Comments on: Giant big box store gets inhospitable reception at meeting

By: encinitasyouneedus

encinitasyouneedus — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:25:37 +0000

Encinitas is targeted for new expansion approach by Walmart.
"For Walmart, urban expansion is not about ending food deserts — it’s about getting in on the ground floor of the future — affluent — retail market in America’s cities.
Community groups and labor unions have long opposed Walmart’s urban ambitions. With growing strength on the national scene, the community food movement is poised to become a player by expanding new local stores. If Walmart can sail through local city council votes for the conditional use permits and zoning adjustments they often need, the company may be able to avoid the infamous site fights that have accompanied new stores nationwide — and it will undoubtedly crowd out any and all local retail alternatives. Rather than having their food dollar spirited off to the retail monopoly’s corporate coffers, these alternatives could potential keep in the community where it can recirculate as much as five times.
[ . . . ] And while Walmart’s new stores will bring jobs, they are not living-wage jobs and are unlikely to bring prosperity. The company’s labor practices are notorious: wage theft, poverty line jobs, and aggressive anti-union behavior. A study of an urban Walmart that opened on Chicago’s South Side in 2006 also indicated that the new store cost the local economy as many jobs as it created, without increasing local sales tax revenue. In other words, Walmart drives local food retail alternatives out of the market."
These realities have been available for more than a decade. Our city staff (directed by the council marjority of Stocks, Bond & Gaspar) misdirect the public and fail to server our best interests.

By: Daniel Stein-Kubin

Daniel Stein-Kubin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:11:50 +0000

And what about IKEA ? It would be a great choice for that location.

By: Why Encinitas?

Why Encinitas? — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:43:54 +0000

It is telling that Carlsbad did not want the Walmart. San Marcos rejected this deal; La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Fairbanks Ranch don’t want Walmart. It is not being a snob to not want the traffic, parking, and economically destructive impacts of a Walmart. Nobody who opposes it is saying anything bad about the people who shop there. We are concerned about costs to our community.

The Planning Department claims that they want to place high density-mixed use housing on El Camino to encourage walkability and bike friendly transportation, yet they place a Walmart in a location that will bring in cars from Rancho Santa Fe Road from San Marcos, both sides of I 5, and El Camino Real.

Despite what he claims, Pat Murphy can’t do anything based on his ineptitude, and inability to follow the law that requires the city to have a public hearing for the liquor license 1st! You are ANYTHING but fair because you are giving Walmart special favors!

Get rid of Pat Murphy before it is too late!

By: Toomuchtraffic

Toomuchtraffic — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:15:20 +0000

"The Planning Director, Patrick Murphy left something out of the staff report. Walmart sells beer and wine and will need an alcohol license from the ABC to sell from this store. The city would have to approve a city use permit and Coastal Development Permit which would involve a public hearing. Murphy shouldn’t have approved a building permit until all issues, the liquor license permits, were aired at a public hearing. Currently, there are two restaurants that sell on-site and the service station that has off-site sales. How many is too many businesses selling beer and wine in a shopping center? Residents should have the opportunity to give their opinions before the city approved a building permit."
The city government knows that Walmart will need a public hearing. Instead, the Planning Director and staff hide this information from the residents. Mayor Bond and Deputy Mayor Stocks have participated in hearings over liquor licenses. They knew or should have known the public was being denied the hearing that could also include traffic studies and a vetted parking analysis.
No welcoming a corporation that isn’t going to play fair with the residents.

By: Swami bruce

Swami bruce — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:52:11 +0000

Let us not forget, in the discussion of Walmart’s presence here in our fair city, that they sell weapons and ammunition. In fact, it was at a Walmart that the Columbine and Arizona massacre shooter bought their ammo. Food for thought, indeed.

By: Silver

Silver — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:29:43 +0000

Sincerely, Welcome Walmart, to the beach town of Encinitas! Why? I have grown up here since the 60′s. Does anyone remember that time around here? Totally different from now! We did not pay for this weather, the beach, or location. Our family house cost $16,100 in Solana Beach. Can’t buy a car for that now! Everything is so so much different,and more expensive. Money that was comanded from newly transplanted to the area in the last few decades drove up all our costs of living. Those whom hopefully are not the ones with the loudest opposing voice of the new walmart in Encinitas. We had to embrace your presence which drove out many of the locals. We accomodated you, shopped your business’ pay your prices and you need be thankful!

