8/13/12 -- Waterfront development plan continued to special Thursday meeting of Planning Commission. Callahan DaSilva to address City Council on Tuesday 8/14 

Monday, Monday Monday

Waterfront, Waterfront, Waterfront

7PM Vallejo City Hall Planning Commission Special Meeting

Planned Master Plan Amendment #12-0002

Joe Callahan – Callahan Property Company Inc.

The waterfront developer proposes to amend the Waterfront Planned Development Master Plan to address the following CLICK HERE TO SEE AGENDA

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????   |August.22.2012 It was a the mayors campaing promise to shut them all down and he definitely did it

Mr. D...   |August.20.2012 The citizens of this state forced the decriminalization of marijuana for medical use through the petition process. The County Supervisors of Solano County have banned MMD's and the growing of marijuana on county property. The citizens of Vallejo, at the request of the City Council, approved the taxation of MMD's. Then the raids began. I believe that the closing of these dispensaries is a conspiracy formed by the Mayor, City Manager and Police Chief. The raids and following litigations will cost the city hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of dollars. The raids subject the City to undo litigation and costs which are illegal actions per the City Charter. The Vallejo Police will continue these raids because to do anything else would indicate that the raided dispensaries have an even stronger case against the City. Vallejo can not afford to allow any MMD's to do business within the City limits. Legal or not ... if they're in Vallejo, they will be raided.

Mr :O   |August.19.2012 "i do not want everyone in the world to have a physicians recommendation to consume cannabis. " Why, you can get prescriptions for speed aka Ritalin?alderall? People get prescriptions for things like anti depressants and if they work they continue with them otherwise they stop. But it is a fact that these days you can get a prescription for just about any class of psychological drug. So why not marijuana? " i want economic development within vallejo. i'd like to see some festivals again in town" Maybe in the abstract sense you think that, but when actual businesses show up, like MMDs, many people go on tilt. They don't like the customers, the product, the color of the establishment and more. You will try to say your concerns are marijuana specific, they are no different than if there was a popular bar, music venue, dance club, whatever. So if you want economic development, don't stop it when it occurs. Like it or not Medical Marijuana was Vallejo's shot at something, and the people of Vallejo did not like it. They will not like anything else, as they are not interested in development in general. Apple just opened a data center in Reno NV, the same Reno that is the landing zone for the participants in the Burning Man art, and drug use festival. Some how a more or less conservative Reno managed to make peace with its godless fill in the blank sexual stoners. But don't worry, y'all have run those Burning Man stoners out of town, good job. Give the Vallejo PD a raise, you might as well, you don't have a choice.

Clarke Johnston   |August.18.2012 Morgan: Thanks for contributing your thoughts. The City of Vallejo has taken the path of least resistance though the busts; of establishments trying to comply. In so doing, they're lining their pockets through asset forfeiture and seizure. Which, should, although the courts have conveniently refused to rule appropriately, be unconstitutional on the very face of it. Taking property without a conviction is just plain wrong. Although our founding fathers never imagined the crossroads this country finds itself in regarding week, I'm highly doubtful that they would endorse the state taking and selling property without a criminal conviction.

