The City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to kill the relocation of the of the downtown Volunteers of America (VOA) detox center to Pacific Beach.
But District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer pledged to help find a home ” in his district ” for the nonprofit Sobering Center, which must find a new location by June after losing its lease at 1111 Island Ave.
Hundreds of people showed up at City Hall for what turned out to be a three-hour debate and testimony from both sides. While most people praised the idea of the work that VOA does, many said the proposed location was unsuitable because it was in a residential neighborhood. The proposed location was a vacant medical building at 3565 Del Rey St. near Mission Bay Drive.
“I accept we should keep this in District 2, but we must determine the right location,” Faulconer said. “This is a neighborhood. It is not the right location. We will find a site that works.”
Faulconer’s motion to deny the various permits for the site was seconded by Councilman Brian Maienschein.
Also voting to kill the Del Ray Street location were Councilmembers Donna Frye, Toni Atkins, Scott Peters, and Jim Madaffer. Voting against Faulconer’s motion were Councilmen Tony Young and Ben Hueso.
“Absolutely, I’m disappointed,” said Gerald McFadden, the CEO/President of Volunteers of America, to reporters afterwards.
McFadden said he will meet with Faulconer soon to consider another site. Just before the vote, Council President Peters told his colleagues “I think we should take Mr. Faulconer at his word” in finding another location.
Before any testimony was heard, City Attorney Mike Aguirre said his legal opinion was the project should undergo an environmental impact report before it could be considered. He was critical of the way it came before the council.
Faulconer was also critical of how the proposed move came about blaming it on former councilman Michael Zucchet without mentioning him by name.
Zucchet resigned his seat after his July 18, 2005, convictions for wire fraud and conspiracy, leaving the seat vacant for more than five months until Faulconer was elected on Jan. 10.
“It was pushed down the tracks without representation,” Faulconer said.
County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price was one of the first public speakers. She told the Council the site was near schools and residences and “is a risk we cannot take.”
Lorena Gonzalez, an attorney who ran against Faulconer and narrowly lost, told the council the site needs an environmental study.
Dr. Shawn Evans, a Pacific Beach resident who works in a hospital emergency room, told the Council the Sobering Center “can’t control the people who leave the detox and education program” and remain drunk outside the location.
Another Pacific Beach physician, Lawrence Woodburn, spoke in favor, saying the program is “an absolutely essential public service.” Leslie Wade told the council that people who leave the detox center won’t stay in the neighborhood, explaining that transients tend to congregate where food is provided.
The Sobering Center doesn’t distribute food.
“I’m approaching my end of my 14th year of sobriety. I continue to treasure the gift Volunteers of America gave me,” said Stephen Withers. “This organization needs a place to do their lifesaving work. I urge the council to approve their carefully researched location.”
A retired Superior Court Judge, Ronald Johnson, also spoke in favor. A representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving spoke in favor of the program, but added the organization is neutral about its location.