Photos Tuesday by Stacie Joy
On Tuesday, Mayor Adams and Manhattan DA Bragg announced that they have joined forces to combat the proliferation of illegal, unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in the city.
For starters, the NYPD filed complaints against four unlicensed establishments selling cannabis in the jurisdiction of the 9th Precinct, which covers the East Village.
Per a media advisory from the city:
The complaints allege that an officer observed the sale of cannabis products at these establishments to underage individuals and sought to shut them down for the illegal sale of cannabis products and operating without a license.Additionally, the Manhattan DA's office mailed letters to each of the more than 400 known smoke shops in Manhattan, warning them of the potential for eviction proceedings for unlawful cannabis sales.
The NYPD's lawsuits allege that officers observed the sale of cannabis to underage auxiliary officers at these four establishments in Manhattan: Runtz Tobacco, 14 First Ave; Broadway, 736 Broadway; Saint Marks Convenience & Smoke Shop, 103 Saint Mark's Place; and Sogie Mart Rolls & Puff, 24 Avenue A.The NYPD now seeks to shut down these unlicensed establishments under New York City's Nuisance Abatement Law for the unlicensed sale of cannabis, also a violation of New York State's Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.
EVG contributor Stacie Joy was present at Saint Marks Convenience & Smoke Shop between Avenue A and First Avenue when a contingent of law enforcement officers from the 9th Precinct, the Sheriff's Interagency Enforcement Task Force, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, and the state Office of Cannabis Management paid a visit.
New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda told a City Council hearing last month "that this tactic was unlikely to lead to stores being shut down right away," as Gothamist reported. "Nuisance abatement takes a little while because the person has to have due process," Miranda said at that hearing.
The letter to the smoke shops from Bragg informs commercial entities that the DA's office "is prepared to use its civil authority under Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law to require owners and landlords to commence eviction proceedings of commercial tenants who are engaged in illegal trade or business, and to take over such eviction proceedings if necessary." (Find a copy of the letters here.)
The Real Deal identified the landlords behind the four East Village shops that were busted on Tuesday: 103 Saint Marks Place and 736 Broadway are owned by Bahram Hakakian's Allied Realty & Development, 24 Avenue A is owned by a limited liability company linked to Alfred Sabetfard of Sabet Group, and Runtz Tobacco at 14 First Ave. Per TRD: Jeong Hoon Kim and Son Dinh Tran are linked to LLCs that own two of the properties.
There are an estimated 50 illegal shops in the East Village; 1.400 in the five boroughs.
Bragg said that his office will determine where evidence exists of unauthorized cannabis sales and other illegal activity and will notify landlords of their requirement to begin eviction proceedings.
If the landlord does not make an application to evict within five days of the written notice — or if, after making the application, the landlord does not "in good faith diligently prosecute it" — then the DA's Office will bring its own proceeding against the tenant as though it were the landlord.
The Housing Works Cannabis Co. store — New York's first legal recreational marijuana market — opened to great fanfare and long lines in late December on Broadway at Eighth Street in a former Gap retail space. Another legal dispensary is expected to open on Third Street near the Bowery this spring.
27 comments:
I have mixed feelings about this.
On one hand, these shops are unlicensed and there are way too many.
On the other, the police would be better spent addressing violent crime, and suddenly shutting down all these businesses will result in empty storefronts again. Then what? Landlords will continue to jack the rents and what business has any hope of opening and surviving?
This is NOT how Police should spend their time. We are paying for this? Lame.
I join the mixed feelings. I want to only support (and have waited for) the licensed place(s), but this is a bit much.
Close them all down, fine the landlords and let's be done with it.
I have no sympathy for these businesses or these landlords since they knew they were breaking the law. The cops have an awful lot of theses stores to bust; so the sooner, the better.
Encourage and promote the legal establishments, as was always planned.