morgan hannigan   |August.18.2012 i'm not a lawyer, yet. the thought has been crossing my mind lately. on the issue of my passion - one facet of my passion is cannabis law, and i follow more cases than our current, or former, city attorney - guaranteed. not only that, but i have friends employed as lawyers of cannabis collectives all across california. this doesn't make me an expert, but it does give me a wealth of knowledge that i am not sure our city attorney has ever been privy to. i do not wish to see the "wild west" of cannabis collectives again, i never liked it in the first place. i do not want "riff raff" hanging out in front of collectives (selling drugs, robbing people, or soliciting prostitution). i do not want medicine from qualified patients to be diverted to non-patients (including cops), and i do not want everyone in the world to have a physicians recommendation to consume cannabis. what i DID want, what i still want, is this, and it has never been difficult to achieve. i want patients to have safe, easy access to good medicine. i want the city of vallejo to allow these businesses to operate, be involved in the community at large, and pay taxes; from those taxes i want economic development within vallejo. i'd like to see some festivals again in town, some roads improved, more beat cops hired to address the riff raff, and maybe even some reserve "rainy day" funds. i do not want collectives to be painted bright pink, or be flashy. i want businesses that fit into our communities desired image. all of this could have been easily accomplished when the city council was presented a moratorium, as well as a proposed tax measure that could have been improved upon and included some MINISTERIAL regulations. instead, the council followed the advice of the city attorney and did everything they could to avoid litigation in the short term. the long term consequences of this action is yet to be determined, but following other cases across the state, lawsuits will follow and it will not be VPD paying, it will be the council. what i really don't want, is to see Measure C monies be diverted to paying for those consequences. also, i have worked with Mission Solano in the past, and shame on anyone who would criticize Mr. Darling's work with the homeless. these are both groups of people who should be treated with compassion, as all people should, and should not be subject to anyone's ill informed judgement based on how they look, or how the behave in the moment you see them. i would stress, that similar to homeless people, often patients do not APPEAR to be ill. i have personally met chemotherapy patients, who aside from vomiting and sweating profusely seemingly at random, did not look to be ill. just because you have a stereotype in your mind of what someone ought to look like, does not mean that is the case. don't judge a book by its cover, and judge not, lest ye be judged.

momster   |August.18.2012 I have a MMD right down the street from my residence. It's very quiet. In fact, I drove my 70 year old mother-in-law who is ill and in a lot of pain to mmd (she has her card)in Cotati. Funny right next store to the MMD is a law enforcement uniform shop, and gun store, and across the street it a Lowes. Most the MMD stores I've experienced are very clean and located in a nice neighborhood. I've seen more riff-raff hanging out at 7-11 stores than at the MMD's.

Glass Houses Doug   |August.17.2012 Doug, I would encourage you to scroll down and read your comments, replace "pot clubs etc. with the group you advocate for, the similarities are striking. Keep in mind many you refer to are ILL patients and have valid prescriptions. " they do not provide anything positive or healthy to Vallejo, they only deteriorate the quality of life in Vallejo." "There is a reason why no other City in Solano County has these clubs, cause they are not condusive to a healthy community! Ya think burglaries and other crimes might of increased along with the proliferation of these clubs? Ya ever think about how much traffic comes from not only Solano County but the east bay as well? I see absolutely no advantage to having this element roaming our streets, coming to Vallejo to cop some bud." "My opinion of "shots fired" is a public one, it needs to be high on the priority list. These clubs can attract that very element thats one of many reasons why i support the closure of all store fronts selling drugs. So, you have young males with guns, when they are not shooting at something what might they be doing, ya, most likely gettin high. So in my opinion by shutting down these store fronts selling drugs you are doing preventive maintenance, you cant just look for guns in the waistband of young males. I doubt we the public will get all the details, but consinder all the people caught with guns in the last 2 years, ever wonder how many of those had pot club cards in their wallets? I believe the clubs also fuel buglaries and property thefts in Vallejo, i believe these clubs add to the overall crime problem in Vallejo, they add to the victimization of innocent residents of this community, the victimization of residents is just as important of a priority as young males with guns" "As we all know, they created their own rights and their own liberties" Like I said, very strange

Mr :O   |August.16.2012 " falsify their business applications " - Then send them a registered letter revoking their business license. You might even send a process server to personally hand them the letter. Sending the police to shut them down is wasteful, stupid and dangerous. BTW is anyone checking on police overtime expenses?

Doug   |August.16.2012 Ahh, yes, i should expect this. You would be comparing apples to kiwis but that's OK, were all entitled to our opinions.

Glass House Doug   |August.16.2012 In reading Dougs comments I cannot help but notice that those that he advocates for, and righfully so, are guilty of the exact same things he is accussing MMD's of. Strange.

Doug   |August.15.2012 Damn, why wont these pesky residents just shut up and roll over! Lets see, what exactly got thrown out the window, their right to falsify their business applications or their liberty to operate without a business license? As we all know, they created their own rights and their own liberties. As for the voters, they voted to approve a tax, not the right to operate a business in defiance of local policies and ordinances. The City is part of the problem as well, none the less, these businesses are still not in compliance and should not be operating, simple as that. Any attempt to justify what they are doing is misleading.

