i'm volunteering with a group that's trying to get a detox/mental health treatment center built

[fizzgig]

the closest detox center is an hour away and although we have a small psych hospital, the county mental health center is overwhelmed.

this group got a proposal on the november ballot to get the facility built here in our county. the citizen's committee is filled with a number of people i worked with on this issued when i worked at the newspaper and i'm very excited to be involved with this. not only because this facility is so badly needed, but i also think it's going to be good for me personally to be involved with this.

the first meeting was last week and i can't wait to get rolling on this

[mopinko]

1. best of luck. it might be a long haul, tho.

there are a lot of social service agencies in my neighborhood, especially around substance abuse problems. the neighbors will not like you. hope their are no neighborhood blogs to invade the privacy of clients, and drum up b.s. for you. lotta nice folks in my 'hood, but a lotta assholes, too.

but, seriously, hope all goes well. keep us up to date.

[fizzgig]

2. i honestly have little hope that it will pass

and not only for the nimby aspect. it's asking for a .25% sales tax increase and a lot of the population here would rather turn a blind eye to these things. that said, i am going to do everything i can to help it pass.

i will keep you guys up to date on this.

[mopinko]

3. it's important to try.

making people aware of the needs, and feel like they can and must do something is a good thing in and of itself. and this kind of stuff seems to need to fail a time or 2 before it succeeds. so, look at what you are doing as building a foundation, no matter what happens.
stay strong, and let us know how it is going.