HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from Jeanne Cecchi - Commercial Cannabis Activities BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING 5-8-17
Commercial Cannabis Activities
I just received my Chamber of Commerce newsletter and the heading is
BUILDING AN ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY IN OROVILLE. In their
effort to helping build a community to which residents, visitors and investors
are attracted, they could not ignore that Oroville has a total crime (property
& violent) rate of 77 crimes per 1,000 persons ---we are in the top 225 out of
9,399 reporting jurisdictions. As a comparison Compton has a total crime
rate of 34 per 1,000. So when the Chamber considers implementing a new
initiative, their guideline is DOES THE ACTIVITY MOVE THE NEEDLE
IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION? So they have to make tough choices but
their mission is to make Oroville the "best place to live, work and play."
The Board now has a tough decision for the County. Follow the majority of
Butte County residents who (with the support of the Board) passed Measure
A to regulate the size of grows and defeated Measure L which would have
expanded the grows; and take a position to BAN commercial activity; OR
the Board could cave to the promises of tax money (and the headache of
regulating a federally outlawed substance). WOULD THAT DECISION
MOVE THE NEEDLE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION? Do we want to add
to our existing crime rate? Look to Humboldt County and the destruction of
wildlife and the environment. Look to all of the unintended consequences.
As a Federal agency the EPA can't approve any chemicals for use on an
outlawed crop — even legal grows have few or no guidelines. The Sheriff and
District Attorney's office warned about jeopardizing public safety, attracting
criminal activity, and damage to the environment. Butte County residents
have spoken. We have fought hard to establish healthy and educational
agritourism programs and events, and to protect the environment, wildlife,
and culture of our communities by resisting the proliferation of large
marijuana commercial grows.
The Sacramento Board of Supervisors made the tough decision and voted to
prohibit all commercial growing operations -- citing crime, pollution and
safety concerns. I hope this Board will show the same leadership and move
THE NEEDLE IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION by using its authority to BAN
commercial grow activities and taking the approach to let other willing
counties and cities be the guinea pigs. If you decide to regulate, would it
help attract new businesses to Butte County? I believe history tells us, it
would just attract more of the same business. There is no shame in waiting
and learning from mistakes made. But there is shame in having County
residents who have already voiced their opinion be outvoted by this Board.
The Board has already expressed a willingness to be patient and see how it
rolls out in other areas of the State. That decision would go a long way to
helping make this County the best place to live, work and play. The wrong
decision could prove to be an irreversible regrettable mistake.
Jeanne Cecchi
90 Grey Fox Lane
Oroville,CA 95966
(530)589.0991