04182023eCommentsReport.R.pdf — Long Beach City Council, April 18, 2023

eComments Report for City Council Meeting Agenda of April 18, 2023 Item Name E-mail Address Comment Received

7. (23-0389) Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department by $1,150, offset by the Third Council District One- time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide signage at Channel View Park in memory of Ashlee Armond; and
Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $1,150, to offset a transfer to the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department.

Dave Shukla [email protected] Support. 4/18/2023

8. (23-0383) Recommendation to adopt resolution calling on top maritime importers to Long Beach to adopt existing emissions- reducing technologies and take steps to make port calls to the San Pedro Port Complex on zero-carbon ships by 2030.
(Citywide)
Dave Shukla [email protected] Support. Is there a way to check existing ships for Bilge Dumping at any point in between departure and
docking into L.B. Port?
4/18/2023
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20. (23-0374) Recommendation to receive and file the application of Ahtrst Concessions, LLC, dba The Queen Mary, for an original application of an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) License, at 1126 Queens Way. (District 1)
Levine Act: Yes
Dave Shukla [email protected] Appreciating these Levine Act disclosures 4/18/2023

22. (23-0376) Recommendation to determine that the granting of Facility/Pipeline Permit Supplement No. S-1-22 under existing Facility/Pipeline Permit
No. P-157-89 to Signal Hill Petroleum, Inc., will not be contrary to the public interest; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to issue said permit supplement in accordance with Section

15.44.060, Permit Issuance, of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (District 4)
Levine Act: Yes
Dave Shukla [email protected] Oppose. What's the need for the Natural Gas line, really?
4/18/2023
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25. (23-0104) Recommendation to receive supporting
documentation into the record and conclude the public hearing and consider two third-party appeals by Laurie Angel and Kirk Davis (APL 22-006); and
Deny the appeals and approve a Site Plan Review (SPR 22-078) for the development of a 303,972 square foot concrete tilt-up building including 9,000 square feet of office space approximately 51 feet in height on a 14.16-acre lot at 5910 Cherry Avenue in the General Industrial Zoning District. (District 9)
Sona Coffee [email protected] Please do not move forward with approving the site plan without first conducting an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) to identify appropriate mitigation measures for the impacts of this project to the surrounding
neighborhoods. The traffic report included in the
developer study (p.6) states the project will bring an
increase of 180 truck trips and 354 cars trips per day.

P.4 of the staff report acknowledges there are
environmental justice and pollution concerns with the
project site, but states the CEQA process is not
required for approval of the site plan. However, this
opinion only views the warehouse site and not the
impacts from the truck trips and traffic congestion. I
appreciate that the proposed project will cleanup the
pollution on-site, but the project also needs to consider the quality of life impacts to the community. Please
direct staff to conduct an EIR and identify equitable
development and mitigation measures to protect public
health in our community.
4/18/2023
PUBLIC COMMENT Miriel Bereal [email protected] Great afternoon Everyone with giving all glory and honor to THE MOST HIGH GOD; my name is Miriel
"Mae" Bereal. I am a verified Applicant and have been
a part of the Social Equity Cannabis Program within the City of Long Beach, since 2019. I am Applicant #7
within your System, with pending licenses for Medical
Manufacturing, Cultivation, Distribution and I'm currently in the running for a Dispensary. I have also co-founded a social equity alliance called the LBSEE, which stands for Long Beach Social Equity Entrepreneurs. Today I
am asking that you all reduce the buffers between non-
equity and equity dispensaries. The inventory for Retail spaces within The City is VERY limited so reducing the
buffer by at least HALF would help us greatly to
participate within the retail cannabis market in The City.

Equity is good, though INCLUSION is the goal! My
current space is located within Suely's District of District 6 and is in need of a reduction in buffer; if not, more help from The City.
4/18/2023
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PUBLIC COMMENT Rhonda Love -
Dreamkreator
Studio
[email protected] Dear Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council,
We request that you please accept this public comment
and include it in the public records for the City Council meeting scheduled for April 18, 2023. We express our
full support of the proposed mixed-use development
located at 450 The Promenade North, and ask you to
please deny the appeal and support the Planning
Commission's approval of the Site Plan Review.

