Press Release: August 3, 2004
Community Demands Voice In Decisions Over Wal-Mart, Other Superstores
Housing, Environmental, Labor, Neighborhood Groups To Urge Passage of L.A. Superstores Ordinance

Community leaders and activists gathered today in front of City Hall to support proposed legislation that would provide a greater public voice in decisions on superstores.

The press conference came before a key City Council committee hearing on the Los Angeles Superstores Ordinance. A vote on the law by the full Council is expected on Tuesday, August 10.

If passed, the legislation would enable the city to look at the probable economic impacts of proposed superstores before a decision is made to issue building permits.

Numerous studies, including one by the City of Los Angeles, have documented the extensive economic impacts of superstores. Under current law, however, neither city officials nor community members have the ability to evaluate the impacts of a proposed superstore before a permit is issued. As a result, there is no meaningful public debate or control over the building of superstores in Los Angeles.

"Los Angeles residents must have a role in shaping the future of their city," said Roxana Tynan, director of Accountable Development with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. "We cannot leave these decisions to Wal-Mart and other large corporations."

A broad coalition of community, housing, environmental and labor groups are supporting the superstores ordinance, including activists from Inglewood.

"This spring, voters in Inglewood sent a strong message when Wal-Mart tried to build a supercenter without any public review or input-residents must have a real voice in decisions that affect our communities," said Rev. Altagracia Perez with the Coalition for a Better Inglewood, which led the successful campaign to stop Wal-Mart's Inglewood ballot initiative this spring. "Today, as the City Council debates superstore legislation, we are here to send the same message."

Also speaking at today's press conference was Ken Jacobs, co-author of a new study by the University of California which shows that Wal-Mart is costing California taxpayers nearly a hundred million dollars a year in public assistance to its workers.

Other speakers included Jan Breidenbach, executive director of the Southern California Association of Non Profit Housing, Rick Icaza, President of UFCW Local 770, and Alvivon Hurd, a community activist from East Los Angeles.