Tackling the Menace: Union City Police Crackdown on Drug-Related Burglaries
In recent weeks, the Union City Police Department achieved a significant victory in their ongoing battle against crime with the apprehension of a group of burglars responsible for the brazen break-in at the Lemmonade Recreational Marijuana Store on Union City Boulevard. This incident underscores the pervasive threat that drug-related criminal activities pose to communities across California, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive law enforcement measures to address the multifaceted challenges faced by local police departments, as well as how cities manage “legal” marijuana retail sales.
The arrest of five adults involved in the burglary of the Lemmonade Recreational Marijuana Store is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of a larger problem plaguing communities like Union City across California. The state’s burgeoning cannabis industry, coupled with the prevalence of drug trafficking and organized crime, has created fertile ground for criminal enterprises to thrive. The seizure of five firearms, including a high-capacity assault weapon, two stolen vehicles, and a substantial quantity of illicit drugs—3.7 ounces of suspected cocaine, 8.8 ounces of suspected methamphetamine, and over seven pounds of marijuana—underscores the gravity of the situation.
Moreover, the discovery of high-capacity magazines, ammunition, and nearly $12,000 in US currency further emphasizes the dangerous nexus between drug-related crimes, firearms proliferation, and organized crime. These findings not only highlight the immediate threats posed by such criminal activities, but also underscore the broader societal ramifications, including the potential for neighborhood violence and community destabilization.
The implications of these crimes extend beyond Union City, reverberating throughout the Bay Area and creating significant challenges for local law enforcement agencies. The recent tragic loss of an Oakland Police officer in January 2024 while responding to a burglary at a marijuana business serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers in their line of duty. This incident underscores the grave dangers inherent in combating sophisticated criminal networks operating within our state.
In addition to jeopardizing public safety, the prevalence of “legal” marijuana retail operations exacts a heavy toll on local communities, straining already limited resources and creating administrative headaches for police departments. The Union City Police Department’s successful operation serves as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our local law enforcement officers in their tireless efforts to safeguard communities and uphold the rule of law. But it also raises concerns about the direction the city headed under the leadership of Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci and Council members Jaime Patiño and Scott Sakakihara- all of whom support the sale of recreational marijuana in Union City. All three council members voted to approve moving forward with Union City’s THIRD recreational marijuana store that was slated for the Cherrywood Shopping Center- in spite of the fact the vote was taken within days of a shooting at the FLOR pot store in Union Landing, and with little apparent regard to the risks involved sanctioning such a business in a residential neighborhood.
Marijuana stores historically attract high rates of crime due to large amounts of cash on-hand and the street value of pot, plus they create increased accessibility of marijuana for children and 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.
The recent arrests by the Union City Police Department of a group organized criminals charged with yet another pot store robbery sheds light on the pervasive threat of crime facing communities across the Bay Area, and the desperation of local leaders to close city budget gaps with recreational marijuana business taxes. Union City has been contending with budget shortfalls of $3 to 4 million dollars every year for the past five plus years. When will Union City’s elected officials and the City Manager learn you cannot just “tax your way out of debt.” Sometimes, you just need to learn to manage your budget and live within your means. Perhaps we need more citizens on the city council and fewer career politicians- in one case, 25 years of leading the City swirling around the drain down into bankruptcy cannot end soon enough.
