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Wednesday, April 13 , 2011
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FROM PAGE 7 the past, when he wasn’t under legal counsel.” In regards to the theft of the marijuana, Gaynor assured the Council that Fourmy took action on the matter, filing a police report and cooperating with law enforcement. And Gaynor told the Council that the 30-day issue was “just an allegation.” “There is no guarantee that any other [dispensary] applicant will provide the same quality of care [as Compassion Center],” Gaynor said. “I urge you to do the right thing.” Many others – including doctors who provided testimony and people at the meeting – leant their support to Compassion Center. “They’ve always taken care of me in a dignified manner,” said Allan Dougherty, a patient of the dispensary. “Do the right thing and approve their permit. They’ve helped me and my friends.” “You men and women lack humanity,” said Paul Till, who became a patient of Compassion Center after being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2002, addressing the members of the Planning Commission in attendance. “I go to bed crying every night because of how I’ve been treated by the medical community. Compassion Center is the only true compassion center.” And the owner of the Iyengar Yoga Studio of Santa Barbara, a neighbor of the dispensary, came out to make her support known. “They’ve been excellent neighbors,” she said. “I’m here today to support them. It would be so disappointing to lose yet another storefront business.” In the appeal letter, many of Compassion Center’s other neighbors gave their written support.
In a video presentation made for the Council by Gaynor and Fourmy, Dr. Stephen W. Hosea, the director of Clinical Care at Cottage Hospital and a specialist in infectious diseases, leant his professional support. “I urge the Council to grant a permit to the Compassion Center of Santa Barbara County,” he said, echoing the support of the four other doctors – who Gaynor says have a combined 195 years of medical experience – who provided written testimonies to their admiration of Compassion Center, the only dispensary in the state to employ registered nurses. “Compassion Center has earned the support and trust of the [local] medical community,” Gaynor said. And many of the Councilmembers, prior to the final vote on the matter, made their opinions on the handling of the appeal known. Admitting she was “disappointed” by it, Councilmember Michael Self referred to the presentation given by Gaynor and Fourmy as “basically a PR promo for this company.” Councilmember Randy Rowse seconded Self’s distaste for the presentation, calling it “more of a beauty pageant than about a business.” Councilmember Dale Francisco was blunt in voicing his opinion. “I absolutely understand why the Planning Commission decided against a permit,” he said. Prior to voting, Mayor Schneider also shared her thoughts, explaining that the community support for Compassion Center shouldn’t be overlooked. “There has been no concern from neighbors [of Compassion Center],” she said. “We’ve had plenty of issues before with neighbors having concerns. We don’t have that problem here. We could have that problem in the future.”