Courage needed on treatment center location

No one disputes that people struggling with addiction deserve compassion and access to treatment.

The question residents continue to ask is much simpler: Is this particular proposal the best, most transparent, and most cost-effective way to provide those services?

Mr. Duran writes that "the questions were answered." Many residents would respectfully disagree.

Residents have repeatedly asked Horizon and public officials to provide clear evidence demonstrating the need for a 69-bed facility at 101 N. El Camino Real. What are the actual utilization rates of Horizon's existing facilities? What documented unmet demand exists? What alternative sites were analyzed? What financial comparisons were performed?

Horizon itself has acknowledged that the 17,520 annual drop-off figure contained in its grant application was overstated. Why was such a large number used? Was it intended to justify obtaining tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to acquire prime commercial real estate?

Horizon would be using taxpayer grant monies to buy prime real estate. That is what this is really about – not services.

Residents have also pointed to reports that Horizon's existing Palm facility has operated well below full capacity. If current facilities are averaging only 50-60% occupancy, where is the data demonstrating the need for 69 additional beds?

And if the primary objective is delivering treatment services rather than acquiring a specific property, why has Horizon not embraced the opportunity presented by the Mahler Road facility, which was previously used for similar purposes and could place services into operation more quickly?

These are not questions born of fear. They are questions of accountability.

Compassion and fiscal responsibility are not mutually exclusive.

Taxpayers and residents deserve real answers, supported by real data, before tens of millions of public dollars are committed.