Dreamkreator Studio is a non-profit organization that
fosters communities through media, art, and
technology. As a contributing voice in the community,
we support the proposed development, as it aligns with
the city's strategic plan and vision for Downtown Long
Beach, and the Downtown Plan. It's optimal use of the
property, includes high-density housing, ground floor
commercial space, and open space, perfect the
presence of arts and culture, with essentials for
residents, workers, and visitors- please approve!
Best regards,
Rhonda Love
CEO & President
Dreamkreator Studio
4/18/2023

29. (23-0388) Recommendation to receive and file a presentation in recognition of Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Dave Shukla [email protected] Support 4/18/2023
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Zach Donahue zach.donahue@catalystcan
nabis.co
I am writing to introduce myself as Zach Donahue, with
Catalyst Cannabis Co. I have been a part of the legal
cannabis industry since 2020 and have witnessed
firsthand the remarkable growth and changes that have
taken place in the industry.

As an industry, we have made significant strides in the legal market, including the creation of union jobs,
formal education, and 17 locations. However, despite
these successes, we are concerned about the potential
collapse of the industry due to high taxes.

It is my belief that tax reform is urgently needed to help stimulate the growth of local cannabis retail
establishments. I hope that the city takes these
recommendations into consideration and works to
develop a tax relief plan that supports the continued
growth and success of the cannabis industry while
prioritizing the well-being of local communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Zach Donahue
4/18/2023

Natalie Aguilar [email protected] I'm Natalie Aguilar and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in San Bernardino. I started in the cannabis industry in 2018 and have seen the growth and changes the
industry has made and been forced to endure from then
to now. As an industry, we have made HUGE strides in
the legal market but Catalyst alone offers - 17 locations that all have union jobs, formal education, we work with city leadership in uplifting our communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry collapsing due to high taxes.

We need tax reform now and I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are hiring locals, provide
living wages and career pathways for workers, and
promote social equity in our communities. Long Beach
possess the power to create change and i am here
today to ask you to be in our favor.
4/18/2023
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Ana Sanchez [email protected] "Good Evening, my names Ana Rosa Sanchez and I'm a budtender at catalyst cannabis co in Santa Ana. I
have seen the growth + excitement and also the
hardships + changed the industry has made and been
forced to endure from then to now. We have made
huge strides to help support + grow the legal market -
union jobs, Formal education, 17 locations, working
with city leadership and uplifting our communities and
yet, we are in fear of this industry collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now and I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and rears companies that are hiring locals, provide
living wages and career pathways for workers, and
promote social equity in our communities. #WFTP"
4/18/2023

Miriel Bereal [email protected] Please ensure that The City Manager works very closely with Valencia and those in the Cannabis Office
to use those tax dollars to aide Social Equity. Helping those that are in the Program with licensing pending to make it through to the finish line. Also, take the
cannabis tax from the current retailers, & give it to the Equity Dispensaries that will be opening soon, so that
they may have a chance to "catch up" within the legal
market. We have had to wait numerous years for our
opportunity to open a retail shop, and we would like all of the help we can get in doing so. Plus, use those
cannabis tax dollars to help the various communities
around Long Beach. The streets are dirty, potholes
need to be filled, and homeless need to be housed.

The City makes MILLIONS, every year from cannabis
tax dollars alone, so please use it to clean up The City.

Lastly, I do ask that all Social Equity Taxes be waived, we have been "taxed" all of our life, it would be a good time to give us a break.
4/18/2023
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Jim Gabbar [email protected] The City Council should not be looking for ways to bail out private enterprise from the regular risks associated with business. Vice Taxes are part of the risk of being in a business selling regulated substances. Future
taxpayers are being asked to eat the risk of these
businesses at the cost of reduced revenues for services so these "cannabis retail establishments" can have tax
relief.
4/18/2023

