The community of Rescue is once again facing misleading claims from developers trying to push two commercial Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment centers into a rural residential area. Some of you received a recent certified letter from 6Beds.org, an organization financially tied to the project’s developer, that attempts to misrepresent key facts to sway public opinion and county officials.
Here’s what you need to know:
6Beds Claims vs. The Truth
Claim: “These Are Not Commercial Facilities”
Reality: These are not small homes—they are large-scale commercial treatment centers that require commercial permits and will house 30-40 residents with paid staff. If these were truly residential care homes, they wouldn’t need county approval.
Claim: “These Homes Are Just Like Any Other Care Home”
Reality: Standard six-bed residential care homes do not need special permits—these facilities do. The project’s scale makes them incompatible with rural zoning and the surrounding community.
Claim: “The County Must Approve These Homes”
Reality: The county has full legal authority to deny these permits if they fail zoning, CEQA, or safety requirements. A June 7, 2024 letter from El Dorado County Counsel confirmed this. There is no automatic approval, and state agencies require local compliance.
Claim: “These Are Not Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Centers”
Reality: The grant applications that fund these projects explicitly designate them as SUD treatment facilities. The developers cannot claim to be treatment centers when seeking funding and then deny it when facing public scrutiny.
Claim: “These Facilities Will Not Provide Medical Services”
Reality: Once operational, these facilities can apply for Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) certification, allowing on-site administration of controlled substances. This creates additional risks, including medical waste contamination and prescription drug management issues.
Claim: “These Projects Expand Access in Underserved Areas”
Reality: The grant documents state patients will come from all across California, and predominantly San Joaquin County (Stockton, Manteca, Tracy, etc.), not El Dorado County. These projects do not serve a local need and fail the “Geographic Equity” requirement outlined in the State’s funding objectives.
Claim: “Community Safety Concerns Are Overstated”
Reality: These facilities are in a Very High Fire Severity Zone. The area has narrow, winding roads, limited emergency response, and infrastructure challenges. Evicted patients would have nowhere to go, increasing public safety risks—similar issues at Native Directions’ Manteca facility have already led to fatalities.
Claim: “Opposition to These Projects is Based on Discrimination”
Reality: This false narrative ignores the fact that many Native American residents in Rescue oppose these projects because they fail to adequately serve Native populations and are in an unsafe location.
Claim: “The Developers Are Acting in the Public Interest”
Reality: 6Beds.org is a revenue generating consultancy that benefits from expanding SUD treatment businesses. The developer, Gina Wasdyke, has multiple business ventures tied to these facilities and stands to profit significantly. This is a business venture, not a public service.
The Bottom Line: These Facilities Are NOT Suitable for Rescue
The 6Beds letter is designed to mislead the public and obscure the real dangers of this project. The facts show that these facilities:
- Are commercial businesses, not small residential homes.
- Require county approval and do not have automatic legal protection.
- Are misrepresented as non-SUD facilities, despite receiving SUD funding.
- Introduce major fire, safety, and infrastructure risks.
- Do not serve a local need and fail the geographic equity test.
- Are financially motivated projects, not community-driven solutions.
El Dorado County has every legal right to deny these permits, and our community will continue to hold them accountable to protect our safety, property values, and quality of life.
Read our full, detailed rebuttal of the 6Beds letter here: LINK
For more updates and to stay involved, please subscribe.
Rescue Deer Valley! 