I used to believe in the importance of Government oversight, and I still want to, although with the blatant corruption happening these days, it is really hard to believe anything. I have never liked bureaucracy and red tape. It makes no sense to me, and it frustrates the hell out of me. Hence, why I could never work for somebody.
In the world of cannabis, we have heavy regulation, and the bureaucracy seems to have taken a page out of the book on how to build red tape in a Government office. It is unfortunate, as the opportunity was certainly there, since there was no Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) five years ago.
I applaud what has been accomplished, but I’m frustrated by the way the industry has been legalized through a new government arm. In many states, we are starting to see regulatory overhaul, but some of the fundamental decisions made from the start will be very difficult to change. Cannabis is an economic driver, and NYS did not get the proper oversight from the Governor’s office. The legal base was built by groups of people trying to take their piece of the pie without thinking about how businesses are built, aka, hire more people and bring in more taxes.
Five years from now, a lot will have changed in this industry. Being early may have been the right call, but the cost of being early will continue to rise until the system works better. Liquor works with ease in NYS. How come they couldn’t just follow those rules?
There are countless things I love about NYC. So much to do, not enough time. The streets are humming late at night or early in the morning. There are activities for everyone based on what rocks their boat. Gotham had a Poetry Reading at our Chelsea location, and 50 people came. I love it.
The last two weeks have been busy. We had dinner at the Grill to celebrate the birthday of one of our oldest and dearest friend. There is something that makes my heart sing walking up the steps into the Grill’s room. There is nothing else like it.
We went to see Giant. John Lithgow plays the children’s book writer, Roald Dahl. It is the type of theater that I love. Dahl’s career is incredible; he was also childlike and egotistical, and he calls himself an anti-Semite. Watching this play today defines how history repeats itself. I am still thinking about it.
It is the end of the Knicks season as they move into the playoffs, so a few games are always in order for the fam. I am last on the family totem pole for the games, but it is always fun.
Happened to be doing something in Astoria, the best spot for Greek food, and had a quick bite at Gregory’s 26 Corner Taverna. Greek salad and grilled calamari were the perfect order. Such a great spot.
Had a nibble at Deans, the latest spot from Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi, for British pub food. The Scottish egg is perfect. Definitely going back.
We went to see the AI Documentary: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist. There was nothing I didn’t know, but the film laid out pros, the cons, and all of them mixed together. Daniel Roher, the filmmaker, who is about to become a father, explores what it means to bring a child into this world right now. Roher and Charlie Tyrell put together the best and brightest to interview, and hearing their takes is worth it. AI is here, whether you want to embrace it or not. The question is, how will this change the world?
Blackbird, if you don’t have it, get it. You can pay with Blackbird, so you don’t have to wait for someone to check you out. Restaurants also pay a much smaller fee than Amex and Visa, so you are helping your local spot. The margins in this business are slim, so a few more points can make the difference for the month. Blackbird has rewards, and you can pay using cryptocurrencies. There are multiple community perks, which I went to this past week. Dinner at Cleo, a new spot in the hood, on the first night for friends and family. NYers love that!
A friend of ours produced Lost in Del Valle, a true story of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and redemption. A 65-minute play based on the true story of a Texas actor who finds himself in jail. The story of his roles in theater, movies, TV, living in the Chelsea Hotel, hanging with Syd and Nancy, and his unfortunate addiction to heroin. Ned Van Zandt, whose life this is based on, plays every single character. He is brilliant. The tales of yore are so completely different than today’s generation. Absolutely worth going, it is at the Soho Playhouse (an oldie and goodie) through May 3rd.
We had dinner again at Kiko, our new fave on rotation. The food is creative and absolutely delish.
Another week ahead, where I need to get uptown to see the Klee and Duchamp exhibits, so much to do.
I do realize that when many read this, they would say “no shit”, but I want to believe that people, like myself, realize that change is how we move forward, how we must evolve because the world is constantly changing, and of course, money should always be trying to be put to efficient use. I continue to be amazed by the government.
The Public Housing Community Fund is closely tied to the Mamdani administration and NYCHA, as we are a nonprofit focused on building a stronger, more equitable New York City by investing in public housing communities, and based on data, that is 17% of New Yorkers. It is probably more. FYI, we have nothing to do with the buildings.