Pam Chotiswatdi [email protected] Hello - My name is Pam Chotiswatdi. I am 20-year Long Beach resident in D2. I am an educator and advocate in
cannabis. I also have a non-related small business and
non-profit in the city. Cannabis advocates are regular
people from the full spectrum of our society. Cannabis
patients, consumers, and operators are taxed out of the legal market. We legalized cannabis partly because of
access to safe products - high taxes is just like an
unregulated market. Patients and consumers are at risk
and operators cannot survive. Our society does not get
a new industry everyday or even every decade or 50
years even, why not educate departments on
misconceptions and embrace the industry and what it
can do for the economy and our community. Thank you.
4/18/2023
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Jennifer Castelle [email protected]
o
Hello, my name is Jennifer Castelle and I work in the
Purchasing Dept in headquarters at Catalyst Cannabis
Co. I started in the cannabis industry in 2018 and have seen the growth and changes the industry has made
and been forced to endure from then to now. As an
industry, we have made HUGE strides in the legal
market - union jobs, formal education, 17 locations,
working with city leadership and uplifting our
communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now
and I support the recommendations made to the city
today. Our industry needs to have the city develop a
tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are
hiring locals, provide living wages and career pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities.
4/18/2023

Klarissa Moreno klarissa.moreno@catalystc
annabis.co
My name is Klarissa Moreno and I'm from Catalyst
Cannabis Co in Downtown Long Beach. I started in the
cannabis industry in 2014 and have seen the growth
and changes the industry has made and been forced to
endure from then to now.

We need tax reform now and I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are not only uplifting the
community, but trying to provide affordable medication
to the people.
4/18/2023
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Tyler Brandow [email protected] I'm Tyler Brandow and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in Long Beach. I started in the cannabis industry in
2019 and have seen the growth and changes the
industry has made and been forced to endure from then
to now. As an industry, we have made HUGE strides in
the legal market - union jobs, formal education, 17
locations, working with city leadership and uplifting our communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. Already, we are seeing
licensees fall off and not renewing their licenses due to high fees, higher taxes, and a lack of support from
officials to make the changes that are needed. We
need tax reform now and I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are hiring locals, provide
living wages and career pathways for workers, and
promote social equity in our communities.
4/18/2023

Garrett Schwab [email protected]
o
I'm Garrett Schwab and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co
in Long Beach working at our Headquarters. I started
in the purchasing team about 3 years ago, and have
seen the growth and changes the industry has made
and been forced to comply with these difficult changes.

As an industry, we have made huge strides in the legal
market, added jobs to not only Long Beach but other
communities all over California, yet we are in fear of
this industry collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform as soon as possible. I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are hiring locals, provide
living wages and career pathways for workers, and
promote social equity in our communities. To help
move our company along and to keep providing mutual
beneficial opportunities to communities all over
California, changes need to be made!
4/18/2023
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Mily Harry [email protected] I'm Mily and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in Long Beach. I started in the cannabis industry in 2013 and
have seen the growth and changes the industry has
made and been forced to endure from then to now. As
an industry, we have made HUGE strides in the legal
market - union jobs, formal education, 17 locations,
working with city leadership and uplifting our
communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now
and I support the recommendations made to the city
today. Our industry needs to have the city develop a
tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are
hiring locals, provide living wages and career pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities.
4/18/2023

Natasha Nguyen natasha.nguyen@southcor
dholdings.com
I'm Natasha and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in Long
Beach. I started in the cannabis industry in 2019 and
have seen the growth and changes the industry has
made and been forced to endure from then to now. As
an industry, we have made HUGE strides in the legal
market - union jobs, formal education, 17 locations
throughout California, working with city leadership and uplifting our communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax
reform now and I support the recommendations made
to the city today. Our industry needs to have the City develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of
local cannabis retail establishments and reward
companies that are hiring locals, provide living wages
and career pathways for workers, and promote social
equity in our communities. Please support cannabis
workers! It wasn't too long ago that cannabis workers
were deemed as essential workers.
4/18/2023
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Jordan Freede [email protected] To whom it may concern! I work in the Cannabis Industry in Long Beach and have
been with the same company for 6 years. We have
super low corporate overhead because we can't afford
to add more bodies if we want to sustain the growth we
are trying to accomplish. We are taxed like no other
industry and no other state is taxing cannabis like
California is. We need to make a stand today to change
this and help make these businesses thrive. Not to
mention so people can get a raise and not have to live
pay check to pay check working for the biggest industry in California today.

