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Q&A
Council Member Brewer questions Sheriff Miranda on illegal cannabis shop closures and data reporting
1:39:36
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Council Member Gale A. Brewer engages in a Q&A session with Sheriff Anthony Miranda regarding the progress of Operation Padlock in closing illegal cannabis shops. They discuss the discrepancies in reported numbers of unlicensed shops, the timeline for closures, and the need for more accurate data reporting.
- Sheriff Miranda reports sealing over 1,000 locations, with many others closing voluntarily or converting to legal businesses
- Brewer expresses concern about the lack of publicly available data on enforcement efforts
- They discuss the challenges in identifying and confirming illegal cannabis operations
Gale A. Brewer
1:39:36
Thank you.
1:39:36
Just in terms of how long operation padlock is gonna be spending to get all of these illegal closed.
1:39:45
Because, I mean, that's the issue with data.
1:39:48
So I I I don't know how many Yeah.
1:39:50
36100 unlicensed now.
1:39:52
I know one point it was 1400, another point it was 28100.
1:39:57
I've heard 3000.
1:39:58
I've heard 36100.
1:39:59
If it's 36100 and you're working toward that number, it could be July 25.
1:40:05
Maybe if you get the more deputies, it could be sooner.
1:40:10
So how are you sort of looking at your schedule to close them all down.
Anthony Miranda
1:40:17
Yeah.
1:40:17
Well, I think we've sealed over a thousand locations.
1:40:19
We have any number of locations there.
Gale A. Brewer
1:40:21
That would be 26100.
1:40:22
Let people decide to do it on their own.
Anthony Miranda
1:40:25
26100 all locations.
1:40:27
You have other processes that have been utilized to close those.
1:40:30
Some have been turned over back to the buildings already.
1:40:32
Some locations have vacated.
1:40:34
A number of them have started new businesses, legal businesses and location, so that number comes down even further.
1:40:40
We and then other locations are scheduled for the 2nd visit as well.
1:40:44
So the legal barriers that we have that we have to first issue the cease and desist and then be able to go back afterwards.
1:40:51
We have a number excuse me.
1:40:53
A number of locations.
1:40:54
That are scheduled for the 2nd visit as well, and and those locations will be sealed once we go for a 2nd visit if we find if we find the violation because we could find that they have now become compliant and are only dealing in a legal business at that point, which would be a successful operation either way.
Gale A. Brewer
1:41:08
Okay.
1:41:08
Well, I assume the ones that will do a legal business are not just the M and M's and the potato chips.
1:41:15
That's legal.
1:41:16
Everything else in the ones that I know are everything else is so I assume it's like a Bodega that's doing something.
1:41:22
That's the one that could, in fact, be legal down the line?
Anthony Miranda
1:41:25
Yes.
1:41:25
Well, Diggas, could be Delhi's our number typed in My
Gale A. Brewer
1:41:28
Delhi Boat Show is right.
1:41:30
I mean, one of the my smoke shops are potatoes and potato chips, m and m's, cannabis, and illegal tobacco.
1:41:36
So you're not gonna make much on the M and M's and the container chips.
Anthony Miranda
1:41:40
A regular convenience store would be able to do an abatement process and be compliant with the law and be able to continue to operate and the concept of the set the load number that I have is 79 marijuana shops legal marijuana shops that are that are opened in New York City.
Gale A. Brewer
1:41:57
Okay.
1:41:59
So so in other words and then we did get a letter back from deputy mayor Phil Banks indicating that we are not going to get the list of unlicensed stores.
1:42:08
But again, that's back to my issue.
1:42:11
I think the public would love to know what a great job you're doing because you've got 36100 is not really 36100.
1:42:18
Because landlords are complying, individuals are not are closing on their own, etcetera.
1:42:24
So that's what I'm saying.
1:42:25
We need the data.
1:42:26
That's what we need.
Anthony Miranda
1:42:27
There are a number of concerns, again, before prior to confirming that there's any little activity.
1:42:33
Just because somebody says somebody selling cannabis doesn't mean that it's so.
1:42:38
So kind of putting exposing people to that kind of attention when they may be actually not in violation of any law has serious concerns and implications for their businesses at the same time.
1:42:50
So I there there are several operating concerns here, but we need to share information.
1:42:55
But at the same time, just because somebody says you did something wrong, doesn't mean you No.
Gale A. Brewer
1:42:59
I said that.
1:42:59
But where you have proof that would be the way to share the data, whether it's actual proof, whether they've gone to oath, etcetera.
1:43:05
I'm just saying it's hard to get the data.
1:43:09
I I think that the rate of unlicensed retailers opening has been slow point.
1:43:14
I don't see a lot of new stores opening.
1:43:16
Do you agree that people are not opening new smoke shops?
Anthony Miranda
1:43:20
Yes.