Crowding at Drug Facility

The neighbors on Terry Drive, Ventura, are not opposed to the concept of a drug rehabilitation facility. Our complaint is with the proposed number of occupants and their safety.

The home has four bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths and 1,800 square feet. The county wants to house six pregnant women, each with a child. After the mother gives birth, each will have two children. Also, there must be two attendants on duty 24 hours a day.

So, simple math says six patients plus 12 children plus two attendants equals 20 people living in the home. Now include daily visitors such as husbands, boyfriends, family members, county supervisors and others.

It is clear this place is going to be crawling with people coming and going.

Our concern is with the attitude of the bureaucratic agencies. State money was given to Ventura County and the facility is in the city of Ventura.

But no one wants to be responsible. The county wants to say that since there are only six patients, then there are only six occupants. The fire marshal does not want to say the facility is overcrowded because he is pressured by the state to “go along.”

This home has wood siding; an old shake roof and backs up against a brush-covered hillside. If there was a fire, this facility could be a major disaster. The nature of this occupant group is such that they will be unable to respond quickly in an emergency and no one seems to care.

The neighbors do not oppose the project; actually we support the project. We feel that considering the size of the facility, the occupant load be scaled back to a reasonable number, such as three mothers, six children and two attendants. We also want to see provisions for handicapped occupants and upgraded emergency exiting. We are only concerned that the county and the city be responsible and do the job properly.

ELIZABETH BRINKER-O’NEILL, Ventura