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Opponents seek to get Wal-Mart on the ballot
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More from County NewsResistance to a possible Wal-Mart store in Ventura has reached a fever pitch as labor-backed opponents have announced an all-out effort to get a measure before voters while city leaders have stressed patience.
The Stop Ventura Wal-Mart Coalition Action Team, claiming city leaders have repeatedly ignored their calls for a local ordinance to block a Wal-Mart supercenter, plans to soon submit language for a ballot measure. The group is aiming for the November 2008 ballot and will need at least 6,000 valid signatures, or 10 percent of Ventura's roughly 60,000 registered voters, to qualify.
The debate over a Wal-Mart store has raged locally since the world's largest retailer first talked to city planners two years ago about demolishing the Kmart store on Victoria Avenue and replacing it with one of its discount stores.
"We have not received the cooperation of our elected leaders, so we have decided to take the campaign to stop Wal-Mart directly to the voters," said coalition leader Jim Alger of the Ventura County Working People's Alliance, an organization affiliated with the Tri-County Labor Federation. "This will be a massive undertaking ... by concerned citizens who believe that we have a say in what does and doesn't get built in our own community."
At a public meeting last week attended by about 200 people, coalition members presented a dramatic slide show detailing Wal-Mart's alleged drain on communities, complete with images of Chinese workers in sweatshop conditions and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Going to Take It" booming from speakers. The coalition urged supporters to volunteer to collect needed signatures, post anti-Wal-Mart signs on their lawns or store windows and continue to press the Ventura City Council to introduce an anti-big-box ordinance as a way of forestalling a supercenter at the Kmart site.
Opponents fear increased traffic, an influx of low-paying jobs but no affordable housing, and negative effects on independent business owners in town. Current rules allow for a six-story building at the Kmart site.
"I share a lot of their concerns, but I don't think we need to act immediately to force Santa Maria's ordinance into our town," City Councilman Ed Summers said of Santa Maria's anti-big-box ordinance the coalition members have urged the council to endorse.
That ordinance restricts large retailers to using no more than 5 percent of their leasable floor area for the sale of non-taxable merchandise. Since groceries are exempt from taxation, such an ordinance effectively prohibits a Wal-Mart supercenter, typically 185,000 square feet or more and a combination of a traditional Wal-Mart store and a supermarket.
The Santa Maria ordinance, however, doesn't prevent construction of a regular Wal-Mart store with general merchandise.
Like Summers, fellow council members Bill Fulton and Christy Weir and Mayor Carl Morehouse — incumbents trying to keep their seats in the Nov. 6 election — favor a consensus approach and limiting big-box development through new development guidelines for the busy Victoria Avenue corridor.
Those guidelines, still in draft form and more than a year in the making, would force a large retailer like Wal-Mart to dramatically reduce the size of its traditional big-box model. The guidelines are scheduled to come back to the City Council in January for refinement and the council members expect to have guidelines finalized by the time any Wal-Mart store is considered.
In the meantime, the council has required a special conditional use permit for all new retail buildings in excess of 50,000 square feet on Victoria Avenue.
"It's very clear these are special interests trying to stop our ability to serve our customers," said Aaron Rios, a Wal-Mart spokesman, adding the Arkansas-based retailer is committed to building a store that appropriately fits and enlivens the aging shopping center. "This is not a big-box issue, because there is already one there in the Kmart."
Wal-Mart workers are not unionized, while most large grocery store chains in Ventura County have unions. Both labor and management at grocery store chains fear that supercenters will force existing supermarkets out of business.
"Wal-Mart wants to take the good-paying jobs in your grocery stores," said Martel Fraser, union representative of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1036, speaking at the public meeting. She said the union has thrust "its full weight" behind the initiative effort.
Wal-Mart has signed a lease on the Kmart store, but has not submitted a formal application. The company last met with city staff in March and presented a concept plan to demolish the Kmart and replace it with an eco-friendly building closer to 150,000 square feet over submerged parking, city planner Patsy Stadelman said.
The store would be Wal-Mart's third in Ventura County, joining discount centers in Oxnard and Simi Valley.
Countering complaints about Wal-Mart's treatment of its workers, Rios said the company in January will expand the number of healthcare plans employees can choose among, which will allow them to select various deductibles, healthcare credits and premiums, depending on their needs.
The exact language of the ballot initiative has not been determined. The coalition is deliberating whether it will be a carbon copy of the Santa Maria law or add conditions to force mega-retailers to pay living wages and possibly provide housing, organizers said.