What makes our organization interesting, beyond the impact we make, is that we are lean, execute quickly, keep and use data, and continue to make a difference. When you look at the impact we are making for NYCHA residents, I believe this model could be a step in the right direction for restructuring NYCHA.
NYCHA has almost 11,000 employees. It is ridiculous. If NYCHA just got rid of all the programs they run and let that money go to The Fund, which partners with non-profit organizations that bring in structure, money (so does the Fund), and curricula that run them. The government isn’t doing right by the majority of these services; they’re okay, but not great. How do we make them better? There are people in government who could be bold and shake it up. It is time for shaking. The government needs to bring in technology and other non-profit organizations to take the load off. The cost is less, and the impact is more.
We recently looked at an NYCHA program that will no longer be funded by the government. The cost is $2.4 million. It’s a popular program that nonprofits and donors love, but the funding came from the last mayor’s fund. That is what happens, which is why having the Fund outside of NYCHA makes sense, because we do not change with each administration. We can grow programs, not grow and cut. These communities need a steady hand.
Of the $2.4 million, over 25% went to salaries. I expect everyone to be paid appropriately, but I’m concerned about having that many people run this program because it doesn’t make financial sense. Philanthropy is changing, too. Donors want to see success, with the majority of the capital going towards programs rather than management, and with an impact on the community/people. Running this program outside NYCHA allows us to be lean and efficient.
I would never want us to be part of the government, but there are plenty of government funds that should be reappropriated to rethink how government operates. I hope that this next generation has the energy to break some glass. There are clearly many ways to change things up with strong leadership and doing it differently. People are ready.
I saw a Pew Research Center poll noting that across 25 countries, Americans were the only ones who believed that a majority of their fellow citizens had bad morals. What a country! To add to that information, regarding education ranking, we are 31st. It doesn’t take much math, where the US falls behind, to see why we are being laughed at across the globe. Higher education has a direct correlation to economy prosperity and a country’s overall health where we seem to be seriously lagging these days.
In Paris, the food is clean, vs loaded with chemicals for shelf stability. Those chemicals aren’t good for anyone except for the pharma companies, who clean up the mess with drugs that we take to make ourselves better. How about just making clean products like bread that has only four ingredients in France.
I love the Metro in Paris, and more streets are being closed to cars. The transportation system works quite well from urban to suburban areas. The country prioritizes infrastructure, which in turn creates jobs and boosts the economy. The country owns 20% of the ground-level real estate, keeping stores open and rents down. No, you can’t make money in real estate in France, but you can own a home or an apartment without going broke.
Am I a capitalist? Absolutely. Do I believe that with financial success comes a responsibility to give back? Absolutely. Yet, every time I go to France, and yes, a socialist system, there is a lot to be said about how they live their lives. Educated, cultured, family oriented, and perhaps not as driven as us in some respects but there are plenty of incredibly successful people in France.
It is times like these, with the insanity happening in America, that it is hard not to be embarrassed to be one right now, and look to other places that have strong leaders and are doing the right thing by their citizens.
In NYC, we all see the empty retail spaces at ground level. We walk by them and watch them sit, unused. They are a sight for sore eyes in each neighborhood. It isn’t good for the community to have empty storefronts, period.
On the corner of Washington and 12th Street, used to sit Tortilla Flats. A restaurant that opened in 1983 and closed in November 2018, and still sits empty. The landlord wanted more rent, and the numbers simply did not add up. The owner (whom I know) got to the point where he was making zero and just keeping it open to pay the employees and rent. It was a neighborhood fixture, always bustling, and everyone had been to it at least once, if not several times, in their youth. Fun fact: Tortilla Flats went through more tequila than any other restaurant in the city.
I’d love to know how the landlord feels now. Does that owner even live in the West Village, where Tortilla Flats once stood? How were they able to pay the mortgage, the upkeep, and everything in between without a tenant? Now there is some construction going on, but no tenant sighting. They left that empty shell for the past 8 years for the neighborhood to look at, leaving us with one fewer spot to eat.
The real estate owners have set inflated ground-floor rent rates, making it almost impossible to be profitable. It is the same issue with housing. We need a reality check, as the economy will need to adjust after Trump. The debt, the spending spree…not looking good.
