Park Heights activist says he is against methadone clinic
Above: The ex-barber shop to become a methadone clinic is 50 feet south of a child care center and across the street from the Pimlico Race Track parking lot. (Mark Reutter)
Addressing the mushrooming controversy over a methadone clinic that plans to open next to a child care center in Northwest Baltimore, a community leader says his group would “never welcome” the clinic.
George E. Mitchell, president of Neighborhoods United, disputed an account by 5th District Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki” Spector that his group was cooperating with the clinic’s owner and assisting Spector in what she called a “win-win situation” in which the clinic would open without community protests or picketing.
Mitchell said he was opposed to the clinic at 5260 Park Heights Avenue, immediately south of the ABC Child Development Center, and said he offered to help clinic owner Moshe Markowitz find a new location.
The ABC Center, Pimlico Merchants Association, church groups and others say they were not informed of the meeting between Markowitz, Mitchell and two members of Mitchell’s group at City Hall last Monday.
Several accused Mitchell of trying to thwart their efforts to enact a state law prohibiting a drug treatment facility from locating within 500 feet of a school, day care center or other child-serving organization.
“From day one, we always have not been in agreement with the drug clinic being there,” Mitchell told The Brew today. He said he wanted the building to be turned into a library or sit-down restaurant – facilities the neighborhood now lacks.
• Citizens try to stop a methadone clinic from opening next to a daycare center
George Mitchell is pictured last year during his unsuccessful effort to keep the neighborhood Langston Hughes Elementary School open. (Danielle Sweeney)
He said his meeting with Spector and Markowitz ended with his agreement to discuss the matter further with his organization and day care owner Danita Maryland. He said he has not yet had time to talk to Maryland.
Councilwoman Spector today backtracked from her statement on Friday that Mitchell supported her idea of asking Markowitz to provide “community benefits,” such as a student training program, in return for opening the clinic.
She also said she was going to be very careful never to use the word “asshole” when discussing people’s opinions of the clinic.
In fact, today the councilwoman was full of praise for Park Heights, saying, “It is such a good community. People put their hearts and souls into it. And elected officials try their best to represent their interests.”
Markowitz operates a chain of methadone maintenance clinics in Northeast Baltimore, Hampden, Bayview and Dundalk. He has not returned phone messages from The Brew seeking his response to the controversy.