Some local business leaders feel the city should not be prohibiting a potential major source of tax revenue at a time when the city cannot afford adequate police and fire service.
The Stop Wal-Mart coalition, which includes the Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy, will try to convince voters that Wal-Mart's reputation of low wages and poor benefits would only contribute to a downward economic spiral in Ventura.
"I don't want Wal-Mart spilling into my little town of Ventura," resident Monica Watson said after watching the slide show and volunteering to collect signatures. "I would like a bigger Trader Joe's. That would be my dream for Ventura."
Posted by ash.rogers on October 25, 2007 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why don't city officials work with Wal-Mart to settle the concerns of the citizens? Wal-Mart would provide jobs and additional tax money to the city and county. I hear all the time that Wal-Mart pays low salaries. The company does NOT make anyone work for them. Their employees are there by choice. If you don't want to work for Wal-Mart, then don't apply for a job. Seriously, Wal-Mart Supercenters provide a lot of tax revenue to the cities that they are in. The Supercenters allow customers to pay lower cost for their groceries.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on October 25, 2007 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ash.rogers ,I agree!
Posted by Nosmo_King on October 25, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love Trader Joe's too. Great food and produce. And they're open when the Chain stores are on strike.
Posted by hhamilton3 on October 25, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wal-Mart will change the face of Ventura. Any buisness that goes into that shopping center will provide jobs and tax revenue. Why would we want to support a mega store with mega bad community values? If we want to support low wages, lack of employee health care, poor environmental track record and almost exclusive out-sourcing of jobs to China, lets all drive 7 miles to Oxnard. We need and want quality, not mega quantity. Lets prioritize before we lose Trader Joes, Salzars and our local bike shops to Wal-Mart.
By the way, do the first two posters work for Wal-Mart???
Posted by VenturaBrian on October 25, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How predictable that the first response would be one right out of the Wal-Mart PR handbook. Think that spamming a newspaper's message board is too small of a tactic for them? Think again. If you haven't seen the documentary "The High Cost of a Low Price" you should rent it immediately... they interview 15-year Wal Mart veterans who explain how they target local businesses and aggressively try to shut them down. This is not just a retailer... it's a juggernaut that doesn't play on a level playing field. Notice how quiet they've been through the Chinese lead-paint toy scandals? Maybe it's because they're the single biggest pipeline of these dangerous items into America. Let's keep them from flooding Ventura with their dangerous products and tactics.
Posted by lwolff on October 25, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One needs to know the facts of how Walmart conducts business in order to really understand what is going on. Yes, most of us agree that the city needs the tax money and we could use the employment. But you sure don't see anyone trying to stop any other large store from coming to town -We need something else besides Walmart
Posted by dschreiber on October 25, 2007 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
True, Wal-Mart doesn't make people go to work for them, but people that are out of work can't always afford to be choosey. And as Wal-Mart drives our Mom-and-Pop stores out of business there will be even more competition for retail positions.
Obviously their prices are low. They pay low wages, and they shift their health insurance costs to the community. Taxpayers assume the burdens of subsidised low income housing and healthcare. It's a bad trade.
Posted by shaver_one on October 25, 2007 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Monica Watson:
In case you haven't noticed, Ventura is not a little town.
Piru is a little town.
I think Wal-Mart would be good for Ventura, though possibly not on Victoria. And, Ventura already has 'Big-Box" retailers scattered all through the city. What's wrong with one more, if it provides needed tax revenue?
These people just don't like Wal-Mart...too low-class for the uppity Ventura Snobs. Bring Wal-Mart to Ventura, and the elitists will just have to learn to live with it. Or, they can move to Ojai.
Posted by b10652004 on October 25, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i am astonished that the city council or anyone would buy the balderdash that walmart is putting out re their planned super box store on our treasure of a corridor, victoria ave. in the heart of ventura by the sea.
their public records from the past show:
1.
they do not create new jobs, they just recycle the old ones with less pay and knock out the samll businesses. does anyone remember the wonderful ventura book store on main street? they couldn't hold out against barnes and noble when they moved into ventura.
2.why the grocery component? food is not taxable. so where is the huge taxes we would be getting?
3.and underground parking structure. please-the traffic would terrorize drivers and school children walking home from school.on victoria.
Posted by minority_report on October 25, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Wal-Mart spokesperson, Aaron Rios, states that there is already a big-box store at the site (KMart). However, KMart does not pull in the amout of shoppers that a Wal-Mart would and KMart does not displace any of the other existing retail stores on the lot that we have become accustomed to using. Wal-Mart would not only clear out all existing retailers on the lot, but they would also very likely force Green Thumb Nursery to shutdown due to competition with its own nursery department. I would hate to lose that long-time well-loved specialty store with all its knowledgeable employees.
It's also interesting to see how Rios, tries to characterize the grassroots citizenry as "special interests" (a term normally reserved for high-powered, moneyed Washington lobby groups). This is the beginning of their own lobbying campaingn to try to separate us from the rest of the poplulation. We live and work right here in Ventura and if a concern for a healthy and less congested living and working environment is considered "special", then I urge all Ventura residents to help keep it that way and sign the petition for better control over who can come do business here in our city. If you remember, Home Depot was knocked ot over similar concerns of traffic, not just by shoppers but by lots of big delivery trucks coming through on a regular basis. Wal-Mart would likely bring in plenty of additional truck traffic as well.
shaver_one: I am disappointed that you would want to try to characterize people in our community who want to encourage a better quality of living and working as "uppity Ventura Snobs" when you probably don't even know the range of people who oppose Wal-Mart. Seems you are so willing take low prices as long as you don;t have to think about the low wages and low benefits of their employees. We won't even get into what they pay their contract factory workers. What is wrong with trying to raise (if not at least mainitain) the current standard of living here in Ventura instead of lowering it? People should come first, not profits. Wal-Mart can do better and we should let them know that. Sign the petiition to get the regulating language on our ballot this November.
Posted by SHD1005 on October 25, 2007 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not Wal-Mart in Ventura.
I am a long time resident of Ventura. I am not a union member.
Ventura has a mix of small businesses, chain stores and restaurants. We do not need a big box store imposing low wages and inferior merchandise on our community. We must have loyalty to the hard working small businesses and employees making such a significant impact on the character and economy of Ventura.
Posted by juliebergman on October 25, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am also among those opposed to having a Wal-Mart in Ventura. On the issue of tax revenue, people need to remember that groceries are not taxable so a super-center would not bring as much tax revenue as some people think.
Wal-Mart is not a savior of jobs. Many more jobs will be lost than gained if Wal-Mart is allowed into Ventura. Many of the small local businesses that we love could be forced out.
Driving down Victoria is already quite a traffic experience. I can't even imagine what would happen if Wal-Mart was there.
None of this has anything to do with being 'an uppity Ventura snob' as one previous person commented. It has to do with common sense and what is best for Ventura.
No Wal-Mart in Ventura!
Posted by RachaelOwens on October 25, 2007 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The depths Wal-Mart will descend in insulting our intelligence knows no bounds. As for the "special interests" Mr. Rios speaks of... HE IS THE SPECIAL INTEREST! We have been asking labor unions for help for years because they have the experience in fighting Wal-Mart. Our community went to them, not the other way around. But Mr. Rios doesn't care about facts, he will simply ignore them and spout off at the mouth the same crap he has spouted off in dozens of other communities. Google his name, from San Diego to Galt to Clovis he has been throwing out the same garbage.
WE LIVE HERE AARON! How dare you!
Posted by Metzli on October 25, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By keeping Wall-Mart from establishing itself in Ventura we will as a community be supporting principles of equity and fairness, protecting locally based businesses, and helping create awareness for a living wage and a level of healthcare that makes for a vibrant community.
Personally,I cannot possibly support bringing in one more business that claims:
1. that the jobs they provide will be contributing to our community given that most of these jobs do not pay enough to cover the basic living expenses of all it's employees.
2. that nonexistent to inadequate health coverage for employees could in anyway contribute to the overall health of our community.
3. that Ventura should be grateful for taxes paid from earnings made on the backs of underpaid employees and products made in parts of the world where workers have no rights and are living in life destroying poverty. (Wall-Mart is not the only option for increasing our tax base.)
Let's dedicate our energies to providing support to local businesses in every way possible.
Posted by ennyl on October 25, 2007 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you want to know what having Wal-Mart in our community would be like, look what effects Wal-Mart has had on towns across the country. Cathedral City, for example, gave Wal-Mart over a million dollars in incentives. What did they get in return? Small business closures, loss of good paying jobs replaced by poorly paid jobs that were also lost, increased taxpayer costs for Wal-Mart employees deprived of decent benefits, traffic, pollution, and a big, abandoned building when Wal-Mart left to take advantage of incentives from neighboring communities. What about all the kids who've played with lead toys or eaten other toxics from producers in China forced to eliminate safety measures by Wal-Mart price demands? What about all the American jobs outsourced due to Wal-Mart? What about the effects of all the other corporations who've followed the lead of the biggest corporation in the world, Wal-Mart? Every city that succumbs to the lure of sales tax revenues from Wal-Mart thinks they'll be different . . . until they suffer the reality of Wal-Mart.