How does a city fix this so there are no more empty storefronts? NYC needs to pass a law requiring landlords to have 12 months to relet their spaces before being fined. That is absolutely fair to figure out the reality of the market. I know because we own real estate and rent it out. If nobody wants it at that price, figure out how long you are going to give it before lowering the price, or be thoughtful about what you are happy to earn off the property that is fair and equitable, that keeps tenants around a long time. If the spot remains empty without a lease in hand after 12 months, the landlord should be fined, and the fine increases over time. Not a small fee, a big fee, that gets larger and larger, one that hurts anyone.
How else do we reset a market and bring back an affordable city?
At the beginning of Gotham, I was thinking about how to build the brand and grow. The Shed housed the Frieze, and still does, in 2023. I figured it was the perfect spot to engage people about their cannabis use. Rachel was psyched, and we got her a press pass. Ends up nobody wanted to chat.
Rachel, being the smart, creative person that she is, popped a gummy (I believe) and created the now-must-watch High I’m High. You can watch them all here. The show comes out every other Saturday on Gotham’s Instagram, highlighting spots in NYC through the eyes of a mildly stoned Rachel. It is epic.
For the Shorty Awards, we are a finalist in a Branded Series. You can vote here. We are also up for a Webby Award, best short-form video. You can vote here. FYI, the Shorty Awards website is much better.
Voting for The Webby Awards closes on Thursday, April 16. Voting for The Shorty Awards closes on Wednesday, April 8.
Some days I am riding high, and other times I am stressed out, although I try hard to keep it under wraps. A constant roller-coaster. The cannabis industry is laden with a heavy-handed government structure, which would be state-by-state, and that adds a whole other level of intensity.
Do I understand that intelligent government people are trying to peel back decades of false narratives around the plant that destroyed countless families, mostly Black and brown? Yes, I do, and note the word intelligent. There was a time in my life when a government worker had esteem, maybe it was growing up in the DC area, and I was too young to see the layers of corruption and bureaucratic red tape. Maybe it was the unions that killed their commitment and drive? There are many reasons.
I hope the leadership in NYS can now update the rules to better reflect the realities of the business. To be bold and strong by thinking out of the box, and thoughtful in a timely manner, and prove that we can still be leaders in the industry, so when the plant does get federally approved, they look to what NYS has done. Isn’t that the can-do attitude we all love about NY? Whether you agree with Mamdani’s policies or not, he has shown leadership by listening and trying to do things differently. We all need a fresh set of eyes and ideas.
Seeing AOC push the narrative about why cannabis is still a series 1 drug is thrilling. She’s young and the leader of a new generation, whether you like it or not, and she has probably been stoned and understands the power of the plant.
Back to this entrepreneurial venture of mine: at my age, let’s highlight that, including the fact that the business has only been legal in NYS for five years, and the rules and regs were made as the industry grew. I have thought a lot about why.
I was busy doing other things, being a Mom (best and favorite role ever), being a wife, and being someone who needed to own their personal time. I was never going to work for anyone. I hope to see more women amp up their careers when the kids leave the nest.
Did I have to do this? Absolutely not, I could have gone into a new phase of a much chiller existence, but at my core, I had to do this. Would I do it again, now knowing how every day is swimming upstream against the government, the margins, the unions, the cash sink, the frustrations?
Sadly, the answer is no. I would have chosen a different business to build from the start. Ideas were plenty, but this seemed like an almost impossible frontier to conquer. At this point, I guess we will see.
Building a profitable business is hard; building one in Cannaland is almost impossible. We are all handcuffed on multiple levels. I was watching an advertisement pre-Knick game on Molson Ale. The advertisement essentially sang about Molson times, from lunch to dinner to evening activities, pushing the concept that Molson should be drunk all day, at any hour. We all know the reality that alcohol isn’t good for us, but cannabis, which is showing some incredibly positive usage results, can’t advertise.
There is a daily misalignment between federal policy and medical evidence. I read daily about all the positive results coming from across the globe, but certainly not enough from the US, because not enough research is being done. Wouldn’t it make more sense to embrace this plant to better serve people who benefit from cannabinoid therapies? Oh, silly me, the pharma lobbyists don’t love this idea because it reduces their use and market share.
