(from my email:  http://eepurl.com/gKngD)

Dear Friends:

As your representative on the Country Central Committee, I wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know what’s happening at the Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee.
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. In October, we had a spirited debate on the topic of medical marijuana dispensaries. The city has just passed some enhanced restrictions on the over 100 clubs in San Jose. This will likely result in many of them closing down. There is an initiative under way to put a referendum on the ballot to overturn those restrictions.

While I am always leery of restricting legally-operating businesses, and while the sales tax revenue is badly needed, there are other issues to consider. Long-time community activist and friend, Omar Torres, made a compelling case for NOT supporting the referendum, citing the problems caused by some of the dispensaries in under-priviledged communities in San Jose.

“It is not fair that this dispensaries are opening and operating in our most underserved neighborhoods in D3, 5 and 7. Already these districts suffer the burdens of poverty, crime and other negative aspects of inner-city issues. We cannot continue the heavy saturation of these clubs in these vulnerable areas.”

Many of you know of my work in northwest Nicaragua, and my committment to protecting vulnerable communities in San Jose, and Santa Clara County. For this reason, I voted against the referendum. However, the motion to support the referendum passed. See the minutes for more detail.

For Almaden/District 10(San Jose) Residents: District 10 is the *only* competitive city council race in San Jose for 2012. In addition toRobert Braunstein, Edesa Bitbadal, Brian O’Neill, a real estate appraiser and an employee of the Tax Assessor’s office has told me he will be running as well. They are all great candidates in the best spirit of the Democratic Party. The candidates will officially file in December. I’ll keep you up to date as I get more info.

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Thanks for your support, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the local Democratic Party.

Bill Roth
21st AD Member, Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee.
PS: this will also be posted at: http://www.electbillroth.com/.