Posted by RC on October 25, 2007 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh please please NO WALMART! There is a Walmart in the next town if peole wish to shop there.Look what the .99 store has done to the area. As much as I love those stores, since that place has been there, it has becomes so littered with trash and not to mentoin all the bums that hang out in front of the store. I also don't feel like seeing all the Walmart carts around the neighborhoods. Its bad enough that those ugly purple .99 store carts are everywhere
Posted by kbremer on October 25, 2007 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is time to stop competing with Oxnard for sales tax dollars. This battle has already and will continue to lead to dire unintended consequences for both towns. Anyone who feels the need to purchase from WalMart probably has a shorter drive to accomplish that task than they do on their normal commute to work & back. Let's focus on reducing commuting rather than encouraging more.
Posted by minority_report on October 25, 2007 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kbrenner: I don't see how cutting out less than 5 miles and about 6 minutes of driving is a great advantage for us Venturans. Why should we even encourage this type business when it means more local traffic congestion, at the very least. We will get not just more local traffic, but more out-of-town vehicles and more big delivery trucks to add to the traffic headaches we already have on Victoria Avenue.
As for the tax revenue carrot, it will not be enough to offest the problems created by Wal-Mart's presence itself, as already stated by plenty of others in their comments. Also, since when do we have to compete with Oxnard for this type of business? They can keep their Wal-Mart big-box to themselves with all the problems it creates as far as I'm concerned.
Let's get a more fair business employer that want's to be a good neighbor for Ventura residents... SIGN THE PETITION TO GET THE BIG-BOX REGULATING LANGUAGE ON OUR BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER!
Posted by vtahome on October 25, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I think of Ventura I think of quality. Look at the redevelopment in downtown over that last several years! It's GREAT! Independent shops, farmers' market, and a real sense of community!!! Warm and fuzzy, I say! Walmart??? It just doesn't fit. Walmart has a history of putting Mom and Pop shops out of business. I'm not rich. I like to save money when I can. But, I try my best to buy American made products whenever I can and would truely hate to loose everything the city has put into bringing us downtown and feeling comfortable going there!! Walmart could, effectively, reduce and, possibly, put some of of most loved private businesses out of business. I really hope this does not happen!!! Ventura is unique and not a comgoberation of "Big Box" stores with no community ties..I would urge people to sign any petition to not make us a big box city without it's unique character!!
Posted by esorkin on October 25, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The proposed ordinance doesn't ban a Wal-Mart; it only restricts the amount of tax-free goods it can carry -- which doesn't provide any tax revenue to Ventura. Why should Wal-Mart object to Ventura guaranteeing that it will get the revenue that Ventura is promising?
Why risk even worse congestion on Victoria on a gamble? Guarantee the promised revenue (by signing the petition) or keep Wal-Mart out.
Posted by dgilby on October 25, 2007 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I came to Ventura from a small town that promotes the small local businesses. Allowing WalMart into Ventura would be a HUGE MISTAKE. Walmart will destroy the local businesses, possibly shutting them down, create more traffic, and destroy the small town feel of Ventura. True, they bring jobs but it's also true that they take away OUR current jobs and businesses. From what I hear, those running for city council see only promised tax revenue at the expense of our current citizens that own their own businesses. Victoria is busy enough, we have enough large stores, and great local businesses. It's time to step up and STOP WALMART from taking this all away from Ventura Residents.
Posted by dgilby on October 25, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
STOP WALMART FROM COMING!
Posted by ash.rogers on October 25, 2007 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would bet money on it that most people who complain about Wal-Mart are actually Wal-Mart shoppers and don't want to admit to it! Wal-Mart could and should improve the employee insurance and salaries. But Ventura should not restrict business if it is going to provide much needed tax money to the city. Wal-Mart Supercenters do not put other grocery stores out of business all the time. Example: Tulsa, Oklahoma; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Springdale, Arkansas are three examples that show Supercenters can operate with other grocery stores just fine. Ventura and other cities should not limit growth if they are in need of additional tax money. Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of California more than $821.9 million in sales taxes in FYE 2007. Wal-Mart paid more than $128.3 million in state and local taxes in the state of California in FYE 2007
Posted by VenturaBrian on October 25, 2007 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would bet money that ash.rogers = Aaron Rios. When you posted your first message, "ash", it was obvious that you were quoting the Wal-Mart PR Handbook. Now with your last post you completely come out of the closet as a Wal Mart lobbyist by quoting tax figures for "FYE 2007". Why don't you take a hike and let the people who actually live here debate this issue.
