Detox clap of thunder

Placing a 30-day detox residential facility in a neighborhood filled with children and seniors, near schools and multiple assisted living centers, is a serious threat to public safety and a deeply flawed planning decision. This area is heavily used by elderly residents who walk daily and are especially vulnerable.

There is no meaningful on-site outdoor space. Residents will be pushed into surrounding streets for recreation, directly impacting neighborhoods not designed to absorb this level of activity.

This facility belongs on the campus of San Mateo General Hospital — a large, controlled environment designed for medical and behavioral care — not in the middle of a residential community.

Equally concerning, the operator is not based in San Mateo County. Without strict requirements, this facility may prioritize individuals from outside the county while shifting the financial, social and public safety burden onto local residents. San Mateo County residents must have clear first priority, enforced through firm limits and regular audits.

This project could bring numerous individuals annually into the area, increasing demands on policing, health care and social services. Policies must require the mandatory return of patients to their originating communities.

Carol Gillett

San Mateo