Are we all dazed and confused?

Are we all dazed and confused or do we all need to smoke some of that “stuff” in order to know what’s right and what’s wrong here? I sure don’t!!!

Growing up I remember resisting my parents on what at the time I perceived of been a load of unnecessary rules and regulations to follow. These so called rules are what have guided me to observe and have consideration of others, respect, common sense and appreciation of order. But this is not about me; it is about a situation that is present in where I do business.

In 2005 I opened a Café in Sherman Oaks, it took about 8 months to get all necessary permits and construction done, but we succeed it. Soon after we opened we got cited by Building and Safety for having “illegally” placed 2 tables and 4 chairs out on the patio in front of our store. We went back to Building and safety, revised our plans, paid more fees, and signed a covenant that we would now be paying a monthly parking deficiency fee for as long as we would be in business at that location, in order to have seating in our Café. We later got cited again for having more chairs than what the plans stated!

With that in mind you would think that this city we do business in, would act quickly on infractions to the law and enforce for its corrections. So when in early 2012 a marijuana dispensary decided to create a growing room right next to my Café I was certain that this would be “illegal”. I went ahead and called the same inspector from Building and Safety, the one that cited me for the tables and chairs, and told him about the marijuana room, requesting to verify that this facility was properly ventilated and would not cause the odor to transfer to our food establishment. After a few weeks and several calls he informed that he had come out and was not able to get inside of this room, after that, he never answered my calls again.

Since then, I have reached out to the LAPD narcotics department, to the Deputy City Attorney office with no success. Today I was finally told by this office that the court will decide on what to do here and that nothing can be done without the ruling of decision of the court. In the meantime my Café smell like a pot farm and customers are disgusted at this pungent smells that has taken over our wonderful aromas of baked goods and fresh brewed coffee.

Maybe next time I post on our Facebook page it should read…

Today’s Special “Banana Nut Muffin & Caramel Cappuccino” served with a FREE whiff, sniff, hint and stink of marijuana.

Fatima Marques

Business Owner

13317 Ventura Blvd, Ste D

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423