Transcripts For SFGTV TA Vision Zero 121015 20151211

Many dispensaries should be allowed as well as growers and how much space and symptoms. San franciscos kind of small so we have a lot of vertical space we can take advantage of that with changes. I think that would accommodate a lot of things and resolve a lot of problems. Keep everything here in San Francisco where it started. At least set the bar where it starts and continued to set the bar higher for other states as well. As the years progress. Okay, thank you. Peter maxwell. Thank you for your time. My name is peter mashup i spent 5. 5 years in the cannabis industry. I spent 3. 5 years at the apothecary in San Francisco. The manager there for the past year and a half. My User Experience and practice some a lot about the industry. I think we understand all about patient needs and concerns. The supply chain of cannabis and demand of that supply and how to best operate and maintain a successful dispenser good especially pride myself as an educated ive composed a couple different lectures and classes for the apothecary with the intent of educating that i myself dated a educating our staff numbers, members, the numbers but the medical efficacy of cannabis and the use of cannabis in general. I received a degree in Political Science with a minor in sociology from San Francisco state university. So i think i understand the importance of measured research, analysis, thoughtful decisionmaking and weighing of different perspectives of stakeholders in order to make policy recommendations not proper policy. Im applying proceeds nine and 22. I understand nine is especially contended right now. I think especially qualified for seat number 22. As a young member of the cannabis industry, i understand that with the inevitability of legalization, we are going to see huge boom in young people especially people of my generation, joining the industry nothing interest in the industry that think a great ambassador for them as having made a career for myself in the industry that you were going to see them enter the industry from operators, employers, employees cultivators, consumers. So, i think they use my generation especially is going to be a huge stakeholder in the years to come. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anything else to add . I think having us people said today i think its very important that in this ongoing process, we speak to the communities in San Francisco and all stakeholders involved. I know theres a lot of people who, a lot of Committee Members are not hostile but apprehensive about the cannabis coming into the neighborhood. I think like i said this can be a lot of young people using cannabis and i think we need to make proper regulations and educate people and make sure everyone is aware of the limitations of cannabis and also some of the conceptions misconceptions that are propagated over the last several generation. I think proper education, regulation, and weighing of stakeholders perspectives is the most important roles here. Thank you. I appreciate your response or from thati did ask a specific question but just giving my experience with my district, there has been a lot of people who are very very apprehensive. In fact, we had a dispensary that was looking to set up shop in my district, and where there was nothing barring it legally from takingmoving in in district 11, there was such opposition to the Planning Commission did not approve. That is something that is very very real. When neighbors and residents feel about marijuana, which could vary from different points of view in terms of what the hi might be like to ideas people have or misconceptions or conceptions they have about crime increasing order people selling on the streets. What do you see as a way to make cannabis more respectable in San Francisco . Would you see as the Major Barriers for that . I agree agrees to the concerned with the concerns of neighbors and Community Assessment i like to speak to the fact that the crime and the impact that cannabis dispensaries have on neighborhoods. Theres been a number of studies done in los angeles in the last decade that is shown that cannabis dispensaries and their influence, the fact that their eyes on the neighborhood, the bodyguards and security cameras, have strict regulations from door to counter, that they often improve areas and then decrease crime in the areas that they reside. That being said, though, i think especially in San Francisco, we such a demand especially demand for operators to come in and start their own businesses we have to have a pragmatic measured thoughtful way of going out those licenses and permits making sure not offending anyone associations Political Parties or anything. I think the crime thing is one of those old misconceptions where there are so many safety nets and regulations and safeguards in place already to we have notthose numbers have not been sussed out. I would agree on. Weve also had the phenomenon of some dispensaries responding to this apprehension about what misconception about, rising crime. Go overboard in terms of security. So, ive had a lot of residence contact me about overzealous Security Officers outside of medical cannabis dispensaries and feel very frightened or intimidated or cannot even go to the local store because they feel like theyre going to get harassed by Security Officers. I think some of that needs the security is going to be important but i think its another connection with community thats important as well. A relationship. Absolutely. I think its the job of this task force to really think about the regulations and what security and front of house saturday measures are. I know in place like los angeles, if security guards are known to legal weapons on them. San francisco thats our problem but these are all things that are in this giant gray area that has not been regulated as fully as it should happen until now. So lets think about security should be considered in relationships between the dispensaries in the community rather than very lazy about it with overpowering weapons and bullying people who intimidate the residence yes. I think that somebody owners and operators of the apothecary have taken to our. We been opendoor policy but its very uncommon for dispensaries. We want to be open to our community. You want to speak to our neighborhood. We also members come by and bring their dogs to the front of the house we give the dogs. Treats the never honestly find that quite charming. Its little touches like that and sincerity like that that i think can really propel this industry passed these misconceptions about safety and illegal distribution and things like that. Thank you. What time do we have . We can probably do one more before we take a 15 min. Break. Im sorry. That was mr. Maxwell. Michael nolan. Is mr. Nolan here . Good morning. Thank you supervisors that native. I would figure other colleagues here working with a different legislator straight different opportunities for if you could put the microphone closer to you . Absolutely. It would have taken to separate cisco to simple model dispensary. I got the permit in early 2004. Since then we work diligently [inaudible]. Weve strived how to work on bettering the city at large that we supported gardens, academy of science, helped build parks, by working with the plant sculptures about. In the part. We planted trees in the city. When we first opened we were dispensed. There only five employees. Since that time weve created numerous businesses also some related to cannabis and out employ more than 75 employees was which are San Francisco residents are minimum wages averaging 150 per hour and vacation and dental. Im proud to say we have sponsors of united players gone back by that, since we taken guns out the sugar we also collected anonymous data on pages and the chronic illness and how to use cannabis for leakage and working with twa to create [inaudible] weve had numerous politicians to our operation. Ive also purchased multiple commercial properties in which weve created businesses and jobs the residence of San Francisco as well as Model Properties to be sold to increase the value of neighborhoods. Have you been chosen to sit on the board will continue in our efforts and make San Francisco were the greatest cities in the nation. I look forward to leading by example. Thank you much for most generous time. And happy holidays to all. Id also like to say waterless charities a lot of our other colleagues were individuals that brought those to my attention and we all are very likeminded making sure we do the best. Thank you. Anything else to add based on previous commerce stations . The two yes, the metacognitive. One of the questions supervisor cohen had mentioned was how do we know how to more dispensaries to open and how should those be done. One of the things that patty said, its very similar to a special use permit. If you make sure that the people are the good actors they come into these communities are helping to give back to the mayor better place, if you borrow someones car to bring about cleanly with a full tank of gas. Thats about methanol. Thats a good option. Another way or possibly, take a look at the dispensaries now and get information from the patients that are coming in which committees they exist. The redo some kind