Faulty Reasoning Below (Again)   |August.15.2012 Nobody is proposing or recommending marijuana use by children or juveniles. Don't put words in people's mouths. Further, the issue has absolutely nothing to do with Walgreens, or any other pharmacy. What is does have to do is with citizens, who, the minute they get uncomfortable or nervous about other people's conduct or behavior, are very quick to throw other's rights and liberties out the window. Equally quick to ignore the expressed wishes of the voters. This intolerance is not where our founding fathers were coming from. It's thin skinned, obnoxious, and self-righteous.

Anonymous   |August.15.2012 If you look at Vallejo from the prospective of serious educators and recognize that the majority of our children are in a crisis in terms of their educational future, marijuana does nothing to help the situation. Marijuana interferes with the cognitive processes and reduces the ability to learn. On that basis alone I would reject marijuana for Vallejo.

Doug   |August.15.2012 Ya, that's the ticket, reefer madness. I'm sure the raids are nothing more than a fluke Maybe Walgreen's will be the next medicinal facility to be raided.

Faulty Reasoning Below   |August.15.2012 Posters here are parroting a modern version of "Reefer Madness". This is no correlation between burglaries, young men and guns, and MM establishments. Vallejo was it's most violent during the early years of the crack epidemic during the early 90's One year we had 31 murders. Also the burglaries are not tied to any need to fund purchases at MM. The burglaries are pretty much a result of Vallejo becoming "easy pickings" due directly to our reduced police staffing. Straight up connection. To imply that burglars are stealing to get a "fix" is just silly. More reefer madness red herrings. Now, might a higher percentage of arrestees test positive for pot? Maybe, but that's no linkage, and no conclusion can be correctly drawn. I'm certain that many tax-paying citizens also test positive, and wouldn't even remotely consider breaking into a residence or building, much less ever think about packing a firearm. Quit trying to establish a link that doesn't pass muster. It's misleading at best.

wharf rat   |August.15.2012 Cmon folks get with it! why do you think the Vallejo PD is towing the federal line it is because they are addicted to the money they have been getting for years both from DEA and Homeland security . Many PD'S have been militarized and equipped by these FED depts . Once one accepts the money they are bound to enforce the agenda . This is an election year you will not see any change for some time . As in prohibition once weed is de-criminalized it will have a very low value just as if it is any other produce like in Latin American countries where you see large bins of peyote in the market places .

Mr :O   |August.14.2012 "I doubt we the public will get all the details, but consinder all the people caught with guns in the last 2 years, ever wonder how many of those had pot club cards in their wallets?" OK I would like to know too. My guess is if MM patients were more likely to be convicted of gun crimes, you would be hearing about it in the main stream media. "Ya think burglaries and other crimes might of increased along with the proliferation of these clubs? Ya ever think about how much traffic comes from not only Solano County but the east bay as well? I see absolutely no advantage to having this element roaming our streets, coming to Vallejo to cop some bud. " Those that wonder why Vallejo does not have restaurants or Trader Joe's or whatever need to contend with this sort of thinking. It is simply not worth the effort to open a first rate business in a city where you will have more complaints about your businesses the more successful you are. In particular a successful bar would be far worse than any number of successful MMD establishments. As far as crime following the MMD, there does not appear to be much evidence of that. MM removes much of the financial incentive to be a marijuana based criminal. Robbing MMDs is problematic since as legitimate businesses they can have security guards, cameras ect, and even worse cooperate with the police. So that argument does not work. As far as a waste of resources goes, here is an interesting story from Jolly old Britain. G4S advertises for staff to help(*) police investigate crimes http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/aug/14/g4s-advertises-staff-police-crimes?newsfeed=true G4S normally supplies security guards to merchants and public transportation, but apparently they are seeking other lines of business. Maybe Vallejo should outsource some of their cold case and other police work. * Since we all just want to help the police, maybe outsourcing the more mundane work would be a good idea.

