Editor,
In recent weeks there has been much heated debate about the proposed location for a Horizon treatment center at 101 N. El Camino Real. The alarm expressed about this site cannot help but remind me of an instance that arose in the early 2000s. A developer named Willow Partners proposed building an affordable housing complex at Santa Inez Avenue and N. El Camino Real, just a few short blocks from the proposed Horizon site at 101 N. El Camino Real.
Residents in the surrounding area went into a frenzy of opposition. They showed up at city council meetings in red T-shirts, expressing fears of traffic, congestion, noise and impacts on personal safety. The council, in its wisdom, approved the development, and none of the problems that had been feared materialized. In fact, I recall that one of the neighbors actually went on record saying that he had been wrong and that they turned out to be excellent neighbors.
Some of the rhetoric from opponents of the Horizon site has recently become so intimidating as to be utterly chilling. What is very interesting to me is the fact that Horizon apparently has never encountered this kind of resistance in the past. It seems that other communities have rolled out the welcome mat when they proposed bringing their services to the benefit of the community.
I think it would be instructive for all of those in such staunch opposition to the Horizon project to reflect on the previous experience with the Santa Inez Apartments. At the very least, it is time for cooler heads and a stronger sense of civility to prevail.
Karyl Eldridge
Burlingame
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(1) comment
Thanks for your letter, Ms. Eldridge, but a few observations… Affordable housing is not the same as a treatment center. I would imagine folks who want to remain in housing would likely take pains to ensure there is the least amount of trouble. Folks in treatment centers are transitory and have no obligation to the treatment center or the neighborhood.
If other communities want to roll out the welcome mat to Horizon, where are their offers? How about Burlingame? I’m sure those opposed to a treatment center in San Mateo would welcome another community offering to take Horizon. I would imagine that win-win solution would let cooler heads with a stronger sense of civility to prevail instead of inflaming tensions by attempting to force a treatment center on a community that doesn’t want it.
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