Posted by michaelks75 on October 25, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ventura please don't sell out our local businesses just to save a few bucks. if you want low quality merchandise drive to Oxnard. wal-mart doesn't care about their own employees. how can you expect them to care about Ventura.
plus food sales do not bring in tax revenues. stand up ventura and say no to wal-mart
Posted by tellthetruth on October 25, 2007 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
great. ventura can be a crap hole like oxnard once the walmart is in... i can't wait!
Posted by tellthetruth on October 25, 2007 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know the appeal of lead ladden products from China sounds better everyday... ash.rogers is a chump. TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WALMART!!!! IT ONLY CARES ABOUT $$$$ IN IT'S POCKETS AND PUTTING SMALL BUSINESSES OUT!
Posted by Metzli on October 26, 2007 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep Wall-Mart out.
I have not shopped at Wall-Mart since I learned of how they do business which was about a year after they opened in Oxnard. Before that I made one maybe two purchases there. Afterwards - nothing.
Posted by weavingtheweb on October 26, 2007 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wal-Mart is just plain bad news. I tell why in detail here: http://www.xanga.com/weavingtheweb/62...
Why isn't there a "Stop IKEA" or a "Stop Kohl's" or a "Stop Target"? Why pick on Wal-Mart? Do your research and find out. By the way, I have been boycotting Wal-Mart and Sam's Club for years. There is no way I'm giving them one penny of my hard earned wages. Let's keep Wally World out of Ventura!
Posted by ash.rogers on October 26, 2007 at 5:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Ventura Brian: I am not Aaron Rios. My name is Ashley Rogers. I have lived in Ventura County and in Arkansas. I don't work for Wal-Mart. I have shopped at Ralph's, Von's, Target, and Wal-Mart. It is true that lower-income people do shop more at Wal-Mart. A lot of people just don't shop at Wal-Mart because they think it degrades themselves. I shop at Target and Wal-Mart all the time. Both stores have their benefits and minuses. But, Wal-Mart does NOT always put small businesses out of business. But you folks in Ventura do what you want. If you don't want a store that is going to provide increase in taxes, then increase your taxes. That will affect the lower class even more in Ventura. But, if you are going to stop Wal-Mart, then Target needs to be stopped, too. It only makes sense, folks!
Posted by RachaelOwens on October 26, 2007 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Ash Rogers" provides 4 "examples" of Super centers not closing grocery stores while in Northern California alone Ralphs closed over a dozen stores laying off 2000 workers as a direct result of Wal-Mart.
Forget it Ash, your "argument" rings hollow.
Posted by RachaelOwens on October 26, 2007 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Also Ash, to compare Wal-Mart to Target is to compare Joe's lumber to Home Depot. It also demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the issues, willful or otherwise.
The choices are not "Receive Wal-Mart's tax revenues or nothing". They are receive Wal-Mart's tax revenues and the headaches and expense they come with, or receive someone else's tax revenues who knows how to be a good neighbor.
Ventura doesn't need to be like Arkansas. In fact, we are kind of proud that we aren't. I assume you left Arkansas for California for a reason, and bringing Arkansas with you wasn't it.
Posted by kat on October 26, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If i am not mistaken there is already a business there creating tax revenues for the city. I personally will just go shop in Oxnard when they get the Whole Foods built there ...INSTEAD of Trader Joes (one of the two quality food stores in Ventura).
Keep up those imports from China that Wal-Mart is so fond of, maybe someone can sue the city of Ventura when their kid puts a lead painted toy in their mouth and gets lead poisoning.
Posted by elaine9010 on October 26, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not want a SUPERSTORE on Victoria Blvd whether it is Walmart or not. Traffice is bad enough and I live only 2 blocks from there.
E.M.
Posted by kjohnson on October 26, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not against a Walmart in Ventura, just the proposed location. Victoria Avenue has too much congestion as it is. Why not near the Auto Center? Too close to the Rose Avenue Walmart? Personally, I stopped shopping at the Oxnard Walmart years ago. I found the shelves to be inadequately stocked with the household products I like to buy and eventually it wasn't worth the 6 minute freeway drive from Ventura. I also felt uncomfortable sometimes walking through their parking lot, particularly after reading news reports of crimes being committed. I shop at Target and will continue to do so even if Walmart does open in Ventura...
