Letter Alleges Perfect Plants Patients Group is Public Nuisance and Menace to Southwest Berkeley

For Immediate Release

BERKELEY, Calif./EWORLDWIRE/Oct. 19, 2012 --- Ryan Kerian, of Sacramento Street Improvement Association ("SSIA"), today by letter demanded that Lian Rui Tan, owner of 2840B Sacramento Street, terminate all illegal drug activities at this location within 30 days or else face a slew of public nuisance proceedings in Alameda Superior Court.

Absent corrective action or eviction proceedings, numerous SSIA members plan to file lawsuits in small claims court, where they are each entitled to recover up to $10,000 under California laws. The letter alleges that Perfect Plants Patients Group ("3PGS") is illegally dispensing marijuana, operating without a business license, and violating numerous provisions of Berkeley Municipal Code.

Kerian said: "Tan and the City of Berkeley are now on notice that concerned residents will not allow the illegal drug activity taking place at 3PGS to serve as a magnet for criminal behavior in our neighborhood. For over a year Tan and the City of Berkeley have allowed 3PGS to flagrantly violate the law and particularly to endanger our children since 3PGS operates so close to Longfellow Middle School. Our residents' four-year-old children should not have to clean up 3PGS drug bags from their gardens. It is a shame that our association and concerned members must step in to do the job the City should have done long ago. We will not stand idly by and allow the City to abdicate its duty to provide for our public safety in our underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged community. I challenge Mayor Tom Bates to take an immediate and visible public stand against 3PGS and to layout the concrete steps the City will now take to shut down this operation. Yet, no matter the City's response, we will take every action necessary to ensure that 3PGS ceases its illegal operations."

The citizen effort to close 3PGS began well over a year ago when concerned residents began contacting City officials to voice their concerns. After many phone calls, meetings, deploying a media strategy and a California Public Records Act request and following a spike in violent criminal behavior and shootings, including a homicide near 3PGS, the City finally appeared to begin taking steps toward challenging the illegal business. In a Public Hearing on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, seven members of the City's Zoning Adjustments Board ("ZAB"), with one abstention, voted to recommend that the City Council determine that 2840B Sacramento Street is a public nuisance to be enjoined and terminated. However, at a later meeting on Oct. 11, 2012, confused Board members appeared to bicker over whether to rescind their previous determination without public comment. Their confusion sent a clear message to Tan and 3PGS that City action is not forthcoming anytime soon. Therefore, SSIA is stepping in to protect residents where the City cannot or will not.

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CONTACT:
Ryan Kerian
Sacramento Street Improvement Association
Berkeley, CA 94702
PHONE. 4159353731
EMAIL: ryan@sacramentostreet.org
http://www.sacramentostreet.org

KEYWORDS: Sacramento Street Improvement Association, city of berkeley, perfect plants patients group, 3pgs, mayor tom bates, tom bates, zoning adjustments board, berkeley

SOURCE: Sacramento Street Improvement Association