Site Fight Of The Week: Lodi, CA
Lodi, California, is probably known by most people for its Zinfandel and a Creedence Clearwater Revival song. But its quickly earning a reputation for one of the nation’s longest Wal-Mart site fights. After six years of back-and-forth debate and on-and-off plans, Wal-Mart is pushing forward again in Lodi.
From the Stockton Record:
Aaron Rios, a spokesman for the retailer, said the worsening economy forced executives to re-evaluate the Lodi project. “After conducting a careful and thorough review we believe that this is a financially viable project and we are looking forward to obtaining the necessary approvals from the city’s Planning Commission and City Council,” Rios said in a statement.
Lodi already has a Wal-Mart, which the company has said is doing fine. The Record also tells us that there are already 20 Wal-Marts within 44 miles of downtown Stockton, which is several miles south of Lodi. Residents are fighting to keep the 21st out of downtown Lodi.
Outside of the normal concerns that Wal-Mart will force out local businesses and bring only low-wage, low-benefit jobs, one of the primary concerns, just like it has been elsewhere in Central California - is environmental. Residents have been extremely concerned with the amount of noise, crime, traffic and air and water pollution that a new Wal-Mart supercenter will bring.
Al Norman tells how the Lodi city government has not yet made public its draft of the environmental report, and is asking readers to email the Mayor and urge that it be released immediately so that citizens can review it and have their voices heard before the planning commission make its final decision next month.
(Al Norman also has a great archive of posts on the Lodi site fight, going back to 2004.)
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Email the Lodi Mayor, City Council and Planning Commission - and urge them to release the draft of the environmental report, and to end the Wal-Mart debate once and for all with a “no” vote next month.
Posted by Eric Bull on Thursday, August 28, 2008
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COMMENTS
...20 Wal-Marts within 44 miles...
Who was it complaining about the dots on the Wal-Mart map being too big? Can you say ‘saturation’?
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell. ~ Confucius
Ken V in Texas
Thursday, August 28 at 07:29 PM
the are more ufcw union grocery stores kenbo in that same vicinity so i dont want to hear your whining
MATT IN in gresham,oregon
Wednesday, September 03 at 07:44 AM
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