Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) with 47^thAssembly District Leader Nancy Tong attended Community Board 11 meeting where about 200 concerned neighborhood people showed up to express their concerns over a possible drug treatment center at 1751 Bath Avenue, Brooklyn. Assemblyman Peter Abbate was also present at the meeting to show his support for the community.

“This location has many reasons to make us concerned and the lack of providing information by the applicant about what they are planning to do make us even more concerned. The applicant must file an application with the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The owner and a doctor who are planning to open a center tried to allay concerns by saying it would only be drug counseling in the Community Board 11 area. The residents expressed their continuing concerns about a site at this location, which is surrounded by so many nearby schools, churches, mosques and synagogues with senior centers and youth activities, as well as a school for autistic youth and several after school music, dance and tutoring activities for children,” said Colton.

“As I said in addressing the meeting this great turnout of people clearly shows this community is concerned and we will not allow any program to be forced upon the neighborhood without our voices and concerns being heard. The Community Board 11 will schedule another meeting to vote on it after an application is filed. The vote will be only an advisory and if the community’s concern remains, I will to continue to fight and force our voices to be heard. The community must continue to be alerted and listened to; together we will make sure this happens. The message from the community was loud and clear,” Colton stated.