NIMBY Highpoint

Not In My Back Yard or NIMBY seemed to be used with a certain inflection of distain towards those who questioned having a drug treatment facility near their abode. Rang up some casino memories.

I am sure those who pontificate from their bully pulpit(s) on having such a facility in Middleboro would gladly become NIMBY’s if the locale was changed to directly across from their home or business. The proverbial walk in my shoes.

Seemed that Chief Gates had done some diligent research on the issue in regards to a similar facility in Plymouth and was able to connect the potential fiscal and service call dots. Expect services to potentially be taxed. Imagine a response in town being late since resources were diverted to Highpoint. And this is in a town where public safety officials have consistently gone on record as being severely understaffed. Great. Bring in another few hundred - if we are lucky - calls a year.

I know addiction first hand and I also know the very real disasters that can happen with a less than structured day treatment program in a neighborhood. And this will have that very component, which is where I draw my personal line. To be blunt - you have to be absolutely bonkers to have a day treatment facility in a neighborhood and business district. Bad enough with McLean but, hey, why stop with just one facility. Maybe we can get a six pack of them?

With our antiquated drug laws the cost of product causes significant crime. That should be of concern for those seeking day treatment and those who may accompany them. Are they thieves? Certainly may be a bit of a stretch on my part but that risk is there.

I found the attitude of Highpoint rather dismissive during the recent hearings. Seems their course of action is to minimize any problems at other facilities, and for their supporters to actively toss forward the emotional blackmail card. To the various hand wringers, of course there are drug issues in Middleboro and this facility will not solve that problem, but may actually magnify it. This is just the wrong place. Simple as that. Take the emotional blather and just stuff it. Does not pass my personal litmus test.

Now if Highpoint was strictly a lock down facility that just might be a different story to this observer but it is not, nor does Highpoint seem in any way willing to negotiate that point. Maybe eventually they will. So just enjoy the people watching when and if the project is completed.

Now we are faced with another nefarious argument that has zero merit, and that is the building is a blight! No kidding. Smart thinking. So one way of correcting that blight is to bring in a non tax paying facility that could severely tax our safety system! Now that is absolutely genius thinking to me. I’d rather see it sit vacant until nature solves that problem.

The programs and services that Highpoint provides are necessary, but also a judicious dose of common sense needs to be applied and that is sorely lacking. And why didn’t anyone question how successful Highpoint is? Fact is when dealing with drug dependency issues the recidivism rate is astronomical. But that also means return customers.