I was alarmed to learn Valley Cities chose to locate the proposed Woodmont Recovery Center in such close proximity to a school, library and an under-served residential neighborhood.

Over the last several weeks, I have monitored the response of local, state and Valley Cities officials to the public outcry and would like to add my concerns to your consideration: this is the wrong location for this project.

As vice chair of the Human Services, Mental Health & Housing Committee in Olympia, I know there is a long-standing need for more human services in South King County, particularly psychiatric and chemical rehabilitation. Drug addiction and mental illness are on the rise and creating a crisis of homelessness and poverty in our community. However, we must not create a new crisis by placing this center in the middle of a vulnerable population. It is in the best interest of all parties to make sure the placement of the facility is beneficial to everyone if we want to succeed in fighting homelessness and growing a healthy community.

I applaud the attention being paid to this issue at all levels of leadership and I am pleased the voices of the many residents in the Woodmont and surrounding communities are being heard. We cannot stop there. We need a solution that does not put our children and safe public spaces at risk.

I commend Valley Cities for listening to the community and being open to exploring other sites. I will continue to monitor the progress of this project and offer my help and support for a new location that balances the growing needs of the ill with community safety.

Sen. Mark Miloscia