Priority   |August.14.2012 I am not here to argue should MMD be allowed or not. But the city needs to take a position either allow MMD or not allow MMD. If not allow MMD, then serving legal notice to ALL landlord who rent to MMD seems to be the easiest and lest expensive way. Our PD force can be used to bust Meth dealers. If allow MMD, then manage and monitor them. I am against all mind altering substance, alcohol included but that's me.

momster   |August.14.2012 I was raised in Vallejo and have to say that the very "element" you speak of has been in Vallejo long before MMDs. I've also prepared crime stats for 23 years in a County known for affluence and liberal politics toward marijuana usage; I've conlcuted there are more crimes of domestic violence and mayhem as a result of alcohol consumption; in fact a lot!. In fact, there are more crimes occuring at homeless encampments than in front of a MMD store. The solution is simple; legalize marijuana, tax em' like cigerettes because chasing the weed smoker is a waste of resources...unless you like paying the cops their high wages.

Priority   |August.14.2012 @ Doug, I agree with everything you said about MMD and I am not for it at all. But many cities does this by serving a notice to the building owner who rent their space to MMD. I think it is a much better way (and cheaper) to handle MMD. Police, by being armed, should handle other armed criminal elements in the city.

Doug   |August.14.2012 Priority, the very element you are refering to is the very element that can be attracted by these so called MMDs. My opinion of "shots fired" is a public one, it needs to be high on the priority list. These clubs can attract that very element thats one of many reasons why i support the closure of all store fronts selling drugs. So, you have young males with guns, when they are not shooting at something what might they be doing, ya, most likely gettin high. So in my opinion by shutting down these store fronts selling drugs you are doing preventive maintenance, you cant just look for guns in the waistband of young males. I doubt we the public will get all the details, but consinder all the people caught with guns in the last 2 years, ever wonder how many of those had pot club cards in their wallets? I believe the clubs also fuel buglaries and property thefts in Vallejo, i believe these clubs add to the overall crime problem in Vallejo, they add to the victimization of innocent residents of this community, the victimization of residents is just as important of a priority as young males with guns.

Priority   |August.14.2012 @Doug Maybe I am not against MMD as much as you do but I am not for it either. The way I see it is this, since we do not have all the resources we want to take care of all things, we need to choose and prioritize. As someone pointed out, young male with guns running around and the violence associated with it, do you think it is important? and should it take a higher priority?

Doug   |August.13.2012 Waste of taxpayers resources, absolutely not! There is a reason why no other City in Solano County has these clubs, cause they are not condusive to a healthy community! Ya think burglaries and other crimes might of increased along with the proliferation of these clubs? Ya ever think about how much traffic comes from not only Solano County but the east bay as well? I see absolutely no advantage to having this element roaming our streets, coming to Vallejo to cop some bud. There is certainly an element of legitimate "patients" I would place that percentage quite low. Most of the folks i know who use medicinaly do so through ingestion. Its the sale in bud form that draws recreational users claiming ailments or sickness. Like millions of americans, i have physical impairments, i could easily get a "card" This is one area of the way this system is flawed and rampantly abused, most anyone can get a "card" now we can all legally be recreational users, yippeeeeeee!! State law say a collective needs to be in compliance with local laws and ordinances, hmmm, falsifying business applications doesnt sound too compliant. Its just not time, too unorganized, too out of control.

Anonymous   |August.12.2012 Which marijuana collective(s) did Erin Hannigan take campaign donations from again? Which other candidates took marijuana collective campaign contributions? None? So explain, Erin, whazzup?

Anonymous   |August.12.2012 German doesn't need marijuana, he's nutty enough already! Morgan, I know you're passionate about this cause, but you're not a lawyer. I'd prefer the city follow legal opinions before they follow yours. No offense meant.

Mr :O   |August.12.2012 "Is there a reason Shotwell seams to be at each of these busts? " Yes, he is a citizen. Is there a reason police are at each of these busts? It would be cheaper to outsource everything to a moving company. They would collect everything and bundle it into nice boxes and store it for the city. Some how county sheriffs across the country clear out nastier meaner better armed dudes during foreclosures than work at these MMDs without any machine guns or back up.

