will do it. Such facilities are needed in a community, that much is understood, but concerns have largely focused that this is not the right spot, with other concerns being a grab-bag of various frights conjured through the exercise of “what if” and “what about?” There are treatment facilities, halfway houses, group homes, doctor’s offices, medical facilities all over that handle patients with similar situations and needs. There are also day care centers, churches, residences, medical centers and schools all over as well. Finding a spot where all these services and facilities do not intersect is an impossibility. Besides, this need not be a concern. People fear the unknown, but this is not a dangerous facility. This is a public health facility that is needed in our community and it’s in a central location near downtown.

However, communication is key. While we did our part in writing about this in December, we also know that word sometimes doesn’t get around until later in the process. There are plans for another community meeting 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at the downtown San Mateo Library. It will help if the meeting is well publicized so those with concerns can air them out and get answers to their questions. It will also be good if ample time is allowed for those questions as well as followups. Maybe officials should even consider a second meeting. Being open and available to answer questions will be key for officials who know this is the right thing to do, and to explain specifically why this location works.