Alcohol is not taxed that way and cannabis shouldn't
either. You have Alcohol killing people daily but
cannabis is a medicine and something that people use
all over the world to help cure and cope with horrible
diseases or illnesses. Thank you for your time and I
hope as a Long Beach Citizen you consider this change
and make a stand for what is right!
4/18/2023

Valerie Leiva [email protected] I'm Valerie Leiva and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in Hemet CA. I started in the cannabis industry in 2017
and have seen the growth and changes the industry
has made and been forced to endure from then to now.

As an industry, we have made HUGE strides in the
legal market - union jobs, formal education, 17
locations, working with city leadership and uplifting our communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now
and I support the recommendations made to the city
today. Our industry needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis
retail establishments and reward companies that are
hiring locals, provide living wages and career pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities.
4/18/2023
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Edgar Torres edgar.torres@catalyst-
cares.com
I'm Edgar Torres and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in
Long Beach. I started in the cannabis industry in 2014
and have seen the growth and changes the industry
has made and been forced to endure from then to now.

30. (23-0384) Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Office of Cannabis Oversight to develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate the growth of local cannabis retail
establishments with structured incentives that promote
community benefits, local hiring, livable wages, and fair labor standards, and return to the City Council as part of the FY24 budget process.
giovanna gutierrez [email protected]
m
My name is Giovanna and I have worked with Catalyst
Cannabis Co since 2018. Catalyst has provided me with
different opportunities like being able to be union shop steward. I learned so much about policy and the
importance you guys' as city council men/women have
in the cannabis industry. I was also a part of Catalyst Cares and gave back to the community I worked in. I
was able to clean up Eastside Long beach with two
different city council members from different districts.

By lowering cannabis taxes it would give access to
better livable wages for cannabis workers and extend it to the community. It would promote aces to social
equity partners in long beach city. I support the
recommendations made to the city today. DOWN WITH
TAXES, UP WITH ACCESS. W F T P
4/18/2023
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Heather Chung [email protected] I'm Heather and I'm from Catalyst Cannabis Co in Long Beach. I started in the cannabis industry in 2021 and
have seen the growth and changes the industry has
made and been forced to endure from then to now. As
an industry, we have made HUGE strides in the legal
market - union jobs, formal education, 17 locations,
working with city leadership and uplifting our
communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now
and I support the recommendations made to the city
today. Our industry needs to have the city develop a
tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are
hiring locals, provide living wages and career pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities.
4/18/2023

Ronny Leng ronny.leng@southcordholdi
ngs.com
Greetings, my name is Ronny and I represent Catalyst
Cannabis Co, located in the city. Since entering the
cannabis industry in 2022, I have observed its
remarkable progress and undergone the challenges it
has faced. As an industry, we have made significant
strides in the legal market, including the creation of
union jobs, establishment of formal education,
expansion to 17 locations, collaboration with city
leadership, and community upliftment. However, our
achievements are at risk of being overshadowed by
exorbitant taxes, threatening the stability of the industry.

Thus, I urge the need for tax reform and fully endorse
the recommendations presented to the city today. We
must urge the city to implement a tax relief plan that
would foster the growth of local cannabis retail
establishments, recognize and support companies
hiring locals, provide living wages, create career
pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities. Thank you for listening.
4/18/2023
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30. (23-0384) Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the Office of Cannabis Oversight to develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate the growth of local cannabis retail
establishments with structured incentives that promote
community benefits, local hiring, livable wages, and fair labor standards, and return to the City Council as part of the FY24 budget process.
will oconnor [email protected] My name is Will O'Connor and I work for Catalyst Cannabis Co. as the Director of Purchasing. I have
been lucky enough to be with Catalyst since its
inception, and through that time we have accomplished
some pretty amazing feats. That being said, year over
year the oppressiveness of the tax weighs heavy on not
only our business, but the industry as a whole.

