UNION CITY WANTS NEW RECREATIONAL CANNABIS STORE IN RESIDENTIAL AREA AGAIN, DESPITE OPPOSITION

by | Apr 24, 2024

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New proposal on Alvarado-Niles less than 200 feet from housing!

Recently, residents of Union City’s Cherrywood District were locked in a 7-month battle with the Union City Council, begging Council members NOT to approve placement of the city’s THIRD recreational marijuana store, this time within a residential neighborhood. The location proposed by the applicant (a chain of cannabis stores) would have been the first ‘pot shop’ located in an entirely RESIDENTIAL neighborhood, within feet of backyards of homes, a short walking distance to schools, and near where children gather, and senior citizens reside.

After months of protesting at council meetings, a letter writing campaign, and collection of over 2,250 signatures from residents opposed to placing a recreational marijuana store in their neighborhood, the council finally backed down and the Cherrywood location (next to Baldie’s Café, who supported the proposal) was finally scrapped.

Apparently not deterred by voter protests, the council is yet again about to consider a recreational marijuana store- this time at 35194 Alvarado-Niles Road- just 180 feet from residential housing, 1000 feet from a place of worship, and 1400 feet from a children’s daycare center, walking distance to Monte Vista Terrace Condominiums.

Most neighbors agree- stores like these do not belong anywhere near a RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD! Union City’s two other recreational marijuana stores (located in commercial areas) ‘Lemonnade’ on Union City Blvd., and ‘FLOR’ located in Union Landing, have both been repeated targets of burglaries and even violent armed robberies resulting in a security guard being shot. The Union City Council and Police Department need to discourage criminal behavior- not invite it into our backyards and attract Oakland-level crime to our neighborhoods.

Marijuana stores historically attract high rates of crime due to large amounts of cash on-hand & the street value of pot, and create increased accessibility of marijuana for children, as well as place vulnerable communities further at-risk. Weed stores also attract a high number of unhoused persons. Increased crime, vagrancy and increased homelessness invariably results in a drop in home values and the inability to attract quality buyers when owners wish to sell.

Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci, Council member Jaime Patino (District 2) and Council member Scott Sakakihara (District 4) all voted IN FAVOR of moving forward with the Cherrywood neighborhood location during the July 2023 council vote. Council member Gary Singh (District 1) was the only Council member voting NO, and Vice Mayor Jeff Wang (District 3) recused.

Call and e-mail your council member, mayor, and the police chief and urge them to drop this ill-conceived plan which directly compromises the safety of our families and the peace of our neighborhoods. The mayor and council members of this city will stop at nothing to put a marijuana store on every corner and into YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, so let them hear you load and clear.