Third for mixed feelings. The problem isn't unlicensed dispensaries, it's that these storefronts should be occupied by businesses better for the neighborhood and the cost of rent is a factor in why only banks and businesses either selling substances or doing shady things (or both) can survive. I have nothing against the mature use of legal substances, but the entire EV is just a grid of florescent-lit, soulless smoke shops and it's depressing AF
What’s an “underage auxiliary officer“
yet another mixed feelings. i just want good quality dispensaries i can use my credit card at, but i guess that's asking too much.
Who do we call to report these unlicensed places?
Marijuana revenue belongs to politically connected organizations and individuals and the politicians are going to make sure the favor of a license is meaningful
This is EXACTLY what police suppose to do.
>> all these businesses will result in empty storefronts again. Then what? Landlords will continue to jack the rents and what business has any hope of opening and surviving?
This is not how economics works. Empty storefronts = lower rent.
>> On the other, the police would be better spent addressing violent crime and
>> This is NOT how Police should spend their time.
I don't really know if the police force is that elastic that 100% of their time can go towards addressing violent crime.
Not a police expert, though.
Good I'm sick of these ugly places that cater to trash. No sympathy for them or the landlord it is the most blatantly illegal thing like, why would you ever even open a business like that and put own the paperwork etc. So weird.
These shops exist because the state and city aren't doing their jobs and issuing licenses at a pace that will allow the legal market to meet demand. The pace has been bafflingly slow. Legal market can't meet demand? Then illegal operations will, same as it ever was. I'm just glad that haven't shut down my favorite store yet!
Zero point zero mixed feelings. Moonshine Hooches in Tompkins would get the same treatment. Good riddance.
I LOVE that all these places have been operating openly and the NYPD didn't care, until suddenly they were told to care and now it's "Oh, goodness! We must remove these dangerous products and close down these stores!"
Shades of Casablanca!! Color me "shocked, shocked!"
Yes, the pace of legalization has been ridiculous, which allowed for all of the grey area shops to spring up and thrive. Less red tape, more legal shops.
It's absurd that these places have proliferated but I'd much prefer the DA and NYPD spend time getting dangerous and/or mentally ill people off the street, dealing with the shoplifting epidemic, or enforcing any quality of life laws that lead to property damage...
50 illegal shops in the east village? More like 150!
I’m a live-and-let-live sort of a person (grew up in the ‘70s) and have nothing against weed. But—let’s face it—these places are simply preying on the underclass, taking what little money they have. I feel no cheer when I walk by the stores, indeed, quite the opposite.
Look, these stores are operating illegally then shut them down!! But for fffk’s sake how about doing something about all the nut jobs in the neighborhood!! Tired of seeing people literally 💩ing in the streets and parks!!!
I am saving my money for the Coke Cabana, Sal’s Ski and Snow Shop, or Bob’s Blow Barn
Absurd is the word, and I agree with everything. The biggest issue right now HAS to be the rampant hard drug use out in the open. Drug addicts need help sure. But I don’t want it around my toddler in the park.
Always an over aggressive dystopian response. Yes shut them down, but confiscate their merchandise? Only if it’s a shop that was selling laced or harmful drugs. Otherwise give them until the end of the month and clear out. Just because the city let them take advantage of the situation doesn’t mean they deserve total punishment.
Any chance we can get the governor or mayor to regulate the STINK of today's marijuana?? I'd like the EPA to weigh in on the damage that smoke is doing to all of us who are subjected to breathing it.
I feel that the state of NY is imposing a caste system as to who gets it
However unlicensed pot vendors should not be arrested
Jesus God, listen to yourselves: 'I only support licensed shops!' 'Operating illegally? Shut them down!' What exactly about the EV are we 'grieving'? Congratulations. You look in the mirror and see Debbie Harry but in reality you're just a bunch of bootlickin' Karens.
No license, no business, period. Let's hope big fines to scufflaw profiteers washes some money into city coffers where they are needed for essential services.
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