SAME OLD STORY

Good old Vallejo is at it again. Our town seems to be the only one
left in the Bay Area that refuses to enter the 21st century. This
ridiculous nonsense about not allowing responsible medical marijuana
dispensaries defies logic.

Assistant District Attorney Claudia Quintana should turn in her
resignation immediately. She is doing what seems to me to be a huge
disservice to our city by circumventing state law. I think she is
attempting to use the convenient (and phony) zoning ordinance excuse,
which is no more than a thinly veiled attempt to nullify the will of
the voters.

There is an official law on the books allowing such dispensaries to
operate, as long as they act within the law, and act as good neighbors.

Stop obstructing, and change the outdated zoning ordinances to fit in
with the industries of today and the future, rather than hiding behind
these ordinances to pick and choose what you think is, or is not an
acceptable business.

Rescind the official position coming out of City Hall that
dispensaries "are not allowed in Vallejo." This city has done its best
to chase away businesses of all types, and with them, a lot of
potential city income. Knowledgeable citizens agree that the folks who
have run this city for the last 15 years have made a mess of things,
and this anti-medical marijuana attitude is just another example of
this.

We're bankrupt -- remember? Why should a few people at City Hall with
backward thinking dictate to us what kind of city income they feel
like allowing. They have not even bothered to give the public any
logical reasons for their opposition to the dispensaries.

Ms Quintana, get over it! You are not the city drug czar, so stop
wasting city resources opposing a state law passed by voters, just
because you don't agree with it. It is the height of hypocrisy to use
threatening language like "violators can be moved against civilly or
possible criminally," when in reality it is you not complying with the
law. I guess if you act aggressively enough, average citizens won't
look any deeper and notice that indeed, you are the real law breaker.
There are times in your professional life where personal beliefs have
to take a back seat to performing the duties and responsibilities that
you were sworn to uphold. This is one of those times.

The people interviewed for the article in the Times-Herald echoed the
same theme. Even though they knew a dispensary was nearby, the
dispensary "did not cause any problems." The only opposition I read
was the old and tired "that's not the activity we need in our town"
reply. With all the serious problems going on in this town, that
sounds pretty stupid. I mean, we wouldn't want a legal dispensary to
tarnish Vallejo's stellar reputation, would we?

I suggest if our public servants really want to actually serve the
public, they might try to solve the real issues facing us, like crime,
deteriorating streets, school issues and the like. Allowing legitimate
businesses to operate and pay taxes and fees could help pay for some
of these projects. If our City Hall is so worried about personal
choice issues, why have I never heard anyone in city government
explain why we have to have a liquor store on every corner?

Bruce Castillo

Vallejo