Struggling retail affects the entirety of the supply chain - stemming all the way down to the cultivators and
growers who are equally as invested in the success of
the industry. It has become evident that the current path we are on is simply not sustainable, and the tax plays a huge roll in that. It is necessary to amend the current structure if we want to continue growth in this space.

We have over 400 employees passionate about their
work, many of whom who work now at our HQ who
started as budtenders. The industry is resilient, but can only be resilient for so long before it succumbs to unjust circumstances. Thank you.
4/18/2023

Lily Clements-
Ramirez
[email protected]
om
Hello, my name is Lily Clements and I'm from Catalyst
Cannabis Co in San Bernardino. I started in the
cannabis industry in 2019 and have seen the growth
and changes the industry has made and been forced to
endure from then to now. As an industry, we have
made HUGE strides in the legal market - union jobs,
formal education, 17 locations, working with city
leadership and uplifting our communities and yet, we
are in fear of this industry collapsing due to high taxes.

We need tax reform now and I support the
recommendations made to the city today. Our industry
needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis retail establishments and reward companies that are hiring locals, provide
living wages and career pathways for workers, and
promote social equity in our communities.
4/17/2023
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Sam Solomon samanthasolomon7@gmail.
com
I currently work at the Catalyst Mid City location. Before moving to this store, I worked at Catalyst DTLB for a
little under a year--my first year in the cannabis industry.

I've learned how the industry has endured in the past
and I've seen a legal market that's just beginning to
expand. I agree with the recommendations for tax
reform made to the city today because this blooming
industry is at risk of wilting. Tax relief needs to happen now. We want to see the city of Long Beach supporting
companies that hire local, promote social equity, and
strive to uplift the community.
4/15/2023

Within the various 'rules' that have been drafted up,
they state that non-equity must assist Equity. This
would 'recognize and address the long-term negative
social impact associated with the disproportionate
enforcement of cannabis policies on Black, Indigenous,
and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income
communities in the City', as stated on The Cities
website regarding Equity and your 'long-term' goals. I do believe it is time that we accomplish some of these
goals. Now.
4/18/2023
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31. (23-0379) Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to reduce the adult-use and medical cannabis cultivation and retail taxes for equity businesses by half the rate set in Section 3.80.261 of the LBMC. (Citywide)
Sarah Armstrong [email protected] To: The Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Sarah Armstrong JD
Outreach Chair for Los Angeles and Ventura
Counties - Americans for Safe Access
Re: SUPPORT Agenda Item No. 31 File No. 23-0379 -
Reduced Taxes for Equity Cannabis Retailers and
Cultivators
The Los Angeles and Ventura County Divisions of
Americans for Safe Access concurs with the statement
in the item's report which states: "Reducing taxes for
equity businesses will reduce the barriers to entry in an already established and competitive local market..." Our organization urges the honorable council to pass this
measure when it comes before them, and in doing so
"...support the City's goal of creating equitable
opportunities in the local cannabis industry in Long
Beach." Reducing taxes is a meaningful step in
assuring that social equity candidates get the help they need to thrive. Thank you for your attention to this
matter.
4/18/2023

This is a an example of our elected officials being out of touch and misguided with their efforts. at the very least this should be placed on the ballot so constituents have a chance to voice their opinion on the matter, instead of hiding behind special interests and hard to access
meetings. It is very suspicious there are no Levine Act disclosures for this item.
4/18/2023
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31. (23-0379) Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to reduce the adult-use and medical cannabis cultivation and retail taxes for equity businesses by half the rate set in Section 3.80.261 of the LBMC. (Citywide)
Pam Chotiswatdi [email protected] Hello - My name is Pam Chotiswatdi. I am 20-year Long Beach resident in D2. I also work and have a small
business and non-profit in the city. Cannabis patients, consumers, and operators are taxes out of the legal
market. We legalized partly because of access to safe
products, - high taxes is just like an unregulated
market. Patients and consumers are at risk and
operators cannot survive. Our society does not get a
new industry everyday or even every decade or 50
years even, why not educate your self on
misconceptions and embrace the industry and what it
can do for the economy and our community. Thank you.
4/18/2023

