NETA opened a dispensary in Brookline several years ago, and currently operates a low-key storefront with only its logo to signify its status as a cannabis dispensary. “It seems like they have never been to NETA in Brookline for example.” “The security concerns mentioned today, to me, totally ignore the reality of what goes on around other dispensaries in the city,” said Daniel Brownwood, a Newbury Street resident. Many residents came to the defense of Ember Gardens during the meeting, though most said they were from Brighton. “I would hate to find that they used you to get their equity certification, but you’re not getting your fair share of the profits,” she said. Joyce responded that moments of the testimony “raised flags.” “I can talk that over with my team, and I can get back to you on that,” he said. “I want to know how that makes sense to you,” Joyce said, “how you’re not even going to be a manager yet, but you’re supposed to be getting 51 percent of the profits after everyone else gets paid.” Later in the meeting, BCB Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce brought up a lack of Hoffman’s presence at the community meetings, as well as Hyde’s plan to ease Hoffman into a managerial position - adding she was worried he would not be getting his “fair share.” Hoffman himself owns 51 percent of Ember Gardens, according to White. “Having the opportunity to partner with Shane, whom my family has known for a very long time, and his company, has been a life-altering opportunity.” “I grew up looking up to the famous stores on Newbury Street,” Hoffman said at the meeting. White was reached but unavailable to comment. “And marijuana is a class D substance,” White added. White said Hoffman’s father was arrested multiple times for “possession to distribute a class D substance.” Hoffman met several of the equity qualifications, White said, one of which being that he is the son of someone who was arrested on marijuana charges. 13 board meeting she certified Ember Gardens because of its partnership with 23-year-old Brighton resident Joseph Hoffman. “For every non-equity candidate, they’ll hear an equity candidate,” said Brian Keith, co-owner of Rooted in Roxbury, another Newbury Street equity applicant.Įmber Gardens was certified as an equity applicant by Boston Equity program manager Chayla White, and the proposed dispensary has been the subject of three BCB meetings this year. Three months later, Ember Gardens went before the Cannabis Board.Įmber Gardens is a certified equity applicant, which gives it certain advantages in the proposal process. “In all honesty, I would see that this place is closed down if it any way impacts my area,” said Patricia Brown, an orthodontist who practices in the Back Bay.īrown then offered to coordinate an effort with Mancebo to “keep these people out of our neighborhood.” Residents said they took issue with the potential for crime in the back alley, noise from the dispensary’s alarm system and parking trouble, among others. “There are a number of burdens that are being asked of the residents here,” Mancebo said, “and frankly, we don’t want to do that.” 13 included nearly an hour and a half of questions from residents - many of whom voiced strong opposition to the proposed dispensary. 17, 2020 for a Retail Recreational Cannabis Dispensary License on 297 Newbury St.ĬEO Shane Hyde gave presentations at two community meetings before going before the board. We live here.”Įmber Gardens Boston LLC was founded in 2017, and submitted an application Aug. “If the applicants want to endure that, we’re ready to do it. “We will fight this tooth and nail, to the last man,” Alex Mancebo, a Back Bay resident, said during an October community meeting. 17, generating negative reactions from some residents. The Boston Cannabis Board licensed proposed Newbury Street dispensary Ember Gardens Feb. That decision followed a battle with local residents that remains on-going. 17 to grant a license to Ember Gardens, a proposed Newbury Street dispensary. The Boston Cannabis Board unanimously voted Feb.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |