Feb 13, 2024 – Sacramento Bee – “El Dorado County wants to halt construction of housing project for Native Women. Here’s why”
Rescue Deer Valley “Letter to Editor” response to this article:
First off, thanks to the reporter for taking the time to add the “Rescue Deer Valley” group perspective to the article on the proposed Native American Substance Use Disorder facilities in the towns of Rescue and Shingle Springs in El Dorado County. There are a few items that we (Rescue Deer Valley) feel require response.
We don’t understand how the comments by Albert Titman add any value to this issue. The factual statement that Substance Use Disorder (SUD) facilities of this size “increase crime rates” in a community makes no condition on the race or gender of the patients and the statement is backed up by the El Dorado County Sheriff. Rescue Deer Valley is not against development of new facilities for Native Americans, but the proposed developments in Rescue are not an appropriate location for these patients and will create a poor patient experience due to numerous reasons. One critical example is the danger to patients and local residents in the event of an emergency, particularly fire or wildfire evacuation. Current Fire Department and Sheriff department cannot handle this type of facility with their current resources, budgets and workforce. If Albert really cared about the patients, he would be asking the same questions we are about location and access to care.
Since the developer and care provider have not reached out the Rescue community directly, we learn more about these proposals every day. We appreciate the statements that these aren’t “medical” facilities, but that exacerbates the transportation problems the Rescue location creates for possible patients. The nearest hospital is 20 minutes away, and emergency care responses are delayed by the narrow Deer Valley Road. High risk patients going through pregnancy deserve quicker access to medical care, especially when emergencies occur.
We also don’t understand how Native Directions plans to “provide(s) an additional route to access medical facilities, including the Shingle Springs Wellness Center” when Deer Valley Road is the only access road to this area. Does Native Directions plan to develop a new road to provide better access to/from these facilities? That would be a welcome addition, but we are not sure this is viable option.
Let me reiterate that what we are asking for is better for the future patients of these proposed facilities – build these facilities in San Joaquin County, where their families/doctors are located while being taken care of in a safe environment. Most of these patients are predominantly from San Joaquin County where Native Directions has years of experience and where the patients can get higher quality services and faster access to medical care and not have all of the liability of living on property, in a very high-risk fire area, that does not have public sewer or water and has frequent issues with power outages.
Regards, Rescue Deer Valley, Chris Silva – spokesperson
Rescue Deer Valley! 