CB7 defers approval of cannabis dispensary application

On October 6, concerned residents of Sunset Park gathered at the Community Board 7 district office at 4201 Fourth Avenue to discuss quality-of-life issues with the NYPD’s 72nd Precinct, including proposed plans for a cannabis dispensary at 46th Street and Fifth Avenue.

CB7 Public Safety Committee Chair Cynthia Felix Jeffers discussed how existing regulations — and potential new ones — could help protect the community’s quality of life, arguing that the proposed dispensary is not in line with the neighborhood’s needs or demographics.

The meeting opened with a brief explanation of the Quality of Life team’s role and how it supports Sunset Park residents. Mobeen Yasin, commanding officer of the 72nd Precinct, explained that the team focuses on non-emergency 311 calls, with public safety as its primary goal.

Yasin also noted recent progress by the Quality of Life team, including a drop in index crimes and a 10 percent decrease in traffic collisions.

Some participants said they feel safer when streets are better maintained and regularly cleaned, while others emphasized the importance of security measures such as cameras. The discussion highlighted how safety and well-being mean different things to residents, reflecting the diverse ways people experience and protect their homes and community.

Felix Jeffers reminded attendees that the board’s role goes beyond listening. It’s also about preserving economic balance in the neighborhood. She cautioned that an unchecked influx of cannabis dispensaries could disrupt the local business ecosystem, potentially driving away family-run shops and altering the character of commercial corridors like Fifth Avenue.

The event also highlighted other quality-of-life concerns, ranging from pedestrian walkways to commercial vehicles blocking intersections.

“I shouldn’t have to be looking into traffic to catch my bus,” said Randy Harrison, 76. “In my experience, calling 311 is worse than a waste of time.”

In response, Samuel Sierra, chair of public safety, addressed the issue. “When drivers sit in double-parked vehicles, especially commercial trucks, they raise the level of danger by blocking crosswalks and bike paths,” Sierra said.

Felix Jeffers also acknowledged Harrison’s frustrations. While noting ongoing issues, she distributed a directory of Quality of Life team contacts and encouraged residents to reach out directly. “We have the Q team roster,” Felix Jeffers said. “It has the cell numbers of the team members. Sector A covers Windsor Terrace, and Sector B includes both Third Avenue and Second.”

Beyond traffic and street safety, many residents voiced deeper frustrations about how these issues affect their well-being. Tailisha Gonzalez, a public health worker and resident, shared her own experience navigating Sunset Park’s evolving landscape.

“Speaking among residents, as a resident myself, 311 calls are something we can’t rely on,” Gonzalez said. “The hairs on my back stand up thinking of my son having to walk through a group of people smoking and drinking. It just doesn’t feel safe.”

Concerns like Gonzalez’s became even more pointed as the discussion turned to the proposed cannabis dispensary at 4602 Fifth Avenue, a development that some fear could further impact the neighborhood’s sense of safety and character.

Felix Jeffers explained that 4602 Fifth Avenue is currently occupied by a hat store, with tenants living in the apartments above. She emphasized that proposals must consider the impact on those residents.

While the application remains in its early stages, concerns have grown over a lack of transparency from the potential proprietor, Sue Li, and her son Chang, who is seeking to open the dispensary under the name City Dispensary Inc.

Residents and board members agreed that Li has not presented a concrete business plan or demonstrated a clear connection to the Sunset Park community. This raises questions about the legitimacy of her proposal and what actions the board should take going forward.

“You have to know your demographic,” said committee vice chair Jerry Chan.

“We don’t have a direct connection to Sunset Park,” Chang Li said, “but we do have family and friends who live on Eighth Avenue.”

Sue Li is a former restaurant owner in Oregon. While her previous experience shows entrepreneurial roots, residents remain curious — and in some cases skeptical — about her motives for setting up shop in a neighborhood where her connections appear limited.

Due to ongoing concerns and the lack of substantial planning, the committee voted to defer the application.