of a poll to find out what are the users going to be what theyre going to need those different communities. Sorry. One more note here that i took why was waiting. I also believe that its important as a group we bring bring some ideas to come up with the best possible solution it i do agree with patty, as well for special use permits to make sure we dont have bad actors. I think its good we get back to the committee. I also feel it similar to a bartender. If you go into a bar and youre intoxicated they continue to serve you and theres a liability based upon that bartender. Its placed upon that barton. I think it is to be the same thing about cannabis dispensed. If you see people come in and acting irrationally i think integration about Good Neighbor policy. So were not just eating people cannabis trying to be profiteers. Whether not having any ability to make sure that doing the right decision for any consumer. Just the liability part people coming in. I think the responsibility mr. Know, you talk about liability. I know your Business Owner. Are you required to carry any type of insurance . Yes how much is it . Weave a 2 million policy is that the Industry Standard or is that on the highend . Intern understands. I think the averages around 1 million. I have another question. I dont know if this is a legitimate question. I dont know the answer. In the state of california, are people required people are people denied a license to get into the business . Are they denied a license or favor misdemeanor or arrest for possession . Misdemeanor, no. Some counties are not allowed. You could be refused or denied for a permit. Is it a statewide agency that is granting these licenses be . The new legislation, yes it would be a statewide regulatory process and new licensing. Which everyone will have to do even the current cities it was that dispensaries now they will have to still go through the state permitting process, so i believe it would be in the best interest of the people whove been around in operating and longevity and doing a great job would start there and work on extension. How long is the process when you apply for a license . In San Francisco . Intemperance is going on a statewide level could speak up in separate cisco the process now without six months. When i first started it was very evolutionary and they do not have all the seats in play so although were able to get a business license operating legitimate under the laws of what had passed in generally first 1997. They had a special use permit that you had to reapply and go through another process and it took about two, 2. 5 years. Thank you. Okay. Anything else to add . Discreetly appreciate your time. Happy holidays and look forward to making this decision with you guys. Thank you. We will take 15 min. Of a break and returning back at 12 50 pm. We are back to the rules committee. According to our list of candidates for the task force appeared sharon golden is nice. Seeing sharon not appear, james asher . Is that microphone . There we go. Hello. Im james asher. Im applying for seats nine and 13. At least two years in the cannabis industry and also owner of a Small Business. My case a small cannabis business. I was born and raised here in San Francisco at the San Francisco event center. Were my father was the abbot for many years until he passed away from aggressive cancer a little over a year ago in attempting to treat him with accurate and safe medicine, i was led to some frustration, not only in the constructing the stigmas that still remain in terms of efficacy of cannabis, but also in creating access for people like my father. I created an Online Platform that allows for patients to learn about and purchase cannabis in the comfort and safety of their own home. Theres a delivery aspect to our business that we feel benefits a large swath of San Francisco. Many demographics. Its low impact in terms of building use permits, in terms of how member associations, and employees a number of people. So, im open to provide a little biti dont purport to be a politician by any means, but to provide some perspective against the sort of moneyed interests that are undoubtedly going to be at play here in this coming art. Era. As i said i was born and raised on a buddhist buddhist commune and i spent 25 years in a theater and film world. Experience collaborating in creating consensus and hope to bring that spirit to this board. I just want to say, in one of the questions brought up, in terms of the mistakes the colorado and washington mightve made, im hoping that whatever kinds of policies we enact, the more inclusive of the smaller entrepreneurs like myself to our hoping and praying to become out of the shadowy gray area legally and into the light of Cannabis Initiative i think that something may be we in San Francisco can lead the charge on. Whereas places like colorado and washington seem to have only contributed to that black market. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else you want to add . Thats it. Thank you. Next up is hondo dick hollowell. Out xander good afternoon supervisors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak in front of this was committed. My name is outlander. I have 9 Years Experience in the industry. I am a City Employee the city and county of San Francisco. I will also be graduating from sam Frisco Fire Department neighborhood Emergency Response team. I am here today to speak on my qualifications for vacant seat number nine and number 22, the youth seat for the task force. Regards mike obligations for seat number nine, i lived up in humboldt county for nine years. There i worked on several different grow operations for medical cooperatives for those who cannot grow themselves. I have volunteered and worked with nonprofit medical organizations , and work in every facet of the industry from germinating seeds to processing the plant at the end of harvest. My goals for being on this task force will evolve. Since we are unsure of what piece of legislation or initiative will actually come through, our goals will evolve as we come closer to unite as one 96, which is the deadline for the petitions to be submitted to the elections official. I am also a residence in district 11. I live fairly close to tree med dispensary and also to cookies, two of the most popular clubs in San Francisco. The negative affects there had been palpable. I walk to and from parts every day. I walk past those dispensaries and what weve touched on earlier concerning the security guards, i find their presence to be deplorable. We do thank you. In my opinion they do not actually [inaudible] walking by them using him chatting on their cell phones, smoking or hitting on any woman passing by. I think that moving forward we should not be able to live on the model set forth by the medical industry,. It behooves this industry to collaborate by different departments such as department of Public Health, department of public works. So that we can actually see which areas have traffic and what we can do to augment the negative effects that come with dispensaries. Thank you. You mentioned tree med. He said cookies because i thought it was just organics i thought was Mission Organics next to tree med . I think its switched hands. Its now advertising is cookies. I did not know that. Im a little nervous seeking new for you right now because my expense is not one of my favorite ive received a ba in Political Science. Right now it worked that part of elections in services. Im acutely aware of the intricacies of our government, what is needed to have this rollout be successful in acutely aware of the initiative process. Thank you for your time. The tango. Any questions, colleagues because we will go on for next applicants. Actually skipped over by accident stuart rhodes. Mr. Rhodes . Hello, supervised. My name is stuart rose. I been residing in cultivating medical cannabis in the bayview for 15 years. I love it and i never want to leave it. I also hold a cultivation seat on the medical task force. I operate a small Electrical Safety and efficiency consultant practice servicing clients in San Francisco and oakland. Bottom line here offer you 15 years of local experience in the trenches of this cause turned industry. My passion for science, safety, and Good Business and Good Government will get you to the best possible outcomes to this body. With 10 state Ballot Initiatives outcomes are difficult to predict. Amendments filed only use number seven expanded enormously on the previous language including strengthening requirements to keep cannabis away from you than changing the deadline for businesses receiving priority licensing of november 12015 through september 1, 2016. Given us the opportunity to be proactive. Because the initiative allows for Cannabis Consumption into regulatory categories of retailer and micro business, the finest cultivation of less than 10,000 ft. 2, also allowing manufacturing, retail, and delivery we certainly risibles nothing like weve got right now. Notably, not allowing alcohol consumption. I would like to take a minute to speak with her about it the important differences between alcohol and cannabis. But, San Francisco they want to create new cannabis specific when use categories or even reduce distancing. Supervisor avalos, you can call me super. No doubt. I believe