31. (23-0379) Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to reduce the adult-use and medical cannabis cultivation and retail taxes for equity businesses by half the rate set in Section 3.80.261 of the LBMC. (Citywide)
Clive Walters [email protected] Have we not learned from the historical issues of the tobacco industry? Why do we continue to let paid
agents of the cannabis industry lobby and bully the
policy makers of Long Beach into poor health and
safety for the community. We would not sit and listen to tobacco, alcohol or even Rx industry folks talk about
why we should make it easier for them to sell their
products to our residents, why are we doing this with
cannabis? We need these taxes to address the harms
of the industry.
4/18/2023
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31. (23-0379) Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare ordinance to amend the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) to reduce the adult-use and medical cannabis cultivation and retail taxes for equity businesses by half the rate set in Section 3.80.261 of the LBMC. (Citywide)
Chris Diemand [email protected] Good Evening, My name's Chris Diemand Jr. and I'm the General Manager of the Catalyst Cannabis Co in
Santa Ana. I moved here in 2019 leaving a well tenured
+ paying job from the Midwest to dive into the
"unknown" yet intriguing, newly regulated Cannabis
Industry. I have seen the growth + excitement and also
the hardships + changes the industry has made and
been forced to endure from then to now. We have
made HUGE strides to help support + grow the legal
market - union jobs, formal education, 17 locations,
working with city leadership and uplifting our
communities and yet, we are in fear of this industry
collapsing due to high taxes. We need tax reform now
and I support the recommendations made to the city
today. Our industry needs to have the city develop a tax relief plan to help stimulate growth of local cannabis
retail establishments and reward companies that are
hiring locals, provide living wages and career pathways for workers, and promote social equity in our
communities. #WFTP
4/18/2023

32. (23-0380) Recommendation to acknowledge and consent to an Assignment and Assumption of the Purchase and Sale
Agreement and Escrow Instructions, dated March 10, 2022, for the disposition of City-owned exempt surplus property located at 854 East 7th Street, commonly known as the former Long Beach Armory for an affordable housing development, from Armory Arts Collective, LP (Assignor), to Linc Armory, LP (Assignee); and Consent to a change in population type for the affordable housing development from general affordable housing to affordable housing restricted to senior adult households. (District 1) Levine Act: Yes
Carlos Torre [email protected] My name is Carlos de la Torre and I am the owner of Cornerstone Wellness in Los Angeles. I am also a
founding member of the UCBA Trade Association. We
stand with our fellow members in Long Beach and ask
for your support in reducing the taxes on cannabis
businesses. The legal cannabis industry is currently
suffering a significant downturn. Instead of working with us to help stabilize the industry, the ton-def state of California (CDTFA) has decided to raise the excise tax
on retailers by turning a tax on goods into a gross
receipts tax (A super greedy and shady move). This
new decision has a profoundly negative impact on our
small business and it will certainly drive even more
people back to the illicit market. Lowering the city tax will go a long way in helping to steady the receding tide of customers and it will certainly and significantly help the struggling social equity businesses. Please help our businesses survive by passing an ordinance to lower
the tax. Thank you.
4/17/2023
PUBLIC COMMENT Miriel Bereal [email protected] The overall narrative for the comments that I have made, is that Equity needs help, NOW. Not years from
now, not months from now... now. This Office of
Cannabis has been open for quite some time and to
only have about 2 Equity Applicants with licensing is a clear sign that there is a link broken in the chain.

Please fix it. The more Applicants that are in the
System, the more money the State gives you, & the
more money the City makes from tax dollars. It also
benefits from us cleaning up the community, as we
would NOT have the areas surrounding our business
be run down; we would feed, help, build and uplift our
communities, so that we could once again walk as
GOD intended for us to walk. We've been oppressed
long enough, even The State is talking about
'Reparations' for Slavery.. they recognize something is owed to what we've endured, please recognize the
same for the 'War on People'. Families were changed
for generations, it is time we turn things around, and got back on track.
4/18/2023
041823eCommentsReport.xlsx Page 19 of 19 Printed: 4/18/23 4:20 P.M.

Long Beach City CouncilApril 18, 2023

Long Beach City Council
April 18, 2023