Bay Ridge parents, politicians and civic leaders are pleading with state regulators to reject plans to open marijuana stores near the Brooklyn neighborhood’s numerous schools and places of worship.
“We are writing to express our firm opposition to the proposed opening of this cannabis dispensary,” Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis and state Assemblymen Michael Tanoussis and Alec Brook-Krasny wrote in a letter to the New York State Bureau of Cannabis Control, referring to the plan to open a cannabis dispensary at 84-12 Third Avenue, a densely residential area.
“The opening of this cannabis store will have a serious, negative impact on the quality of life in our community,” the politicians argued.
Deputies identified a number of schools and churches within a one-and-a-half block radius of the address, including Dimitrios and Georgia Karoidis Parish School, Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, Stepping Stones Nursery School, PS 185, Bay Ridge Catholic Academy, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church and St. Anselm Catholic Church.
More than 200 parents attended a recent public hearing at Kaloidis School to speak out against the planned marijuana store.
Opponents have no legal authority to block marijuana stores, but they can voice their opinions to the OCM.
“Establishing an adult-use retail dispensary in this location, which has high student traffic daily, would increase opportunities for minors to gain access to cannabis despite existing regulations and age restrictions,” the lawmakers said in a letter to the agency.
“The opening of this facility would cause disruption to a nearby school and violate the sanctity of a nearby place of worship. Given these factors, we urge you to reject the opening of a cannabis dispensary at this location.”
Community Board 10 also voted against a marijuana shop planned for the site of the former Piro Arts Salon, saying it was inappropriate given the thousands of students who attend other nearby schools and houses of worship, including PS 185 on Ridge Boulevard, Fort Hamilton High School on Shore Road, St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church on Ridge Boulevard, Bay Ridge Jewish Center on 81st Street and Masjid Al Rahman Mosque on 86th Street.
“The area is highly pedestrianised and home to many students from surrounding public and private schools. It is estimated that there are approximately 8,000 students living near the proposed site,” CB10 said in a statement.
“The surrounding area is primarily residential. The size of the site will accommodate three stores and will take up a significant portion of that portion of Third Avenue.”
The company looking to open a cannabis shop is RMAN Holdings, represented by 51% owners Giorgio Mathesi, Amir Karban and Edgar Kreidman.
State marijuana law allows municipalities to refuse to allow licensed marijuana stores to open. Nearly all municipalities in Nassau County and most municipalities in Suffolk County on Long Island have refused to allow marijuana stores to open.
But New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, have tolerated marijuana commerce.
City and state officials have already moved to shut down illegal marijuana dispensaries in Bay Ridge and numerous other stores across the city, including the notorious “Gelato” shop on 86th Street.
According to the OCM website, there are 137 licensed marijuana dispensaries in New York state, 62 of which are located in the city.
Gov. Kathy Hawkle and Governor Adams announced last week that more than 500 illegal potshots have been seized by authorities under the strengthened state law.