you commissioned or invited the Planning Commission to produce the report in 2013 about how the green zone could be expanded. You can glance at that report and that would disproportionately affect the bayview. Youre welcome to go over just a guideline. Its an economical way to time thank you. I think particularly sensitive to the very difficult dynamic in the bayview. Under economic spoke seats. I think are potential problems associated identification of annies in the area. I think theyre gossipy corresponding benefits can i think the matter balance. If were allowed 600 foot percent require which would be supported by the recent charles file federal with the District Court decision in defense of the alliance against medical marijuana, i think we should not worry as much as we used to about letters from federal government. To landlord could i think in places 700 feet from certain sensitive uses might be such a bad idea and would give release it were also to consider corresponding the proportional intensification in industrial areas. If that were to happen, i think that local higher loss summer you had been a fan of in the past might work out very well for neighborhoods that need economic opportunities. So, im not really advocating for anything in particular here because things have been controversial in the past. I want to be sensitive to. Vallejo filed my application a week ago. I have a lot of great relationships in San Francisco. In the medical Cannabis Society and outside of it. I want to be as respectful as possible at this time at the gate consensusbuilding is going to be incredibly important on this body. I might be totally honor to participate if you like my help so, part of the work is going to be interacting with a lot of government agencies. Thatll also be represented on the task force. What is your experience working in a similar way in the city . , San Francisco task force we had meetings with the District Attorneys Office and sf pd. Department of building inspection. Planning. I had interactions with some of these agencies since. We actually had a series of very amenable interactions with the Police Commission received an extraordinary level of support from a couple people in particular. I spoke as the chairman of the Cultivation Committee at those hearings and we are very proud to achieve a result of getting 7 pounds of wrongful use medicine returns. Ive also did some work in berkeley. I worked with supervisor Chris Mortensen and other counselors to change the language of measure t which was passed. The processes are little slow over there. I wish thered been more benefit from that, we did and we symbolically achieve a result. I have a question. With your bayview business. The location this relocation of your bayview business . Electoral consultant is run out of my residence. Okay. Cultivating inhouse peacocks . In. I would not cultivate in a residential it. Yesterday that the major violation of the. I misunderstood to present it i thought you said you were in cultivation we you said you were in consultation . I also do that. I cultivate in association with safe San Francisco. And i spoke with yoyo about that. When im try to figure out is, your businesswhat is an bayview . Cultivation . For i dont processing understand what you mean clicks do you own a business . Yes. Amir williams during the Police Station thats my question it so the business of that youre running out of his run out of your house . Electrical consulting which is entirely different electrical subject i cannot understand what youre saying. Its the microphone. Its not you. Thank you. Thank you. I think we got that clear. Will go to the next candidates. That would be shona bush and our good afternoon chairman avalos supervisor had supervisor wiener. Im shonawomen serving the city with really implementing handson engineering with Public Policy regarding cannabis for the last 10 years. I think today i want to keep my statement short and sweet and a little bit futuristic. Im awaiting a title in summary from the attorney general for the mc lr x urges California First open source statewide ballot initiative, andonline with over 1000 different advocate statewide participating then, of course, circulated through some of our very wellversed cannabis attorneys, a few of whom have signed on as well. I think it was very important that the attorneys who signed on are the attorneys that are currently in our courtrooms in california and so they been much know the nuts and bolts of initiative would work. One of the things that i bring to the table and consistency is representation of poor people, workingclass people, and im a proudiv endorsement of just cannabis policy with me today. I see a lot of old friends here today and many businessmen that i worked with in the past and theres a lot of new friends here today to make as well which is encouraging over the years that weve been through. Being sort of one of the early advocates to work with supervisor daly and Compassionate Care for our city, i intend to continue to do that and im looking forward to serving any seat you would see available. So thats it uncomfortable with as well. I can fire rocket this point. Im open to any questions just if you could talk about what your experience with such bodies and what your contributions would be based on that experience . I want to build a medical cannabis passports with supervisor campos. Was challenging at times but i think that the contributions are brought, aside from diversity, was how will this work on the ground. How would this policy actually play out and what will the locations of it the. I feel that i have a really good sense of figuring out how it will play out on the street level. I also have a rather good experience in working with neighborhood groups. I was on some of the teams for some of the most controversial and difficult permits that went through the planning department, so i know the diplomacy outside of our diverse community. Thank you. I know the perspective on supercritical and a lot of them deliberations we make as public bodies was your contribution in terms of the output of the task force to medical Cannabis Task force on based on that representation . I think based on that based on that representation we got a unanimous vote for Compassionate Care. What does that mean . Compassionate care . Compassionate care is medicine for people that cannot afford market rate medical cannabis. In a sense is a code word in our community, compassion meaning, free medicine. That is something that i worked with supervisor mark carini. Get a nonbinding resolution to that effect in our city and one of the benefits that i think i brought to the table was having all of my fellow colleagues on the task force finally come to an agreement that resolution should be nonbinding. You we did that again one more time over when we were working with darren start, with the report that you commissioned. It was really great to work with erin start and we did gain the support of the Planning Commission to have the Compassionate Care. Part of the permitting process. What does that mean for the next phase of how the industry will change as a result of the likely passage of new eligibility for marijuana in california . I think we can you look at some of the adult use taxes and earmarked those taxes to care for folks who are in hospice care, you know, a lot of families are having a rough time affording medication for seriously ill individuals. Once you get sick, it takes an economic toll on families, so i think that when were looking forward in futuristic to what we can do in the city, i think we need to be diversity that says, we are going to earmark adult use taxes specifically for our citizens and our city and our residents that need that supports and can have equity and say see faxes. Just looking a application that says you are also an owner and operator . This is one of the things that you are one of the siege are applying for an Owner Operator of a medical cannabis seed. That is a 10 no. I have been an operator in the past. Per century dispenser that i focus on my efforts into billy doing Compassionate Care programs and peer support, so i would not consider myself an owner of a dispensary. But you have been in the past . I have been in the past. In your remarks you referenced earlier the body that you served on. What was the name of it . The medical cannabis passports. How did you serve on the body . I hope both terms for three years. To iphoto for years . Yes. Is that body store on or been dissolved . It sunset. It was only set up for three years in the working group prior to that we gathered from was two years so really, i feel like theyll serve like five years. Him and to be very frank and has to very frank question. You certainly have a reputation and the reputation is on collaborative and i wanted to get an opportunity to address it publicly so that i can understand if you could were debunked in pursuit of it thats fine but the word is that youre on collaborative and difficult to work with. Now, minute that they also say about women. I take that with a grain of salt. But thats when presenting it to you now to it. Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to that concern. I think often when people bring people together they become the target i wenton a group of working on a task force so i feel that, diplomacy is necessary. I feel that often people who represent people that dont have equal standing, and deserve equal standing and when you demand to be equal is often your call on collaborative. Im okay with it. Most okay with the state ballot am working on being called inclusive state ballot come in at the parker state out. Im very secure in my diplomacy and my kindness to people. Like i said, i often sit in the hot seat to become a firework. Im okay. Betake her. I appreciate the honesty in your and. I thank you for taking with me. Thank you. Next up is wyatt lynn. Mr. Lynn . Okay. Actually not attempted truly brunettes. Troy. Okay. Michelle aldrich. Good afternoon, supervisors. Chairman avalos, supervisor ken cohen supervisor wiener my name is michelle aldrich, i worked in the Legalization Movement for 43 years trying to like guys that want to work on the First Initiative in california which was the first time marijuana was over on the ballot in 1972. I been on the board of california normal for over 35 years. I have draft proposition 215. I got a Lifetime Achievement award from high times. Ive worked on the campus working groups. I was on a medical Marijuana Task force. I was on the drug abuse Advisory Board for the city and county of San Francisco. I was president of aids Prevention Action Network in hopes in the city. The purpose of the task force is to help us work on what happens when we do legalize marijuana in california. The bunch of initiatives that have been filed, but most of them will not need about because of money. So, what we have to do is research the ones that look like theyre going to make the ballot and see how our city rules that are already in effect will play out under this and let alone the new medical marijuana regulation that the state has just past. We need to work on planning and the green zone. We need to work on banking. 280 is in effect and its hard to do banking in the marijuana business. Also, one of the things that was in the original bill, there should be a dispensary in every neighborhood and every district. That isnt so so maybe we can change some of that. Any questions . Thank you speeches could you go a little bit further into the banking issue in what ways you see that im not sure we can do anything about it. Until the irs and the feds do something. Because in colorado and washington and in or gone all been blocked. Its their its there, also. The board of equalization wants to try to do something about it and i dont know if they can. So, its if so will jump on it here. Any other questions . That 43 years working in addressee capacity. What the hell do you want to sign onto this . Ive been part of everything. I want to be part of this, too. This is been my life. Im trying to legalize marijuana. People should not go to jail for it. They should be put in treatment programs when they dont need it. Have you done a work or partnerships with the Drug Policy Alliance . Yes. My husband was on the working group before it became the Drug Policy Alliance, widow still be working group. Do you live in the city . 43 years same apartment. Rent control. Thank you. Hopefully it will stay that way. Really more Affordable Housing in the city. I dont have any questions. Thank you for yourthanks for leading the charge thank you. Someone has to. I married my first phd in marijuana. We met the First National pot conference in washington dc so its been my total life where did you grow up . How does this become your life . I was born in chicago and moved to that was the time i was nine. I have found the first aye program when i was 11 for teenagers about called friends. And i majored in nursing and they took me out because i was dating a baptist sky. So, at this point i helped found the clinic and the National Free clinic counsel because i believed in healthcare for everyone. With that, ive worked in washington dc and the National Coordinator drug education doing literature and consumer evaluation. We worked on community policing. We worked on the Ark Linkletter book. What we found is all the pamphlets and stuff that were coming out and the films were all scare tactics. We needed to bring reeducate everyone so i worked on educating. I was in charge of education forback in 72. What is that . We sold a Rolling Papers and all copies went to legalize marijuana. So, could not omit a career out of this i mean a life out of this but you also ive also spent 10 years immediate. 10 years as a stockbroker and eight years as an International Meeting planner when i wasnt working on legalization. Set a high bar. Thank you. I dont have any other questions. No other questions. What are the memory of cheech and chongs first albums. I papers inside of them i think. Next, well go to the next candidate. Nick lonza is not here i dont think. Just in case . Sabrina maitland. Good afternoon, supervisors. I aspire to be that woman right there. My name is sabrina maitland. I to my native san franciscan. Its not honored to be in the room with him and did my prying applying to seats 12, 95 in criminal justice, Political Science government psychology and my paralegal degree as well. Im dedicated to being active in my community and having the impact. Im hr director for Hospitality Company here in San Francisco. Im in a position of leadership which has a membership of 2000 women. Im on the Advisory Board of the academy of hospitality towards him and Food Services for San Francisco in five School District in the curriculum advisor for the sf i program and a recipient classroom training and a bonus for Episcopal Services which also is a hospitality and food program. I work with the office of Workforce Development and developing their hospitality initiative. As the hr manager, im experienced in context negotiation, conflict resolution, reviewing legislative processes, and making difficult decisions every day for the benefit of my company and for my employees regardless of my personal feelings. As an hr manager, also bring a perspective of the employee and employer. That is something that is incredibly important to me. In addition to zoning, housing, potency, public use, banking, tourism by safety considerations, we also to consider the relationship of the employee and the employer and what that is going to mean. I dont have all the answers. What i do have is the ability to research, tough conversations, to Community Outreach, to take into consideration other point of use and i do believe thats going to be one of our most important jobs of being on the task force. To consider everybodys opinion and everybodys view and not just our own. Just the seed we are representing. Thank you. Anything else to add they would like to say . Michael, is to have my goal is to wellrounded inclusive dialogue including local national and International Policy research and most important the community of San Francisco. Overall, i think that as a task force we do represent the seats were assigned and appointed to, but we must be openminded to others opinions. As been alluded to hear the Committee Members that i can be happy with the passage of the slots were most of us in this room will, we need to be very considerate to those other opinions and take them seriously. How do you see your work in the nighttime industry, entertainment. I think youre qualified for that seat . I was a restaurant manager here in San Francisco and up in a nightclub and restaurant manager in boston as well. Some familiar with that nightlife scene. Ive been lucky enough to work on also the two joint knight transportation the other 9to5 and thats also where i look at my employees specifically if there challenges of getting to and from work. And our citizens challenges of getting to and from their nightlife considerations. Thank you. If theres no other questions, we will go on to our next applicant, janet griggs. Good afternoon, supervisors. Name is janet griggs. Im applying for the seats, 13, 14, and 15. I dont have any experience in the cannabis industry. Ive experience in business. I am in the last three years and ive been exposed to retailing in San Francisco and in those three years, we have notice the significant difference in how retailers do with their customers. I think this could be one of the issues thats going to come up with a task force. Because many of our products that we sell are being delivered by organizations such as jordache, caviar, post mates. We have customers who order through. I think that is can be one of the issues that you have to be addressing. My experience in the city has been to be president of sponsor of the farmers market. I was president for six years on the board for nine total. That was an organization of very diverse interests. What it did teach me is how to build consensus and i think it also emphasizes how important it is to look at Small Businesses from a sustainable point of view. Sustainability, not just in raising food but sustainability economically. My experience with currently is on sf travel. Executive committee. Im treasurer of sf travel. In appreciation for the towards him issues and i would like to continue to apply that experience on this task force. Thank you very much. Longfellow elementary school. Thats right. M amick has lived in her district for over 100 years. We just got around around 100 years ago. People from european descent. We were the only German Family im in pacifica now thank you for letting me know. Supervisor cohen did i hear you correctly run a catering business because the two yes whirring your district. Yes, i know. It also said you know food . I like it it onsite. I think its refreshing that you not in the industry and they are interested but your visit experience i think will translate in a pretty profound way. So the policies your lookout will have the viewed through a business lens. One of the things i think we have to recognize is that once theres recreational legalization of cannabis, its going to affect all different areas of hospitality. My brother also owns a ranch in colorado and he is been approached by a number of people to hold their weddings on the ranch in colorado because thats where they conserve cannabis. As a caterer, im thinking how am i going to address that when it comes to pass and i like to be involved thank you for that point supervisor cohen. The point is not that all members be affiliated with the cannabis industry. Thats a very importantthat is the strongest recommendation the widest support come out of it. So, thank you. I mention one other thing that i think is important is that i think this has forces going to be challenged with respect to communicating to the public at large. That requires educating people because it is a difference between perception and reality. I think thats one of the things that were going to focus on, is how to educate the public, and separate feelings from fax. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up we have duncan ley. Good afternoon, supervise. I am applying for seats 13, 14, 16, 17 and 19. Where aussies a thing unqualified to be a valuable member of this task was. So based on my connections to neighborhoods, Small Business and other committees throughout San Francisco. This is always been raptly changing city with many complex issues that affect us all in a largescale. And when that knows this town knows its all about neighborhoods from the bayview to the presidio. Ive owned and operated nine establishments arson restaurants in five districts across San Francisco. Anything from sports bar and grill to gain nightclub. In a time adult many expenses and personal connections so they qualify me for the top source proven the ability to find consensus and get real results. Good chairman of the district merchant association. A member of several labor groups across the city and because of the Committee Involvement in local knowledge was asked recently to join the Northern District police Advisory Board which opposites very diverse jockey. In addition to the founding of our owner of alliance which for the first time organized voices to represent bars big and small across San Francisco, a soap cochaired california music and cultural association. We promote the interests of music across the stupid is on board of st. Francis foundation. We support the partnership which is amazing tenement community to increase the health and wellness the residence that. I believe everyone can win with the proper regulation of Recreational Cannabis in sf. Open up many of her duties for all residents, welding jobs, while protecting the integrity of our city. Thank you very much. Colleagues, any comments or questions . Okay. Thank you. Next up david waugh. Thank you for having me here. Thank you for organizing all this and everyone in the room for sharing their time, energy, skills and perspective my name is david applying for seat number 13. The resident sample discovery. A patron for your and been in the industry for over a year now. Im the ceo of cofounder of medicolegal technology for the cannabis industry. Were building a seat to sell platform. Were unique perspective on working with vendors to my farmers, dispensaries, doctors and patients. We been able to help streamline operations. We been integrated process for compliance. What we bring to the table is organization. At the state level were able to great the California Cannabis Delivery Association brings that group to segmented to meet with legislators and help identify the challenges ahead with delivery. At the local level, we created events for networking as well as hosting the task force to get everyone prepared. We believe we can bring stakeholders from within the industry and outside the industry to help highlight the challenges that we face, and hopefully provide some solutions. Thank you. Thank you very much. Supervisor wiener can you clarify that the business you run could you clarify that again . Beat up business called meadow. We build technology for the cannabis industry. So, its a seat to sale platform we are working. We start with delivery in Building Technology to streamline patient compliance and operations and moving up the supply chain. So youre working with other businesses as well . Yes. To apply for seat 13 only come up it sounds like you may be qualified for other seeds as well. I believe the only one is number nine, also but i only play for 13. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Next up, tilton finnie. Kelton finnie good afternoon, supervisors. Landis tilton finnie. Im a Structural Engineer in my data. Ive owned my own Engineering Firm since 2011 and as a Small Business owner running for seat number 13 and 14. Im running because im excited about the prospect of legal adult recreational use. The opportunity it presents for San Francisco and i want to be a part of making that a success. When i look at the list of applicants i see a lot of really experienced and talented people. But the majority of applicants are already involved in a cannabis business with years of experience advocating for legalization and access. Clearly, the existing cannabis industry is well represented as it should be, but of someone who is not employed in this industry i think my candidacy would provide balance this task force. With legal adult use we can expect a flood of proposals for new cannabis related businesses. To serve and expand markets. Our present a real challenge because even within the context of the limited medical marijuana business, bc Community Opposition to cannabis related businesses every day. If we are not successful in bringing all stakeholders, including those in opposition, then the number of my cannabis businesses will be restricted to black market will continue to thrive, and San Francisco will miss great opportunities. It people outside the Cannabis Community perceive this task force staffed with insiders than the passports as well as the recognitions he makes will lose credibility. As an outsider, my position on this task force would help to combat that perception and lend credibility. In addition, as an engineer i work every day the building and planning codes and im wellversed in local land use politics, which we fundamental to the work of this passports. I strive to be fairminded and build consensus and i think that approach will be key to integrating this use into the task force policy recommendations. I think i could make a positive contribution to the task force and i hope they will support my candidacy. Thank you. Thank you very much. Have you looked at what you see as some of the Biggest Challenges youre facing and how you might be able to use your talents to move things along . Sure. Clearly for my presentation i see the landuse issue as being the main hurdle. We are sitting in a room full of people that are supporting this, but there are a lot of people out in the community who dont support it, and its going to be very important that their voices are heard and that their concerns are addressed and integrated into our recommendations. So, i think a big part of this is really going to be the Community Outreach part of it. To take in those dissenting concerns and find a way to create opportunities to expand this industry, and at the same time, adjust the concerns of people in the community who do have uneasiness around this issue. I think that weve heard a lot of that, and some of the people already in clearly some of the questioning from supervisor cohen mirrors some of those concerns that we see in the Community Every day. So, we have a lot of challenges before us but i think there are challenges that were going to have to address and i think the solutions are by and large going to be landuse type solutions. So, i think that my background and my spirits in that area lends itself well to that. Thank you. Supervisor cohen tilton finnie have we met before . Probably. I was on the alice port. I was cochair for a number of years your name sounds familiar to me. Its good to see you. Now you chair the Landuse Committee and i serve on the Landuse Committee for the last five years i been on the board of supervisors. He really piqued my interest by zeroing in on the landuse issue. I agree with you, that this is like most San Francisco fights, lately, is related to the landuse, how we determine who is going to get what and how much. I was wondering if you could just expand a little bit more, from your perspective, or an engineer by trainingabout how you perceive some the landuse fights to be . He made some brother comes out neighborhoods. Im wondering if another level. Maybe this am challenges may be the existing code, for example. I just wanted to tease out a few more of your ideas if