Public Comment Correspondence – Mae Bereal
From: Mae Bereal [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 12:14 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Fwd: MILESTONE #3 X SOCIAL EQUITY
-EXTERNAL-
Great afternoon!
I would like to submit the attached email with my PUBLIC COMMENT… Please forward this information to ALL of the Council Members, including Rex.
My public comment ’To say that I am disgusted with the Social Equity Cannabis Program within Long Beach, would be an understatement! A couple of weeks ago, Rex said that you all have failed Social Equity, and that you were looking to HELP. Now, how can there be any ‘help’, when the ones that we are asking for help, is refusing to help us, despite having 2.5 MILLION dollars in the bank right now for Social Equity Applicants? I have asked the City to help me, as I now have a 3 day notice, due to the bait and switch with changing the Grant Amounts, to which The Department of Cannabis Oversight DENIED my request. You said you would help, so PLEASE HELP! Lastly, the RFP for cannabis equity dispensaries is now over SEVEN MONTHS behind! Please, put some fire under their butts… as this is ridiculous, no other City has taken this long to choose its Equity Dispensary recipients, with the Office of Oversight, failing to OVERSEE what is happening! It leaves one to wonder… if this wasn’t Equity, would it have sat on the back burner?
-M. Bereal
Begin forwarded message:
From: Mae Bereal <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: MILESTONE #3
Date: May 9, 2023 at 11:11:57 AM PDT
To: Evelyn Amado <[email protected]>
Cc: CannabizLB <[email protected]>, Valencia Mota <[email protected]>, CannabisOversight <[email protected]>, Yan Tkach <[email protected]>
Great morning Evelyn,
It's not a matter of ‘we are not able’… its, 'we are choosing not to'.
In the Grant Matrix it does state that you all can change things as you desire.
And I must say, it is sad to see the way The City will leave its Social Equity Applicants, such as Tamika, Jillian, myself and more, despite knowing the situations we are in.
Nevertheless, I will leave this at GODs Feet. HE said, ‘vengeance is HIS, and HE WILL repay’… all I gotta do is, forgive, love, and move forward.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A19&version=NIV
-M.
On May 9, 2023, at 9:56 AM, Evelyn Amado <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mae,
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, we are not able to process Milestone #3 until all of the departments involved in the plan check process approve your plans.
Regards,
Evelyn Amado
Cannabis Equity Program Specialist
Economic Development Department | Business Development Bureau 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Floor | Long Beach, CA 90802
Mobile: (562) 843-4119
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From: Mae Bereal <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:44 PM
To: Evelyn Amado <[email protected]>
Cc: CannabizLB <[email protected]>; Valencia Mota <[email protected]>; CannabisOversight <[email protected]>; Yan Tkach <[email protected]> Subject: Re: MILESTONE #3
-EXTERNAL-
Great evening Evelyn,
Thank you for the information about the process for Milestone #3.
Though today, I am asking for help, a favor, an exception.. something along those lines.
As you’ve stated, one approval is already there for the plans, to get Milestone #3, and I just need a couple more.
To which Leila, Tai & Refugio do keep me updated, and the architects will have the most recent corrections resubmitted by Monday.
Now the issue is, despite the letter to the landlord about the process, and when I would be getting Milestone #3, he is not happy and continues to threaten with ‘legal action’, if rent remains unpaid.
I am VERY close to the Milestone #3 finish line, being within the realm of having one approval thus far, so I am asking if you all can release the money for Milestone #3, so that I can continue to run this race.
I need the facility to continue with this process, please help.
Also, I have used the Attorney from Haven to discuss the facility issues.
I am thankful for their help.
I will reach out to more of those who are on that Social Equity ‘incubation’ list.
Please let me know if you’re able to expedite the check, so rent can be paid at the facility, and i'm able to finish what was started.
-M.
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On May 1, 2023, at 1:16 PM, Evelyn Amado <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mae,
We are excited you are moving along the process! Your plans are still under review. In order to fulfill Milestone #3 we need all of the departments involved in the plan check process to approve your plans. Yes, the fire review was approved but we are pending on others. When all approvals are completed that will generate permitting fees, which we will cover through our grants. Once those fees are paid they will generate the required document needed to process Milestone 3 which is your approved building permit.
Thank you,
Evelyn Amado
Cannabis Equity Program Specialist
Economic Development Department | Business Development Bureau 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Floor | Long Beach, CA 90802
Mobile: (562) 843-4119
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From: Mae Bereal <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, May 1, 2023 8:41 AM
To: Evelyn Amado <[email protected]>
Cc: CannabizLB <[email protected]>; Valencia Mota <[email protected]>; CannabisOversight <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: MILESTONE #3
-EXTERNAL-
HI EVELYN,
I CHECKED THE PLAN REVIEW STATUS SITE & IT SHOWED ‘APPROVED’ AS OF 4/27/23.
PLEASE ADVISE.
I KNOW THE CORRECTED PLANS WERE RESUBMITTED ON 4/26/23.
BRIAN DID A VERY GOOD JOB AT APPROVING THEM SO FAST. I DID ASK THEM TO ’SUPER EXPEDITE’ THINGS ONCE THE ARCHITECTURAL TEAM LET ME KNOW THEY WERE RESUBMITTED.
-M.
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On Apr 11, 2023, at 11:59 AM, Evelyn Amado <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mae,
You are correct, we will cover any fees that come up. Usually, fees may appear when corrections are required. Unfortunately, we are only able to see the plan check status through that same portal I previously shared with you which state they are still under review. As an idea plan check approvals take up to a month-long but since you are an equity applicant the planning team aims for a turnaround of two weeks. Please reach out to the permit center if you have any questions regarding the delays in approval.
Additionally, here is the link for the plan review status portal for your reference: https://www.longbeach.gov/lbds/building/permit-center/project-review- status/#plancheck
Thank you,
Evelyn Amado
Cannabis Equity Program Specialist
Economic Development Department | Business Development Bureau 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Floor | Long Beach, CA 90802
Mobile: (562) 843-4119
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From: Mae Bereal <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 10:30 AM
To: Evelyn Amado <[email protected]>
Cc: CannabizLB <[email protected]>; Valencia Mota <[email protected]>; CannabisOversight <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: MILESTONE #3
-EXTERNAL-
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU EVELYN,
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ADDITIONAL FEES REGARDING THIS PROJECT, OR KNOW OF ANY BEING REQUIRED? THOUGH I THOUGHT YOU ALL WOULD COVER THAT IF IT WAS NEEDED?
ALSO, ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE IN THE SYSTEM THAT THE PLANS WERE APPROVED AND THERE IS A PERMIT?
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE CITY ABOUT THE PERMIT, NOR KNOW HOW THIS PROCESS GOES… I ONLY KNOW THAT CORRECTED PLANS WERE SUBMITTED AS THE VARIOUS DEPTS REQUESTED, AND THAT IVE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW.
-M.
On Apr 11, 2023, at 9:19 AM, Evelyn Amado <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Mae,
Good morning. There are a couple more steps to complete before you are eligible for milestone 3. This will include paying for any additional plans check fees, permitting fees, and building permits being pulled by your architect. We will need a copy of the building permit in order to process milestone 3.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Evelyn Amado
Cannabis Equity Program Specialist
Economic Development Department | Business Development Bureau 411 W. Ocean Blvd., 10th Floor | Long Beach, CA 90802
Mobile: (562) 843-4119
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From: Mae Bereal <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 7, 2023 1:11 PM
To: CannabisOversight <[email protected]> Cc: CannabizLB <[email protected]>; Valencia Mota <[email protected]> Subject: MILESTONE #3
-EXTERNAL-
Great afternoon!
Th architect has submitted the corrected plans as requested by The City, so the Approval of Plans should be received soon.
I have attached Milestone #3 Grant Application, in hopes of expediting the check.
-M.
<Plan Review Status Mae.pdf>