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City Council rejects proposed medical-marijuana dispensary in Allston
By adamg on Wed, 08/24/2016 - 1:07pm
The Boston City Council today rejected a request to OK a medical-marijuana dispensary at 144 Harvard Ave., two months after it approved a competing proposal at 230 Harvard Ave.
Technically, the council voted to reject a request for a "letter of non-objection" to Compassionate Organics's proposal. Without such a letter, state approval of the dispensary is unlikely.
Councilor Mark Ciommo (Allston/Brighton) basically accused Compassionate Organics of committing fraud by initially stating in its application that it had verbal assurances from Boston Police officials and Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins they would not oppose the dispensary when they now say they said no such thing.
Ciommo said Compassionate Organics also failed to ensure the safety of the community, because of nearby organized children's activities, including karate classes across the street.
Ciommo blasted the media for daring to mention that a long-time pal and fundraiser of his does public relations for the 230 Harvard Ave. proposal. He said he has applied the same level of scrutiny to all medical-marijuana proposals for his district.
At a hearing on Monday, Harvard Avenue business owners supported Compassionate Organics, saying that while it had made mistakes at first, it was locally owned and would help improved the Harvard Avenue business district more than a dispensary almost in Brookline.
City Councilors Bill Linehan (South Boston, South End, Chinatown) and Sal LaMattina (North End, East Boston, Charlestown) also rose to speak against the Compassionate Organics proposal.
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Comments
Yes and No
Ciommo has a point on the fraud in the letter.
But is standing on tinfoil over an open sewer on the second point. CVS is a block away from there. Is that also an issue for the Karate class Daniel-san?
Ciommo's defensiveness on not recusing himself, because of his connection to the previously approved dispensary is such a blatant tell.
Ciommo never lets ethics get
Ciommo never lets ethics get in the way of what he wants.
Why does he even pay the lobbyist $100K when he hasn't had a real opponent in years?
A look back in the Globe archives shows that he first ran on a platform of controlling institutional advancement in Allston-Brighton. But after his son got a 4-year scholarship to BC, he became the key to getting BC approval to build 2 stadiums, a 500-car garage and enormous athletics facility on what was the Archdiocese property, 65 acres of beautiful green space.
And a look at his campaign account shows he pays his month;y car payments out of it (how far is it from Brighton to City Hall?) and has meetings in the best restaurants with colleagues and constituents.
I'm also disappointed in the City Council that no one even had a question or mentioned him recusing himself given his relationship with the company he backs. Very depressing that the people we elect as leaders feel that relationships with colleagues prevent them from questioning the ethics of a situation.
But here's the thing
Compassionate Organics had to know Ciommo was looking for a reason to be opposed, so why do such a shitty job in your application that his opposition seems reasonable?
I mean, this isn't a common victualar's license we're talking about. If you want to be taken serious on a hot button issue, make your application airtight.
What a piece of garbage
Ciommo and Linehan. Is it honestly taking this (expletive) long to get medicine to the sick?
Think about that next time you vote Democrat. I know I keep saying that, but Jesus, when will Boston voters learn?
Boston Voters
City Council candidates do not run on a party affiliation. But if you are aware of non-Democratic party candidates for city or state offices who would be more pro-active regarding medical marijuana dispensaries, please share.
Baker
Don't forget R-Baker among those who don't feel like following the will of voters.
Charlie Baker
Currently has the highest approval ratings of all 50 governors, something like 72%. He's not going anywhere unless he chooses to move on.
Those two aren't getting re
Those two aren't getting re-elected because they're Democrats. They're getting re-elected because they're local yokels and that's who votes in municipal elections.
We All Know
When it comes to marijuana, Republicans are always in favor of it.
Did I say Republicans?
Nope, you did.
So
Who did you vote for city council?
Who do you think?
Myself, silly.
So
You are blaming voters for not voting for someone who didn't campaign or appear on their ballots? Or was that a sly dodge that you voted anti-marijuana Republican?
There isn't a Republican candidate
So, again, I voted for myself instead. And I wouldn't have voted for the Republican candidate by default against the Democrat. And I'm not myself a Republican.
More than two parties, you know. Or you can not be in a party at all. "No, his mind is not for rent / To any God or government." - Rush
So if we all just did what
So if we all just did what you did, voted for ourselves in every election, things would run well?
They wouldn't run any worse
Hey, if nobody who doesn't suck wants the job, I'm left with little alternative.
Why don't you run?
Seriously - put in the time to get on the ballot. Let people know where you stand on a set of issues. Give it a shot.
Honestly, every time you vote
Honestly, every time you vote for anyone based on "it's the best option available", you are legitimizing them. If crooks had only their family to vote for them, they'd know they screwed it. They'll know that the tiniest challenge will make them lose.
So
How is that the voters fault that there wasn't a candidate representing what they wanted? It's your fault for not running.
On the next ballot for city
On the next ballot for city council, show us where the parties are listed.
They're not
Because they're non-partisan in the race. But he's still a member of the party.