Anonymous   |August.12.2012 in San Francisco, the Feds warn the owners of the buildings rented by the MMD's that the buildings will be seized under Federal laws that allow seizure if illegal drug dealing is happening. The owners throw the MMDs out with no police action required. That seems much simpler. Even the California Building Code has provisions for "unsafe buildings" that allow for demolition on the word of the Chief Building Official. That would work for 201 Maine and other notorious drug infested properties if the COV had any backbone at all. The slumlords would get real active in screening their tenants if Vallejo got serious. We don't need any more stinking ordinances or laws or "studies", the laws in place are plenty good enough.

Anon II   |August.12.2012 I fully agree with payinforit, the boys are very beefy!~ Quite frankly, I think they they look like pigs. I certainly would not want one of them on top of me by golly - in or out of bed. Also agree with silasbarnabee - these raids are a total waste of taxpayers' money. I guess our new interim police chief is going the way of all others: Collecting his paycheck and going back to Marin with a big fat smile on his face. Let's pray our new permanent guy gets it! We are losing too much here.

BadRobot   |August.12.2012 Who within the city is promoting these raids. It is clearly not a priority for the city with all the other crime. Is it the mayor who is wasting tax payer money with these raids?

Anonymous   |August.12.2012 Is there a reason Shotwell seams to be at each of these busts? Is he helping the VPD or just trying to chase the dimming spotlight of his pathetic existence?

Clarke Johnston   |August.11.2012 @Retired-IBEW - That makes entirely too much sense; and is wholly too practical. You're absolutely correct. All aspects of the collectives should be under scrutiny from the proper authorities, be it electrical, lighting, security, safety, record-keeping and other compliance matters. On top of it all, the city could be reaping significant revenue for our cash-strapped selves. Running a well-lit, professional establishment should be the order of the day, and product quality and safety should also be monitored. As it is now, one has no idea whether they're consuming unhealthy amounts of pesticides or other chemicals. Or, for that matter, depending on where it's grown, whether the environment is being damaged by water diversion, herbicides and pesticides. What's worse, some of the grow operations are being run by the cartels, with attendants packing automatic rifles, shotguns, and booby trap trip-wire set-ups. None of this enhances the safety of a casual hiker in state parks or national forests. So much could, and should, change.

Retired_IBEW   |August.11.2012 You have a city with a large number of armed young males who are likely to harm someone for little or no reason - THAT should be the primary focus of VPD, identifying them and either scaring them into compliance or forcing them to relocate. VPD does not have the resources to raid Marijuana dispensaries, the time on scene is probably 10% of the total time spent on this venture after you add in processing evidence and writing reports, it is an absolute waste of time and taxpayer money. If you don't want these dispensaries in town then make it illegal for them to open shop and utilize code enforcement to fine them daily until they leave..

be honest   |August.11.2012 Mr Garman, do you yourself enjoy pot? Just asking.

recreational is the way   |August.11.2012 So what about the rest of us who just like to smoke? You guys U keep pushing the medical issue T when what we need is recreational. Im not going to lie S that my back hurts (it does) to smoke pot. No way.

