By Coleen Cusack, Esq. / ASA Newsletter
This letter was written in response to San Diego ASA blog post: “Running on Empty Promises: How Todd Gloria and Stephen Whitburn Ashed the City’s Cannabis Social Equity Program” [posted in the Rag yesterday, July 10th].
“Actions may speak louder than words but patterns scream the loudest.”
–Christine E. Szymanski
With Gloria and Whitburn a pattern has emerged of telling voters what they think voters want to hear then doing the opposite. Why should their promises be believed this election cycle? Gloria and Whitburn also have a pattern of doing what special interests and corrupt influences direct them to do and ignoring the will of the voters.
It’s clear that Jesus Cardenas in his dual role as paid lobbyist for cannabis retailers and Chief of Staff for Councilmember Stephen Whitburn has influenced and continues to influence the office of the councilmember in his policy making decisions. The councilmembers’ actions and inactions in opposing funding and withholding support are incongruent with his empty promises. In contrast, my actions and words are consistent. As an epileptic since childhood, I’ve realized the benefits of medical marijuana.
As a criminal defense attorney I have seen upfront and personally the devastating impact the War on Drugs has had on communities of color. We must make deliberate efforts to repair and restore these communities and the families and individuals whom the war sought to destroy. The SEED Program has the mechanism to do this. If elected, consistent with my actions, I will support Cannabis Social Equity and the funding and implementation of the SEED Program.
Coleen Cusack, Esq. is a passionate and dedicated candidate running for San Diego City Council District 3. With a deep-rooted connection to the district and a commitment to public service, Coleen offers a wealth of experience and a unique and refreshing perspective.
I used to practice yoga in a commercial building on Hancock Street in a remote section of Old Town. One of the other tenants in the building was a cannabis dispensary. As I understand it, cannabis dispensaries are restricted from residential areas. Once while I was there and several times when I was not, the building was sealed off by SDPD swat and none of us could leave because the cannabis dispensary had been robbed by men with guns. Cannabis dispensaries are cash only businesses because federal law prevents owners from using banking financial institutions or credit cards.
The author of the “Running on Empty Promises” article on 7/10/24 engages in a lot of conjecture about the motivations of Gloria and Whitburn for not supporting cannabis social equity programs. However, relaxing the restrictions of where these places can be located is part and parcel of the programs. It is equally possible Gloria and Whitburn are reluctant to relax these restrictions to keep the type of criminality I experienced on Hancock Street from being introduced into residential communities
Absolutely support Coleen Cusack’s comments and her campaign. It’s time to have a District 3 councilperson who is not a Gloria clone and is independent and brilliant.