My wife and I operate a preschool day care in New Auburn close to the St. Francis rehabilitation facility. Recently, there was an article in the Sun Journal that mentioned that facility was established as a substance abuse rehabilitation center and, I agree, it has been an asset to the community as such. Not mentioned was that sex offenders are occasionally placed at the facility, which is directly across the street from a large apartment complex (the old St. Louis School), is within a block of the Boys & Girls Club, and is within 1,000 feet of a day care. Many young children reside in the area.

I have been told by Auburn Police Chief Phil Crowell that sex offenders are allowed to be placed there (temporarily) because it is not their primary residence.

There are way too many sex offenders living in city neighborhoods as it is. People who have recently offended should not be placed in a less than secure facility, especially in an area that has so many young children. One could not expect sex offenders to be rehabilitated with all that temptation around them.

There must be a better environment where they could be placed.

Larry Pelletier, Auburn