COUNCIL RESTRICTS WAL-MART SUPERCENTERS IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly versionUPDATE DEC. 2: The council has voted 5-3 to override a veto by the mayor to enact this law. The same members who initially supported the ban voted for the override. Requires impact study before a Supercenter could be built; mayor may veto measure November 29, 2010 (San Diego) – Negative TV advertising by Wal-Mart didn’t dissuade members of the San Diego City Council from voting against Wal-Mart. By a 5-3 vote last week, Councilmembers voted to require a neighborhood impact study be conducted before a building permit may be issued for big-box vendors such as Wal-Mart that want to open stores over 90,000 square feet that sell groceries. Wal-Mart spent heavily on advertising on television and print, targeting members of the Council who supported the measure. One ad showed a picture of a closed check-out lane and asked, “Who is Councilwoman Marti Emerald fighting for?” The ad accused Emerald of turning her back on hard-working San Diego families and seniors by supporting the measure. But Emerald fired back, “That just isn’t true and Wal-Mart knows it. Wal-Mart spent enormous money on false and misleading advertising intended to bully the Council and frighten consumers. It’s reprehensible.” Emerald said the new ordinance is needed to detail how a Superstore would ilmpact smaller businesses and neighborhoods within a five-mile radius. Historically, many small businesses have found themselves forced out of business when a superstore has moved into the area. “This is designed to preserve more shopping choices. That’s good for consumers,” said Emerald, a former TV consumer advocate. Wal-Mart has been fighting for years to gain share in the San Diego marketplace with a superstore. The company contends that the City is losing $175 million in tax revenues because shoppers go to Wal-Mart Supercenter in neighboring communities. “Passage of the ban will restrict consumer choices, discourage job growth and limit access to affordable, fresh food,” Wal-Mart spokesman Aaron Rios told the Council. Labor has also fought to keep Wal-Mart supercenters out of San Diego because Wal-Mart does not provide union pay or benefits such as healthcare to its workers, while other major grocery chains do. In 2006, San Diego’s Council voted to ban all supercenters, but later rescinded the ban after Councilmember Donna Frye changed her vote. Frye supports the impact study measure, but not an outright ban. Analysts predict that Mayor Jerry Sanders will likely veto the measure next week, in which case Council would need a two-thirds vote to override the measure. Democrat Sherri Lightner joined Republicans Carl DeMaio and Kevin Faulconer in voting no on requiring the economic impact study measure. The measure was introduced by Councilman Todd Gloria; members Marti Emerald, Donna Frye, Ben Hueso and Tony Young also voted in favor. Printer-friendly version
WHAT’S HOT? LEMON GROVE HOLIDAY BONFIRE DEC. 3
Printer-friendly version December 2, 2010 (Lemon Grove) — The City of Lemon Grove hosts its annual community holiday bonfire on December 3 from 6-8 p.m. at Civic Center Park, corner of Olive and Church Streets. Rain or shine, this free family-orientated event features live music, horse-drawn wagon rides, free refreshments, game booths, crafts, face painting, and more. In addition, the Lemon Grove Historical Society will hold its traditional open house at the Parsonage Museum, 3185 Olive, and the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, both in Civic Center Park, on Dec. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. The lavishly decorated, Tudor Revival Lee House, with its huge Christmas tree, glowing fireplaces and gift shop full of interesting items and books is a favorite with Lemon Grovians. The 1897 Parsonage Museum, which features two floors of charming, informative exhibits related to Lemon Grove history, is also decorated for the holidays. The Historical Society will provide hot tea and cider, as well as free candy canes for children. Outdoors in the park, the huge, annual bonfire, sponsored by the City of Lemon Grove, will light up the night sky. Revelers can enjoy carol-singing, live music, and free coffee, lemonade and cookies. "It is billed as ‘the biggest bonfire in East County,’ but given that there is no other bonfire, it may well be the biggest in the county and/or Southern California," said Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society. "It is a characteristic of Lemon Grove to have big things. Big Lemon. Big mural. Big bonfire. Big old cultural center. Big heart. And, of course, best climate on Earth!" All are welcome to this warm, festive tribute to 118-year-old Lemon Grove and its residents and friends. For more information, contact 619-460-4353 or lghistorical@gmail.com. Printer-friendly version