REDMOND, Wash. — For a fourth time since last September, burglars busted through the storefront of Hashtag Cannabis in downtown Redmond using a stolen car overnight on Aug. 8. Owner Logan Bowers said the city is preventing them from fixing this problem.
"After the first time it happened, we asked the City of Redmond to give us a permit to do what we do at our other shops to prevent this from happening, to place a bollard in the ground so cars can’t run into our building,” Bowers said. "Every time a car goes through, we ask again and they say no. This isn't normal. People aren't supposed to live like this. This is not supposed to happen."
Redmond’s Communications Manager Derek Wing told KING 5 that the city "previously met with the owners to discuss ways to fortify their business and make it safer." Those suggestions included adding concrete masonry to fill gaps near the doors, installing a steel-reinforced door and securely storing cannabis products after closing.
Wing said Redmond did receive a request to install bollards, but cannot let Hashtag Cannabis install the posts due to city code and utility line locations in the area.
"Currently, there are no codes that allow the City of Redmond to install bollards on public sidewalks because sidewalks need to be ADA accessible. Additionally, the corner where the business is located is not large enough for bollards to be erected," the city's statement said in part. "The area where the business is located has power, utility, and fiber lines running underneath the sidewalk. Installation of bollards there could disrupt power to local businesses.”
The city declined to speak on-camera.
KING 5 spoke with Redmond Mayor Angela Birney and Councilmember Steve Fields about the situation.
"I do believe the city owes them a solution, a complete response and owes council the same thing. Council has not been kept informed of any issues that would deter the city from helping this business,” Councilmember Fields said.
Mayor Birney reiterated much of the city's statement and also said the Hashtag Cannabis’ owners need to take the suggested safety measures.
“Bollards have to be attached to the ground and there’s a lot of infrastructure in the sidewalk there. There’s no way we can put it in without causing major damage to fiber and other utilities in the ground. We’ve told them that,” Mayor Birney said. “Part of the solution for them is to follow the advice of the police department. They need to lock up their goods when they're not in the store because it's happening when they're not there and they're not securing their products."
Business owner Bowers pushed back on that assertion.
"There's no cash on hand. Probably 90% of our product is locked up. We're a retail business. There's always stuff on display,” he said.
After this fourth smash-and-grab, Bowers hopes the city will work with them to find a way to make bollards possible.
"There's stuff that is bigger and more intrusive than bollards on every crosswalk in Redmond. We're asking for something that is smaller and less intrusive,” he said.
At the time of this story's publishing, Bowers asked for another meeting with the city and has not yet heard back.