“Mandel Community Center is the beating heart of our local community,” she said, projecting right to the front of the room. She paused to let the words land. “It houses a wonderful nursery, an extremely popular senior citizens’ social club”—she hoped the council hadn’t bothered to check Lydia’s attendance records—“Alcoholics Anonymous, NCT antenatal classes, and a karate club. I can’t even imagine the chaos if all those toddlers, bored geriatrics, addicts, heavily pregnant women, and trained killers were left to just wander around the streets!