you have any . I think we may very well end up recommending changes to the planning code, new policies, but thats the easy part in my mind. The hard part am really, bringing in the dissenters out in the community because we couldnt, for example expand the greens of the week of a more opportunities for cannabis to be cited throughout the city but , if you dont do the outreach and the education and the community you are not going to get buyin from those people and it doesnt matter what the planning code says but what is allowed. Its not going to happen. We see that every day with our neighborhood planning policies. It gives a tremendous amount of control or input or influence to the community, and you have to work with it in that context. So, my experience in doing this, i deal with this every day. Ideal with the outreach and communication with people in the neighborhood and trying to promote projects that im working on an community buyin as a key part of it. You have to build consensus. You have to be open to people. Because, if people perceive that its already a done deal, they just shut down. Youre never going to get them onboard. This issue. Is true. Will you be applying for a residency waiver if appointed to this body would you be applying for residency waiver wu . To live in semper cisco . I live in San Francisco. Then you will not be applying . No i dont know why that came up. I live in semper cisco 30 years now. B2 it came up thank you been much thank you. Well go to the next candidate who will be alex aquino. I actually am bumping up on a deadline. I have to be out the door by 4 30 pm. So, i think we got enough time for Public Comment. We also Public Comment as well. People can be economical with their time. My name were going to be reducing questions, so i think the people that come later are also had a chance to hear other peoples responses and some of the things that weve asked about and can incorporate that into their testimony would be great. Mr. Aquino i will keep it short, supervisors. My name is alex aquino. Mineta burn concern and dedicated resident. I live in district 5. Applied for seat 13, 14, and 19. I started and ran multiple businesses for the last 20 years since i was 18 years old base issues including nightlife and entertainment. All of which i should mention, but all noncannabis related. I also oversee operations for small International Fashion business with five started away, europe, tokyo and am proud to call eight street San Francisco location is our main headquarters for operations. Im a board member for the Haight Asbury Merchants Association and active member of the local neighborhood council. I believe im very concerned with the Current Events and issues within the neighborhood both on the streets and amongst the Small Business community. I believe in the cannabis legalization will have a huge effect on the haight asberry which includes the neighborhood merchants and many tourist the pertinent dishonorably haight street comes to mind for any terrorist anything about cannabis in San Francisco. The reason why im seeking the seat of this task force, i believe, i feel as a smallBusiness Owner for 20 years, and a native residence and a family man, and active member for community groups, great representative for multitude of people. I will bring a unique to view that will be needed in order to create regulations for the wide range of people that live in our city thank you very much. Aggie also that . No. B danko. Thank you. Next up is mr. Hell be back. Okay. I thought i saw him early. Brian wallace . I am brian wallace. Im representing seats 14, 16 and 17. These seats represent the Small Businesses and Neighborhood Associations. Currently, i serve on the middlesex association the Central Police Advisory Board as well as among the board for grades cathedral. I act as ambassador to the community through these organizations. Im able to communicate with Neighborhood Associations throughout the city. I was first recommended to apply to this task force by duncan live. Weve served on the same Community Police Advisory Board for over three years with capt. Greg mackay printed the captain was so enthusiastic that i joined the task force he wrote me a letter of recommendation. I worked extensively with David Goldman and [inaudible] to learn about the industry, to get a better understanding of its interaction with the neighborhood. By working with them i was able to understand its very important to have a communication between the neighborhood and that cannabis industry. I will be an asset to this password to other boards i serve on requires the same amount of work and a similar level of involvement as well as im the voice for very dense and influential section of San Francisco. As evidenced by my letter of recommendation from a longtime mentor him and objective listener as well as unable to implement solution im hoping to about the cannabis industry and how it interacts with Small Businesses and neighborhoods throughout San Francisco. Today, i ask you for your endorsement for neighborhood and Small Business , brian wallace. Brian was, thank you for your enthusiasm that you bring to the chamber. Can you tell me what do you do for them . Im an accountant do you want for yourself or business for yourself . Pretty much. I work with a small group of people we go around to clients. I need to make sure youre speaking into the microphone. You saidwas your mentor incidents. B2 in civics. With chocolate some of the other challenges the barriers to entering into this industry. I like to get your perspective on what that may be . Why are there not more people . Why the number people getting into this industry . How do you come to understand the barriers that prevent people from i dont think they weight they can say in this industry. Whether it be on the consumption side where the sales side him and him not coming from either. Im coming from i neighborhood my constituents. I was asked to be heard. I represent that area, so in representingi move on. On the task force talk to me a little bit about what you plan to bring. The neighborhood representative is like a generic thing. And he went to be will make us and amongst the other people in the neighborhood. I didnt hear anything the ground to to the neighborhood. Organization or maybe perhaps a cause or something that grounds you to represent a person or particular neighborhood or constituency . What im looking to get by joining the task forces double homogenous voice. She is city and county of San Francisco you mentioned you were a teacher . Yes. What kind of subject do you teach . Health educator. I teach in a local high school . San francisco and teach ethical studies and empowerment. Im curious, when you are talking about not necessarily ethnic studies, but political empowerment, does the topic of legalizations of cannabis come up with the young people . Yes, we do talk about it in terms of indigenous rights and crops and criminalization; right . And white privilege, basically, systems of privilege. What comes up, how is that communities of color were still in a war on drugs and people are still going to jail for this, but yet we have folks making millions and billions on this earlier. Earlier in the hearing, i dont know if you were in the audience, but i asked some questions that kind of are related to the statements that you made about the history of marijuana, who has been persecuted and who has benefiting . Id love to hear your ideas about what are some of the barriers that are keeping the communities of color from getting involved in this 2. 7 billion dollar industry . Right. So the fact is the criminal record. The licensing fees being able to get the business license, if you have like back taxes you cant even apply for a business license and trust me, i know being a Business Owner i had to get through this first and we dont have a lot of Financial Empowerment in the communities and we lack that financial competedion and how can you expect them to compete in the industry with the taxing and business licensing and even the cannabis licensing is extremely expensive and retail as well. I feel the cannabis industry is very much a monopoly and rent out the retails to each other and give each other the licenses and its just like a game. Absolutely, its interesting that you bring that up. How do you think you will fare . If you are just that one lone voice on the committee of about 14 or 20 i think its 22. 22 people and you have this unique perspective . How do you communicate that . How will you be able to work with other people . Well, well, you do have to compromise to get what you want, but some stuff that makes sense and some stuff that doesnt make sense and i will always push the need to decolonize the industry and the need to make sure you are being representative of the folks who lost their lives and lost whole communities because of that and bringing in that perspective is very, very important. If folks want to argue with me because i advocate for certain things, let them bother themselves, im here to get money for the folks. I can appreciate your perspective from an historical geopolitical economic lens that you are bringing here, not only that, you have convinced me that you are grounded in a community that would be normally excluded. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. . Supervisor avalos. Thank you, appreciate you applying. Okay. Thank you. All right. Okay. Next up, tom maca roy. Good afternoon, supervisors im applying for seats 16 and 17. I have been a Small Business owner for six years with an architect and Design Office in the mission. As an architect [prags ]ing in San Francisco for 13 years i have become familiar with the unique neighborhoods and built context of the city. I have supported my clients by representing their projects to neighbors, addressed concerns on both sides and found Workable Solutions through education and compromise. I recognize that San Francisco is constantly evolving and changing and i see it through the lens every day and believe cannabis can be a positive change as demonstrated by other cities and states. I have been a resident of dubose triangle for 12 years and a member of the Neighborhood Association Land Use Committee for six years. On that committee i have met with project sponsors of several large developments, along upper Market Street where where we are successfully mediated among local residents and developerspt we carefully considered the architectural design, inclusry Affordable Housing and new businesses at the streetlevel and how the project aspects would impact the neighborhood . I believe that the cannabis industry will be dealing with a lot of the same issues and feedback from the local communities. Specifically i am interested in the new industry being introduced to our city, and tremendous change that were about to encounter. Im aware of the final boon this has created in other states where legalization has taken place. Questions i have how to best allocate fund and put this money towards schools, education and the environment and other ideals important to our City Residents . I believe everyone should have access to the industry and key locations throughout the city. How do we tailor the relationship of this industry to the unique aspects of the neighborhoods to help it fit in . How do we fold these businesses into our existing urban fabric in both physical form and businessrelated ways . Does it work with existing zoning and neighborhood design codes . If not, can we make modifications to bring cannabis . These are questions among many that the task force will take on. Thank you. Tom, in your statement you just read you believe that everyone should have access. Correct. Mary, who just spoke right before you im sorry, daisy, daisy ozimmade a statement that people dont have access. How do you breakdown that barrier of access . Well, i believe as other people have mentioned education is a big part of this task force. And changing peoples minds about cannabis does had a mean you are going to churchs . Does that mean you are going into the high schools . Does it mean you are going youth groups . Who do we target [stpheurs ] what is education really look like . Yes, education is a great thing, but making it real for me. Sure, approach each of these neighborhoods that may have neighborhood groups and ask them to hold a public forum, where we have particular members who can educate and inform the community, get their feedback, poll the citizens and hear their concerns and try to address those thank you, no further questions. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next up nikolas lemos. Okay, laura thomas. Good afternoon, first of all i want to say thank you for developing this Cannabis State Legalization Task force and gives San Francisco and opportunity to model what we think a city can do in a Legal Marijuana environment . Im laura tomas the deputy state director for Drug Policy Alliance, where i have worked for eight years and i head up our Public Health and harmreduction work in the state of california for dpa and my background is in Public Health. I work for the department of Public Health here in San Francisco for six years. And i have a masters in Public Health. I have lived in San Francisco for 27 years and im currently a resident of district 10. And i appreciate that this gives San Francisco a chance to model what Legal Marijuana economy can look like in ways that benefit all of our communities . And i really appreciate supervisor cohens remarks and questions how we do that. I think that we know that the war on drugs has been primarily a war on communities of color and people of color. If we do not figure out how to end marijuana prohibition in ways that repair some of the damage that we have done to those communities, you know, i question whether its worth doing . The war on drugs and marijuana prohibition has created significant human rights and civil rights damages and harms. It has harmed communitis, families and individuals. This is an opportunity for us to move forward in a different model. And specifically, i think, we can figure out how to ensure that we dont have restrictions for people with criminal justice histories, potentially creating preferences for people, who have criminal justice histories related to the war on drugs. Following up on local hiretype of requirements for the industry, ensuring that we are investing the revenue in jobtraining. There are many roles in a Legal Marijuana economy. Ill stop there. That is not your time to end. Its just a guideline to work with. If you have other things to add . Sure. So there are many roles in the Legal Marijuana economy including growing, producing, retail, as well as other types of businesses. There are a lot of opportunities there and we can be doing the kind of job training to ensure that people have not only the skills, but the ability to get through some of the barriers that previous speakers have noticed. However, california chooses to legalize marijuana, there will very likely be revenue coming to the counties, as well as to the state and being thoughtful about where we direct that revenue and how we invest it will also give us an opportunity to address some of the harms, preventing any potential health harms and ensuring that we are reaching the communities that have been hardest hit by the war on drugs. So ill stop there, if you have questions. Thank you very much. I have been looking forward to hearing your remarks. Thank you for speaking to a lot of issues that are articulated earlier in the hearing. I think that you have del demonstrated a good understanding philosophically, but also, i know that you have done the work on the ground and i just want to thank you for understanding the Public Health impacts, as well as how there have laws in this country and have had an adverse effect on different ethnic communities and taken it a step not only beyond recognizing it. I think i was a little concerned with some of the things i have heard. There is a desire to move into the neighborhood and not connect and truly understand and get grounded in the community, but obviously an insatiable desire to come in and extract resources for ones individual gains. I feel based on your presentation and what you have articulated and presented that is not how you are coming to this. You are coming to the table with a true desire to have a policy discussion and continue to work within the policy frame work, so San Francisco can be a model. Just like San Francisco has been a model on many different arenas. But there is still this is unchartered territory and to be thoughtful and mindful of understanding where marijuana has been from an historical perspective, and where it is going, particularly in San Francisco . So i really dont have any questions. I think you nailed it in your presentation. You said things that i was looking to hear. Should you be voted on to the task force, i fear that you might be in the minority of your perpective, but i do know through your work that you have done with the Drug Policy Alliance, that you are strong and that you are committed, and unstoppable. I just wanted to take a moment to uplift you, and good luck. Thank you. Im pretty good at holding my own in meetings. Thank you. Great. Thank you, ms. Thomas and lets go on to mr. Alan. Supervisors, thank you, my name is Terrance Alan and thank you so much for taking such a long day in contemplating this very difficult and challenging process that San Francisco must go through in order to be ready for what will legalization look like in an urban environment . We have heard model i would use the word template. We have an opportunity to template for an urban seting what cannabis might look like, but we have a lot of work to be done. When i first went around to the board of supervisors members two years ago, when supervisor avalos proposed and passed legislation out in the excelsior, i realized that the Cannabis Community that i had been part of in the 80s and early 90s and medical dispensary that gave their money back in the forms of service back on market and church. I left because my next passion was entertainment, and my entertainment passion was likely my cannabis passion keeping Community Alive and spend the 20 years in my Entertainment Experience and to use for the betterment of the people a process that we have in front of us and i would would like to bring that experience to this task. I think we heard a lot of what i would say social justice, reparations and accessibility of this new industry to a part of our population that has been on the side of incarceration incentivized and