Posted by campzew on October 26, 2007 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No Walmart in Ventura and i live in Thousand Oaks. When I think of Ventura, i think of the city by the sea (and NOT Walmart).
I have made 1 purchase at Walmart, after researching their businsess practices, that was it for me.
Posted by jwbaja on October 26, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This Walmart will have no shortage of willing workers or customers. Thank goodness for elitists who will make employment and shopping decisions for them by denying them the option.
Posted by RachaelOwens on October 26, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jwbaja, your typical political branding of opposiition as "elitists" is so typical of Wal-Mart supporters.
Is it "elitist" to have concern for our fellow Venturan's jobs?
Is it "elitist" to oppose sweatshop working conditions by a US company in a foreign land?
Is it "elitist" to support the idea of better pay and healthcare for our fellow Venturans?
Is it "elitist" to be concerned about Wal-Mart's well-publicized practice of forcing its will upon community after community driving down wages and driving up total costs?
Is it "elitist" to be concerned about Wal-Mart's POLICY of encouraging employees to seek local, state and federal aid?
Or is the truth so painful for you that you are reduced to name-calling?
Posted by cmalloy on October 26, 2007 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NO WAL-MART PLEASE!!!
Posted by bugmenot on October 26, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not a big fan of Wal-Mart, i would not like the traffic a Wal-Mart would create on Victoria. I'm fine with driving to Oxnard if I need something at Wal-Mart.
However, I believe in a free market. I think it would be wrong to tell a company they cannot open a business somewhere, based on who the company is.
If a K-Mart had a store there, i don't see why Wal-Mart cannot, so long as it's the same zoning.
Posted by VenturaBrian on October 26, 2007 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe in a free market too, but I also think we as residents should have the right to vote on whether or not we want a Wal-Mart in our town. What if they were proposing a topless bar on the site? Would you sit back and say "well that's OK - it's a free market after all"? I doubt it. Ask yourself - why is Wal-Mart so afraid of letting this go to the ballot so we can vote on it? It's because they know there's a good chance that the majority of Ventura citizens don't want their store, and they don't want us to have that choice. Not very pro-American are they?
Posted by spokenit on October 27, 2007 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For those of us that oppose WalMart get out there and sign sign sign sign! Victoria Ave. IS NOT THE PLACE for that store! This as always has nothing to do w/ Ventura and helping the people it has everything to do w/ the pockets of the business and the business people that dont live anywhere close to these stores. As we fight our way down/up Victoria ave.. they fly their private jets home, or drive their jags, bmws etc.. upward home to the quiet of their property out of reach or sight to us still on Victoria! Let them build it in their backyards if it will be so good for Ventura. How about Fillmore? It has alot of land left to build your store!
Posted by jwbaja on October 27, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
HELP WANTED
New WalMart store seeks associates.
Pay: less than what you are making now (we want to drive down wages in the city.)
Benefits: none. you will have to give up your current employer paid health insurance to work here.
Working conditions: miserable, you will be working for a cold heartless employer
Please apply at the WalMart brainwashing center so we can convince you to give up your great current job. After all your current employer is going to cut wages and benefits and become cold and heartless once we open.
Posted by fawgg on October 27, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that Venturans should think twice about welcoming WalMart into their city. Why haven't Venturans been given the chance to think twice about the incoming Super Target (read, grocery store) that is presently going into the Pacific View Mall? There are no plans to close the present Target, and adding a grocery store to the MALL seems a little ridiculous. My $.02.
Posted by mpi on June 14, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We lost 500K a year in sales tax when K-mart closed I would suggest that the anti-walmart coaltion raise and donate about a million dollars a year to the city to make up for lost walmart revenues, then they can keep a giant empty prking lot set aside for Carl's Jrs overflow crowds.
You want someone to show up when you call 911 we need wal-mart.
Everything else is a red herring. They buy the same cheap plastic crap from china every other store does. They hire only people who want to work there and the Union Thugs can show up anytime they want to see if they can get enough support to organize. They pay lower wages because the require a lower skill set than other stores.
Full Service stores like Ralphs and Vons will do fine by offering a superior shopping experience. Competition is at the heart of American Enterprise.
And as far as Trader Joes we will soon have a Whole Foods Market in the Flood Plane of the Santa Clara River. So you can always get your dream shopping experience unless it rains
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