morgan lindsay hannigan   |August.11.2012 Thankfully, I wasn't a volunteer at H2C, however I was a member, having to look for a new collective after the closure of BHG. I encourage every collective that has been raided, and was operating within the confines of Prop 215 and SB 420, to pursue any and all legal action against the City. and it's PD, up to and including lawsuits. There is substantial case law that has resulted in the return of assets following seizures made by local police and CHP, so at a minimum - I expect a great deal of money to be owed as a result of this. In regards to the PD, I do want to say that they are just doing their jobs, and one cannot appoint blame anyone except for the person who gave the orders to pursue these raids. If I recall correctly, it was City Manager Phil Batchelor who gave the order to shut down "Vallejo's Wild West." Medical Marijuana laws provide an affirmative defense in court, it is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. This means that law enforcement can pursue medical cannabis establishments for breaking state law, they are indeed providing cannabis for medically qualified patients. That is an easy target, at best, and until the collective appears in court and proves that they have been operating within SB 420 and Prop 215, a successful target. Once the jury hears the evidence, they often acquit - even in conservative Vacaville, just in the last few months there was an acquittal in a case quite similar. My real concern is for the City of Vallejo, my hometown. I sincerely feel that there is a better solution - one that addresses the appearance and behavior of cannabis collectives, and one that frees our limited police resources for pursuing major crime, including major drugs. In case you haven't noticed, the meth epidemic is on the rise, still. It is becoming a bigger problem than crack was in the 80's. What's more, prescription pill abuse is skyrocketing since 2001, and opiates are coming back around in mainstream American drug culture, these are greater targets in my mind, as a long time resident of Vallejo. Meth, crack, opiates, prostitution, vagrancy, illegal squatting in foreclosed properties, and the whole gamut of violent crimes ought to be highest priority in Vallejo, in my mind. Let's specifically associate these crimes with the expenditure of our medical cannabis tax. I know that all the collectives and patients in our area would support that 100%. Had we addressed this issue proactively, providing regulations for the operation, location, and appearance of these establishments, we would have been able to get it under control before it got out of hand. There are no legal repercussions for establishing medical cannabis law, certainly not for elected officials who enact it (see 21 USC 885(d)). The same federal law that protects the police who come into medical cannabis establishments and smoke cannabis while undercover, protects any officer of any state, municipality, or district that is enforcing their local law. Fancy that, so there is no reason to be fearful if you sit on the dais, or if you are appointed by the dais. If we could just get our priorities straight, we could come out of our financial distress with flying colors. We could use the funds we make from providing a safe haven for qualified medical cannabis patients to acquire their medicine, and in turn use them to combat blight, fight dangerous crime, and protect our businesses and citizens better. I certainly don't feel much safer seeing pimps and drug dealers walk by as VPD are raiding a medical cannabis facility. Having been there shortly after the raid, I can assure you that there is clearly a need for a priority shift in our City.

silasbarnabe   |August.11.2012 Yet another waste of precious resources

busted   |August.11.2012 Is Erin Hannigans nephew collecting arrests ? for sure he has a Lawyer by now when the lawsuites come rolling in we will be payin alot of dough . The solution to the problem was a legislative one form the beginning ,staff blew it again we would have saved money by hiring competent Council to craft appropriate laws instead we took the Officer Gadget route now the Taxpayer will pay .

MFR   |August.11.2012 The police need to investigate downtown again. Another shop by the name Relief has opened up on the 400 block of Georgia St

Doug   |August.11.2012 These businesses only add to the thug culture of Vallejo, they do not provide anything positive or healthy to Vallejo, they only deteriorate the quality of life in Vallejo. These clubs in Vallejo are the perfect example how the true intent of medical marijuana has been made a mockery of.

Clarke Johnston   |August.11.2012 I think everyone carrying a sidearm and a shotgun or two would be enough armament. We have we got fully automatic M-16 rifles with spotting lights and special sights for? Were any weapons seized during the raid? BTW: Any arrests on the shooting at the House Party last weekend? No? Look the guys running this collective are, unfortunately, coming across as surfer "dudes" headed to a casting call for the "Dazed & Confused" sequel. Ditto for the paint scheme, it looks like an Ashby Avenue transplant, probably glows in the dark. Nothing discrete going on there. And, too, I have seen young fellas hanging outside this very establishment, capable young scrappers full of energy, sprightly as can be. So while I wish the VPD didn't feel the need to come in armed for house to house urban warfare, I simultaneously wish the dispensary operators would clean up their act a bit, too. Both sides here have room for improvement.

Jim Davis   |August.11.2012 Look at those Bad Boys! Marijuana police. But no shooter police, burglary police, robbery police, vehicle theft police, etc. Just marijuana police. We pay these guys? Time for a new contract. Love,Jim

Anonymous   |August.10.2012 Thank you Bejezzus! Now can we please get a different paint color on the exterior of that establishment, Please?

payinforit   |August.10.2012 some big beef fed boys on the PD these days , bad Cop no donut, good Cop sushi yes

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