To Sell Weed or Not Sell Weed in the Harbor Gateway?

By Rick Thomas, columnist 

That was the question. 

And the answer from some members of the Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council seemed overwhelmingly “neutral” on a vote for what would be the sixth marijuana dispensary in the Harbor Gateway.  Today, five locations sell marijuana, the maximum permitted.  Over that number, a different process must be met for approval. Which was the purpose of this meeting.

But what is ”neutral?”  Not yes, not no, but “let me think about this.”  OK think about this, Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council.  All stakeholders who attended that meeting think five locations selling weed is enough.   

Stakeholders went verbally off at that “neutral” thing.  Not going to end well.  

Here’s the backstory on the dispensary that was being discussed at that bizarre Neighborhood Council meeting.  The proposed location is 1601 West 190th Street.  The owners of the proposed dispensary pitched how wonderful and fulfilling it would be for the neighborhood.  One reason is convenience.  Most dispensaries are in the southern area of the District, so we really need one up north to make it easier for potheads to buy marijuana in our hood.

Yes, ”neutral,” right?

More bizarre, one business partner brought his kids to the meeting.  Really?  Who brings their children to a meeting to pitch selling marijuana? 

The things we do to our children. 

I was chatting with a substitute elementary school teacher at the Galaxy game this past Saturday when three female students requested leave to go to the restroom.  Permission was granted. When the students didn’t return after some time had passed, a female teacher went looking for them.  Turns out they were vaping.  They were in the 5th grade. 

Yes, the 5th grade.  Now they must use the restroom at the nurse’s station. 

“Neutral,” right?   

So, someone mentioned that this new marijuana business is close to Sky Zone Trampoline Park.  Instead of letting my imagination slip, noting the ‘trampoline’ thing, I went to Sky Zone Trampoline Park and found out that it was for kids.  Kids go there, jump on trampolines, have birthday parties there, and well, make noise.  They are doing what kids are supposed to do.  A description on their site reads, “We take care of all of the hassle with planning birthday parties so you and your kids can focus on having fun.” 

So, Chuck E. Cheese on steroids.  Got it.

I drive past there a lot and never had an inkling to find out what it was until now.  I sat in my car to assess the quantitative profile of the consumer, as we call it in the advertising world, to gain an overview of who uses Sky Zone Trampoline Park, and surprise, surprise!   

Parents and young children.

I didn’t stay there long as I was around kids.  Where they play.  Understanding that the longer I was there, chances are, with my luck, I would have put myself in the position of registering with local authorities, so I left.  Upon doing so, I decided to determine the walking distance from Sky Zone to the proposed marijuana dispensary.  The address for the sale of marijuana is 1601 West 190th Street.  Sky Zone is at 1625 West 190th Street.  I’m not a math major but I can subtract 1601 from 1625.  Kind of close.

So, I took the walk from the Sky Zone to the weed sales joint, and I could have crawled that distance in less than 2 minutes.  I also decided to take it a step further, getting directions on my phone to and from both addresses.  From the front door of Sky Zone to the dispensary is 469 feet.  A football field and a half is 469 feet, the distance proposed between parents, children, and where marijuana sales could take place.   

“Neutral?”

LAPD Harbor Division Captain Brent McGuyre said, “Marijuana businesses attract more crime than any other business.”

“The community does not need another cannabis dispensary near Sky Zone Trampoline Park and 186th Street Elementary School, it would be a detriment to children and the community,” said Congresswoman Nanette Barragan.  Given the Harbor Gateway’s limited green and community gathering space, we should focus on adding more parks, youth centers, libraries and community centers, and a home for the new Boys and Girls Club.”

“Neutral?”

Assemblyman Mike Gipson’s office weighed in saying they don’t comment on City matters but will monitor the proposed dispensary at that address.  And glad it was brought to their attention. 

“Neutral?”

LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker has received donations to his campaign from entities connected to the cannabis industry, but in a statement said, “This new location does not technically fall into a designated sensitive use zone, in my opinion, a cannabis shop that is located next to a business that primarily serves children is an inappropriate use. The existing business should be considered a sensitive use zone due to its clientele”

The things we do to our children. 

Can’t get them a HAWK crosswalk system on Western Avenue between Del Amo . and Torrance Boulevard., so children can safely catch buses to attend classes at Narbonne High and Gardena High, four years of waiting for the Boys and Girls Club to re-open, snatching a Christmas event from children in the hood, scheduling it at The Enclave, where these kids and parents will never go.  And now “neutral” is the word used when voting on an application for a marijuana distributor looking to open a shop 469 feet from a Sky Zone Trampoline Park.

The things we do to our children.  No wonder 5th graders are vaping in the restrooms of elementary schools. 

After significant vocal feedback on that “neutral” position from everyday common-sense stakeholders―or rather every-day-pissed-off stakeholders, on that “neutral” thing ― the Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council took an unprecedented second vote on whether to support or not support dispensary No. 6 and disapproved the dispensary with a unanimous vote of “No.”     

The things WE did as stakeholders for our children in the Harbor Gateway certainly were not “neutral” and for other marijuana distributors looking to come into the Harbor Gateway, well, in the words of the philosopher Marvin Gaye, “Let’s get it on.” 

Rick Thomas, a former candidate for the Los Angeles City Council, is a resident and community advocate in Harbor Gateway.