Letters to the Editor: On Chorro Creek Training Center

Not getting rich

Several things saddened me about the article entitled “Group home under fire” (June 7).

First, doesn’t front-page coverage and good journalism warrant coverage of the other side of the story? You admitted all the charges of the neighbor in question were unsubstantiated.

Second, easily with a little research, The Tribune could have reported about the hundreds if not thousands of lives and families that have been significantly helped, fed, clothed and healed through the ministry of Chorro Creek Training Center, formerly called Roandoak of God. Why the focus on unsubstantiated controversy?

Third, if you are really concerned about Mr. Goodwin’s character and motives, why not interview some of us ministers in the community who have related to him and observed his work for many years (for myself the last 15 and a half years)?

Fourth, why the repeated references to CCTC as Roandoak of God? Your newspaper noted the change of name and leadership back in January of 2003. And finally, anyone who runs any kind of ministry these days knows that $90,000 a year to run such a home and care for such a large property is nothing. Believe me, Mr. Goodwin is not getting rich on the poor. Randy Nash

Los Osos

Serious problems

Mr. Cuddy’s article on Roandoak (June 7) has exposed some very serious problems that need attention. I have personally seen numerous documents that back up what he says, and many believe they indicate that things are actually a lot worse than what was described in the article.

For example, I have seen documented evidence that the facility’s septic systems were never permitted, and documents from as early as 1972 that indicate serious concerns that the facility’s wastewater is a threat to Morro Bay City wells.

The facility is located directly over the aquifer that supplies the nearby wells and lies within 600 feet of Chorro Creek, which flows to the estuary. To my knowledge, the county has not required the facility’s owner to clean up the abandoned, failed septic tanks and leach fields.

I have seen six years’ worth of Morro Bay well-testing data, obtained from the California Department of Public Health, showing coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination of city wells surrounding the Roandoak facility.

The CDPH has shut down all those wells. Meanwhile, the data shows that another city well upstream is much cleaner, even though it is much closer to agriculture and the CMC.

A serious investigation is in order, but does not seem to be forthcoming.

Linda Stedjee

Morro Bay