This absurd change in federal policy, which occurred during the Nixon years, has stymied progress on potential therapies, dosing amounts, and a true understanding of the benefits the plant can provide us. Just add this to the list of other corrupt decisions at the federal level.
Currently, Gotham has a kiosk at Grand Central, where we sell our private-label products and build our brand, but we cannot sell any cannabis products, even though commuters line up at the liquor store to get something for their commute home. Grand Central’s number-one-selling product, which helps them bring in revenue, is… drumroll, please… alcohol. Why can’t we sell THC drinks and gummies too?
The heavy hand of NYS has issued many licenses, yet there are restrictions regarding how close we can all be to each other. Why? That doesn’t happen in any other category. If we are to be a true capitalist society, then let people set up shop wherever, and see who succeeds, and who doesn’t. There are blocks with 4 coffee shops, and eventually, there will be only one.
The taxes, the handcuffs, the oversight, and the restrictions make zero sense yet we create jobs and put a lot of money back into the economy.
John Kagia, the new head of the OCM, who has been in for quite a while, was quoted as saying, “Legalization is not intended to create new consumers. It’s intended to serve over 2.2 million New Yorkers who consume cannabis regularly.” This might be one of the most intelligent things anyone has said in this industry, ever.
Even if you want to ignore the insanity going on in the world right now, it is hard to. Everyone I know is concerned at an underlying level. We are at the mercy of the government, and the people running it are insane and incompetent. And so much is happening every day, it’s tough to keep up. It’s scary
Is this country going to be bankrupt when this all ends? Will our standing in the world ever return? Will we have friendly allies again to partner and do business with? Will our country be hit with an attack? Or should we only be scared of AI and the countless jobs that are being eliminated?
How do you address those fears as a parent, a friend, a partner, or a company? I think about this all the time. I can’t fix this, but I hope I can be a voice of reason and safety. We have seen companies grow so big that they need to be broken up. We have seen the US invading other countries, leaving them worse off than before. I’m freaked too, but I want to believe that this, too, will end, and we will rebuild as a species, and it will put us in a better place. That’s what history has taught us.
The question I keep wondering is who is going to save us, and how is this all going to end, or at least shift gears.
And then I watched the Oscars, an annual event broadcast around the globe. The speeches were bold; they’re political; they are calling shit out, and they aren’t afraid. They were also defining how insane the culture we are living in is. Acknowledging parts of the industry that had never received an Oscar also signals a message of community. So perhaps this puts pressure on those still bowing to the king: the people are not with you? I can only hope. I am looking for positive light anywhere I can get it.
I went to college in Boston. It was there I learned the word used to describe Boston and the northeastern part of Massachusetts was “provincial”. This is where the first people settled in our country; there is history, and their self-governing, traditional, tight community of New Englanders.
I just read the 2009 book called New York: The Novel by David Rutherfurd. This book has many narrators, beginning with the families that arrived in Manhattan as Dutch and British merchants, destroying the Indian fishing villages. We follow families that evolve through the Gilded Age, the Civil War, the 1929 crash, and beyond. The connections and lessons run deep. It is also about the American opportunity.
What has struck me the most is how each era is similar to what is happening in our country today; although different, it is still history repeating itself. Each chapter conveys how we might have left England, but the corruption, the elitism, the power, the abuse, came over on the boats, and it has never stopped showing up. How do we change that?
Everyone has woken up to what trauma means, how to be more aware, and some can call it “woke,” but to me, it means we can be a better society. The “Me Too” movement made progress, but we need more. How women and children are abused is mind-boggling, and why don’t we start making the victims the most important person in the room? How people manage and behave in work settings has changed, and thank god. What I witnessed in the early 80’s, I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through that.
Racism still exists because it is taught to exist. We continue to repeat history by failing to break with the past. Transparency, empathy, honesty, and accountability would certainly be a change in the right direction. We have such an ugly past, and many try to erase the history books and rewrite them without the bad behavior that existed, but you can’t because it must be retaught. We pretend to be “provincial” in that going to church on Sunday means all can be forgiven.
You can’t make a better future without acknowledging and understanding the past. We have yet to learn this. When are we going to have a leader who can change the direction our country is taking now? We can only hope.