New Jobs means more citizens and their children are less dependent on our tax dollars!
Those aware of the economic crisis in our country raise your hand! Generated tax revenue and the employment walmart guarantees (more than 100 new jobs)proves to be an asset to Encinitas. For those who think and said that walmarts presence ruins a community should consider that it’s your same neighbors whom you have already lived next to and shopped the same stores with, that would be shopping with you at walmart! so if you’ve been able to coincide with them up till now then why not in the future? Since 1964 I have watched this place turn from "affordable"to "non-affordable" so it’s about time for us "LOCALS" to get back to our "NORMAL"! People are not going to come from an outside area and conjest the roads more to shop at this wal-mart, they have one in their neighborhood! If you have so much money that you are comfortable paying 100% mark up then go for it! But don’t tell the less fortunate they have to live on your terms, when they can’t! Unless you have an offer to put on the table! Hundred dollars says opponents have shopped there to save money! As far as parking issues, people may not know but wal mart is big in .com sales where product can be shipped to home or store for immed. pick up. Associates can be shuttled in, as area parking offers this opportunity. Accomodations can be made on a temp. basis when/if holiday shopping commands more parking. "There is nothing we can not do to help ourselves" Breathe, government fix, is not on the way! Kiss the opportunity for new infastructure, don’t do as Boise did!

By: Walmart- wine,beer

Walmart- wine,beer — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:34:53 +0000

The Planning Director, Patrick Murphy left something out of the staff report. Walmart sells beer and wine and will need an alcohol license from the ABC to sell from this store. The city would have to approve a city use permit and Coastal Development Permit which would involve a public hearing. Murphy shouldn’t have approved a building permit until all issues, the liquor license permits, were aired at a public hearing. Currently, there are two restaurants that sell on-site and the service station that has off-site sales. How many is too many businesses selling beer and wine in a shopping center? Residents should have the opportunity to give their opinions before the city approved a building permit.

By: cazza

cazza — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:21:32 +0000

What ‘Dismas’ are you being paid by Walmart – you sell out!
There is much research on why and how Walmarts destroy communities they sneak into.
Plain folks like myself don’t know are about the laws – your remarks are off base so much it is suspicious to say the least.
I was astounded to read the news and I’m sure there are others like me that DEFINITELY would have been at the meeting last night if we had of known Walmart was going to the topic of conversation!
ALL the town council should be held accountable – hiding this from us is most insincere! No wonder there was so few few speakers. This is outrageous, if it had been known there would have been a huge crowd.
Well Mr/Ms ‘Dismas is seems Ms Cameron speaks for me on this matter and a LOT of others that I know feel the SAME way.

By: Dismas

Dismas — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:24:58 +0000

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Is sit that Ms. Hoffman doesn’t have the inclination to determine ‘How’ the City works, or is it she isn’t capable of determining ‘How’ it works?
Blaming a system that she obviously hasn’t taken the time to familiarize herself with would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. Wal-Mart has been in the system for almost two years and Ms. Barth has known darn well about it the entire time;and playing to the crowd by pleading ignorance is disingenuous.
—
As for the reportage on this story, "Sensing a hostile crowd…" First of all, when isn’t there the same hostile crowd calling for council scalps? Secondly, most of the people who spoke were asking the Council to either break the law or pass ‘special’ laws to treat Wal-Mart differently than any other business; elitist at a minimum,and insincere mugging for the camera with an eye towards the 2012 election, at a maximum.

Ms. Collier,a recent candidate for City Council (who has reopened her candidate’s bank account again) was quoted in this very paper a month ago as stating that she has been working carefully on the General Plan; the very same plan that will turn El Camino Real into a parking lot. Specifically targeting Wal-Mart seems a little disingenuous; but maybe that is an acquired skill for budding politicians?
"We’re here telling you we don’t want Walmart,” Collier told the council." Who is ‘we’ the Leucadia Town Council? The Citizens for a Rural Leucadia?

“Walmart just doesn’t belong here,” she said."I know some of you don’t even like me, but what can we do to keep Walmart out of Leucadia?”
Principles before personalities! Liking or not liking Ms. Collier doesn’t trump the law and why would she believe it does?
Finally,"Sheila Cameron, a former REMOVED mayor and councilwoman, said that maintaining community character was one of the reasons the city was incorporated 25 years ago."
Ms. Cameron seems to be operating under the misconception that she speaks for anyone but herself.
With hope, Ms. Cameron will run again for a City Council seat in 2012 and save us all.
Read more: Coast News Group – Giant big box store gets inhospitable reception at meeting
Yeah, 7 speakers. Wow.