if were going to be a leader in this to look for ways to incentivize that ownership. I would like to see that we have past reparations for those crimes. I would like to see in those future opportunities that it be available first and especially to those that were harmed. Neighborhood issues go to education. Education goes to daybyday, stepbystep outreach as we did with nightlife in the beginning, which was a wayhated part of San Franciscos climate. And it took going to every neighborhood meeting, going to the churches, making allies, beginning to educate, talking to children, going to the youth commission, it was a very long process. For me it was a 20year process of advocacy before we now have what is known as the Entertainment Commission functioning well in San Francisco. And so with all of that experience, i should remind you i was the founding president of the commission and led the public Gathering Force which was under the latenight coalition. Once i retireds a twoterm Entertainment Commission i founded cmaq and have either been secretary, chair or treasurer of that organization the whole time and we have been instrumental in helping the city and helping the supervisors keep an eye on the Entertainment Industry as it evolves. So i bring that experience and knowledge to this task. And i think its a unique set of experiences and its the reason why i put my hat in the ring. I would like this task force to have available to it every possible advantage in moving this issue forward fairly, and with a unified voice as possible in San Francisco. I think i can help do that. I know, i have tell you i have been interested in hearing your presence as well. I know you morenenttainin the entertainment space. Yes. And to hear how you would blend your experience in nightlife and entertainment and you have been quite a champion in that space, how that will compliment the work that you want to do, that you have just laid out in your presentation about rap ration reparation and equity. I wont tell the long story. I will tell the short one. I was a target of Police Enforcement and regular Police Enforcement because what i was doing throwing fundraisers for aids organizations in my large warehouse home was seens a nuisance. So the Police Department under the law at this time had to come and shut me down. I then formed a group and followed through to do what one of the captains said, dont get mad at the police, change the rule yes. We enforce the rule and if society is ready to change the rules, change them. So i bring that fundamental understanding that we cant this is more than a fight about throwing rocks at city hall and getting into arguments with our opponents. This is about finding commonality and changing the rules in a way that we can agree to change them. Its going to be incremental. We are not going to get the cannabis world that were going to see at the turn of this century, in the next five years in San Francisco. But we can lay the groundwork if we lay it on those important principles. In humboldt county two years ago, i was invited to help them start the process of forming an organization to write the very first cultivation ordinance ever in california. It is built on sustainability, water conservation, land use practices, conversion of cpz land to agricultural use. It was built on seeing cannabis as agricultural and not drugs and im proud to say after two years within a couple more meetings that ordinance will be voted on and passed. So i understand direct political action. We have to apply those principles now, because the cannabis industry has done a great job of serving its patients. So we dont hear about that as a problem. So there has not been a voice in city hall and we need to replace that with the voice of what is going to be coming down the road. Thank you. Thank you. Supervisor avalos, i dont know if you have any other questions, but we can continue. Im done. Thank you, mr. Alan. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, supervisors. . Next up james araby, i dont think he is here according to my notes, but just in case. Hello, im not jim araby, im amber bauer the director for the western states council. Can we have you come during Public Comment . Because i cant have other people speak i really apologize, but no. Public comment, yes. Okay. Eliot beckelman. Hello im applying for labor chair no. 20. Im an attorney who engages in cannabis regulation and criminal defense. I think im a good fit for lest the only labor chair on the task force. I have been heartened by the words of ms. Thomas talking about training and access and heart ened by terrance heartened you wont heartened by daisy ozims testimony . I was heartened by daisy, i heard daisy speak once before. Okay, just checking. She is applying for the youth we talked about it and its really encourage, but she is talking about because this is an opportunity you from the macro sense of a social justice opportunity. But its also micro, because the cannabis economy will serve as a counterbalance in my opinion to the tech economy, which is limited to a certain strata and how you get to it is through jobs. This is going to be good jobs that are going to be here and how to do you get good jobs new give the opportunity for people that dont normally are access to the workplace. In local 2, in terms of building a hotel, you have to hire a certain percentage of san franciscans and you have to hire a certain percentage of san franciscans from certain communities and these employment agencies. This can be done here. It doesnt interfere with federal law. We can put down these type of guidelines if you are going to have cannabis businesses you have to have certain types of hiring. You are concerned about the bayview in terms of dispensaries, there is other types of work to be done. There is manufacturing and there is transportation, there is warehousing and there is testing. It doesnt necessarily have to be dispensaries. There is marketing. There is marketing, as well as other secondary work that can happen. That is what ms. Thomas was talking about training. That i dont know if we can necessarily legislate, but we can encourage that. Because were going to be allowing people that dont have normal access, who havent had access to the workplace, young people, people with records and if you look at the guy from facebook, trying to discharge a number of narcoticsrelated charges and we can get behind that. So people who are in the underground economy now can come out of the cold, start getting paychecks with deductions being covered by workers compensation. The other thing is a labor piece pact that is no in the initiative, but to make that meaning union access to the workplace. A peace pact means that the unions can engage in strike so the union can have access there and that often raises the level of compensation. And another thing, i think its important is the issue of the workers being employees as opposed to independent con tractors because its the employee relationship where all of these laws and regularsations and benefits come in and that is through enforcement. What is happening in medical and Retail Marijuana is enforcement away from the cops to state regulatory agencies and here you have the olsc and state Labor Commission and i sent the last years working as overseeing the inspectors going into the workplace and enforcing wage and hour law and when you have wage and hour law being enforced you can determine who is an employee and who is an independent contractor . An opportunity for good paying jobs and possibly union jobs and its a wonderful opportunity for us to control this green rush that is coming in. You know, my kids were raised in the mission and i met and they have left the city, but a lot of their friends and we have worked with them, is to try to get good jobs here. So different nonprofit agencies that my family and i have worked with, we try to do the training and try to get good jobs whether its a union job or related and there are a lot of kids still in the cry that will have access to potentially good jobs if we do it right. Thank you. I dont have any questions, supervisor avalos. Thank you, mr. Beck elman, are you currently involved in the union . I represent the labor side. Im not with the union. My concern, that i do recognize that the chair was narrowly written for one union, you snow i think i bring that and more. For hre i was there an attorney, i was an organization and worker [speaker not understood] Municipal Attorneys Association was public defenders,s District Attorney and city attorneys and i have worked with unions throughout my entire life and, in fact in my pact is two people from local 2 have lent support. Its a very nice letter from julie su as well. So we work with unions all the time that. Has been my background. That is why i went to law school essentially. Right now im not with the unions. Thank you. Last person we have before us today Spencer Williams since spencer couldnt be here today and he is on his honeymoon, i can read a statement on his behalf or save it for Public Comment, if you prefer. Lets save it for Public Comment. Can we take a quick recess before we go to Public Comments . I just need about five minutes and ill check with my staff. Five minutes, okay . Im on a short timeline myself, but i do have to take a quick dash