Good Neighbor Vashon is a non profit organization formed by a group of Island residents concerned about how the Seattle Indian Health Board’s (SIHB) proposed treatment center will impact our Island community. Good Neighbor Vashon believes Island residents deserve to know how this facility will impact safety, transportation, fire protection and other resources which are limited in our community.
Good Neighbor Vashon is not necessarily opposed to the Treatment Center. Yet efforts to gather information about Island concerns have been stonewalled or downright misleading. So our goal is to reach out to our neighbors and ask that you help us. By strength in numbers, hopefully we can get the answers we deserve.
At the last Vashon Maury Community Council meeting, an attendee commented that she felt like things were happening “under the radar” regarding the Treatment Center. The Good Neighbor Vashon organization wholeheartedly agrees, and as a collective effort we intend to voice our concerns with our government representatives and then clearly communicate their response to all Vashon residents. We encourage you to review our list of questions and concerns below and please let us know what you think—your opinions pro and con, additional items to consider, etc. Our email is GoodNeighborVashon@proton.Me. And also, please sign the petition showing your support for what we’re doing.
From our Federal Government Representatives:
We understand that a federal grant ($5 million) was used to purchase the Vashon Care Center. If there was a proposal or “needs statement” prepared for this grant, how were Island issues addressed? Any reference to drug and alcohol abuse on the Island? Assistance to Vashon Youth and Family Services and other Island support groups? Affordable housing issues? Homeless issues?
From our State Representatives:
We understand that substance abuse facilities must be licensed or certified to operate in the State of Washington (RCW 71.24.025). However, these licensing requirements do not apply to a Tribe via attestation (WAC 246-341-0300). The exemption appears to recognize the “Cultural” approach used for treatment. How would this affect a non-Indian resident receiving treatment at the Treatment Center. Or would treatment even be available to the non-Indian resident? What is the connection between these shared regulatory bodies? What is the interplay between Indian and non- Indian jurisdictions—i.e. Court sentencing, referrals, follow up, etc.
We understand that an Agency certification for Opioid treatment programs must have a communication plan to “minimize the impact of the opioid treatment programs upon the business and residential neighborhoods in which the program is located.” (WAC 246-341-1005) Is there a similar requirement for drugs other than Opioids.
From our King County Representative:
Proper zoning is essential to ensure that our community is adequately resourced to support the Treatment Center. As residents in unincorporated King County, we must rely 100 percent on our representatives for these assurances.
Before acquiring the Vashon Care Center in 2022, the SIHB was informed that the property was not properly zoned. SHIB apparently intended to request a rezone after the property was purchased.
It is our understanding that a request for rezone would be considered under the 10 year comprehensive plan, required by the Washington Growth Management Act. In December 2023, the King County Executive submitted the plan for King County residents to review. The Growth Management Act stipulates that 30 day notice be given for this review. In early May, our King County Council member, Teresa Mosqueda, announced that this review would be held on May 24 at the Vashon Arts Center.
A Good Neighbor Vashon representative attended the meeting and asked about the status of the Treatment Center. The Council Chair abruptly interrupted our representative and indicated the question was inappropriate (which apparently indicated that the Center was not included in the 10-year plan). The Council Chair indicated that the representative could submit his question by email to the full King County Council. The representative sent an email and received a reply acknowledging that the Treatment Center’s request for rezone was not included in the 10 year plan.
If you are concerned about the zoning issue and what it means to Vashon, now is the time to get involved!!!!
As of June, 2024 we have heard that a rezone request will be considered by the King County Council in December 2024. The new zoning states: “Allows this as a permitted use in the zone R-12 to R-48 with development conditions limited SIC Industries 8063-Psychiatric Hospitals and 8069-Specialty hospitals, Except Psychiatric.”
From the Seattle Indian Health Board:
Please understand that the Good Neighbor Vashon organization’s concern is for the safety and welfare of the Vashon community. We are a good neighbor, and we expect you will be the same. We are not questioning how you operate the Center but do want to know how you will safeguard the community and your patients. There are many questions and we look forward to hearing from you, not with anecdotes but with real life experience data.