I’m Concerned… Are Redondo Residents?
As we’ve discussed in last month’s D3 Community Meeting on Cannabis, there is currently an outside special interest fueled ballot initiative circulating in Redondo (and other beach cities.) IF the initiative gathers enough signatures, it would come before and present the City Council with 2 choices:
- Accept the initiative as is and it immediately becomes an ordinance, by passing any vote.
- Approve the initiative to go on the ballot
IF this initiative gained enough signatures to make the November 2022 or March 2023 ballot and pass by voters… it would:
- Remove the city’s ability to locally control, via ordinance, potential retail sales/establishments/safety requirements/zoning buffers, etc. on our own terms
- Remove the flexibility of a local ordinance to adjust as necessary by City Council in the future
- Allow for retailer set-aside contributions to be given to other local groups or non-profits (which has the potential to create favoritism scenarios for elected officials) instead of having fees or taxes go directly into the City General Fund
- NOT ALLOW ANY Tax Revenues to the City
- Pre-establishes zoning that is favorable to the proponents who have proven to already begun acquiring properties that unfairly advantage themselves over others
- Allow no more or no less than 3 retail locations permanently
IF YOU SIGNED THE INITIATIVE AND WANT TO REMOVE YOUR NAME – Click Here
But most concerning to me is that two of my colleagues received large donations AFTER their recent re-elections by these special interest groups. Councilmember Nehrenheim took $1000 from one group and $1000 from another. Councilmember Loewenstein took $1000 from one of those groups.
Now let’s be clear. There is nothing wrong or illegal with taking donations from “special interests” OR with receiving donations after election day. At the very least, it is hypocritical for them considering their many past statements, on record, regarding taking money from special interests, Political Action Committees, etc. as well as their comments about NOT taking money after election day.
But what is of concern to me... is that they voted 3/2 the other night with CM Obagi (who has in his professional career as an attorney represented cannabis retailers) on a referral to staff (with myself and CM Emdee dissenting) inviting these outside special interest groups to come present at City Council and weigh in on the city’s preparation of our own locally controlled draft ordinance regarding cannabis.
In my motion on our discussion item earlier that evening I stated we should follow the responsible and well reasoned recommendations of our City Manager appointed Cannabis Steering Committee in drafting a local ordinance. We voted 5/0. Councilmember Nehrenheim asked for a friendly amendment to allow the special interest proponents to participate… and I told him that was “totally inappropriate.” It is. He and CM Loewenstein accepted money from them and should not be potentially tainting our discussions or decisions on a serious matter with invitations to those donors. Not only that – but it could potentially open themselves or the city up to lawsuits and investigations… (see below article links.)
Here are a some articles related to this topic and videos of one of the Ballot Initiative proponents/donors. Is this who we want helping decide how Redondo Beach should move forward? What do you think? Take the survey and share your thoughts. Or email me directly with your thoughts and concerns.
Lawsuits accuse El Monte of ‘pay-to-play’ for cannabis licenses