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Business Plan Summary and Budgets <br />Attachment F (Mayor Quan Letter) 1 of 2 <br />CITY OF OAKLAND <br />1 FRANK H. OGAWA PLAZA - 3RD FLOOR • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 94612 <br />Office of the Mayor <br />Jean Quan <br />Mayor <br />December 31, 2014 <br />To Whom It May Concern: <br />(510) 238-3141 <br />FAX: (510) 238-4731 <br />TDD: (510) 238-3254 <br />During my tenure as Mayor of the City of Oakland from 2010 through 2014, I had the <br />pleasure of working closely with Stephen DeAngelo in his role as Executive Director of <br />Harborside Health Center. Together with his executive team, Mr. DeAngelo has created <br />a world-renowned medical cannabis dispensary which provides safe and reliable access <br />to medicine for patients, while also making significant contributions to the City of <br />Oakland in the form of job creation, tax revenue and community involvement. <br />Mr. DeAngelo founded Harborside Health Center in 2006, when Oakland became the <br />first city in California to regulate the distribution of medical cannabis. Harborside was <br />one of four original dispensaries permitted to operate in Oakland, and quickly rose to <br />become the market leader as Mr. DeAngelo and his staff pioneered the development of <br />methods and practices that have become the gold standard in the industry, making <br />Harborside Health Center a true model for dispensaries throughout the nation. <br />From the outset, Harborside Health Center established cooperative and trusting <br />relationships with local law enforcement and municipal leadership, quickly allaying any <br />early fears of criminal activity that might be associated with the cannabis industry. With <br />over 150,000 patients served in almost eight years, Harborside Health Center has not had <br />one incident of violence, armed robbery or burglary, and no diversion of its products to <br />the black market. According to Oakland Police statistics, crime has actually decreased — <br />significantly — in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the dispensary since <br />Harborside opened its doors. <br />In addition to the tens of thousands of patients who benefit from Harborside's dedication <br />to providing medical cannabis in a secure and welcoming environment, the entire <br />community of Oakland also sees the positive impact of Harborside's operations. In each <br />year since its inception, Harborside has expanded the City's tax base, and is now the <br />second-largest taxpayer in the City of Oakland. The dispensary employs over one <br />hundred local people who enjoy living -wage jobs, with benefits. Beyond that, <br />Harborside enthusiastically participates in a number of community events and initiatives, <br />such as National Night Out and Oakland's Adopt -a -Spot program, demonstrating the <br />dispensary's commitment to enhancing the community it calls home. <br />Application to Operate a Medical Cannabis Dispensary. Harborside Health Center -San Leandro. January 15, 2015. <br />