Dohhh! Wal-Mart ballot measure fails. Missed it by thaaat much!

[MSgt213]

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Voters in this Los Angeles suburb rejected a ballot measure Tuesday that would have allowed Wal-Mart to build a warehouse-sized store while skirting zoning, traffic and environmental reviews.

With all 29 precincts reporting and absentee ballots counted, Inglewood voters opposed the initiative, with 60.6 percent voting 'no' and 39.3 percent voting 'yes,' said Gabby Contreras of the city clerk's office.

That amounts to 7,049 votes against the initiative and 4,575 in favor. Contreras said there are about 40,000 registered voters in the city.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4676390/

[rpannier]

1. Thank God....

some people care about their environment and other aspects of the quality of life. To say, "A minimum wage job is still a job", is like (I think) saying, "Five pieces of cardboard taped together in the shape of a house is still a house." It may have the form of a job (or house), but it ain't much of one.

[leftyandproud]

4. yay! they don't have low wage jobs now...

They have NO jobs...victoryyyyyyyyyyyy

</sarcasm>

[mouse7]

2. This was the one that just turned Inglewood into Walmart, right

Just the whole freakin' city with walls, a roof, and stupid walmart smilies everywhere.

[strategery blunder]

3. Woo Hoo!

Finally, some GOOD news...

[mb7588a]

5. ahahahahahah

lol lol lol

k.done.

[NJCher]

6. this is good news!

Hooray for the citizens of Inglewood!

Note, however, what a small percentage of the people turned out for the vote. Disgraceful, as is almost all voter turnout in America, land of the oblivious and ignorant.


Cher

[drfemoe]

7. That's good news ..

but W-M won't give up that easily. Have they tried bribing the public officials yet?

[rdfi-defi]

8. inglewood, well done

[Journeyman]

9. I wonder how many voted against Wal-Mart. . .

and how many voted against the plan to put the store in without any zoning, traffic or environmental reviews.

The spot they wanted to put this monstrosity -- between The Forum and Hollywood Park Racetrack -- is extremely congested, with a lot of old roads around it. Should Wal-Mart return, this time with a plan to submit to proper reviews and their checkbook open to pay for a renewed infrastructure, I wonder if the people will continue to hold the line.

From the article, it sounds like the objections to the plan were more against Wal-Mart than the physical building itself, but if Wal-Mart spent a million in this aborted effort, I wonder what they'll throw next at the problem.

[NJCher]

10. what newspapers do Inglewood residents read?

I think a few letters to the editor congratulating the voters are in order. Can anyone from the area advise?

I checked Newslink but the newspaper for that area isn't readily apparent.


Cher

[Piperay]

12. The Los Angeles Times and

The Southwest Wave ... I believe those papers would be the most likely. Also so does The Daily Breeze, though it covers more of the beach cities .

[SoCalDem]

11. Good article I posted last night and it got locked

I especially love the arrogance in the comments by Walmart people...

There are currently two other threads in LBN about the election.. I am so glad they voted it down :)


SoCalDem (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-06-04 11:00 PM
Original message
Voters in Inglewood reject Wal-Mart measure...10:33 PM.. 65.6 to 34.3

Edited on Tue Apr-06-04 11:02 PM by SoCalDem

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040406-2233-ca-opposingwal-...


By Alex Veiga
ASSOCIATED PRESS
10:33 p.m. April 6, 2004

INGLEWOOD – A ballot measure supported by Wal-Mart so it can build a giant Supercenter store in this Los Angeles suburb was rejected Tuesday by voters. With 27 of 29 precincts reporting, Inglewood voters opposed the initiative, with 65.6 percent voting 'no' and 34.3 percent voting 'yes,' said Gabby Contreras of the city clerk's office. That amounts to 5,108 votes against the initiative and 2,674 in favor. Contreras said there are about 40,000 registered voters in the city. Absentee ballots also remained to be counted. "This is very, very positive for those folks who want to stand up and ... hold this corporate giant responsible," said Daniel Tabor, a former City Council member who had campaigned against the initiative.

snip...............

The City Council last year blocked the proposed shopping center, which would include both a traditional Wal-Mart and other stores, prompting the Bentonville, Ark.-based company to collect more than 10,000 signatures to force the vote. In a statement, the company said the decision was unfortunate for Inglewood residents, who will now have to go elsewhere to shop at Wal-Mart. "We are disappointed that a small group of Inglewood leaders together with representatives of outside special interests were able to convince a majority of Inglewood voters that they don't deserve the job opportunities and shopping choices that others in the LA area enjoy," the company said.

....snip

But opponents say the Supercenters amount to low-wage, low-benefit job mills that displace better-paying jobs as independent retailers are driven out of business. They also fear the super-sized stores will contribute to suburban sprawl and jammed roadways.

....snip


Wal-Mart officials have said they have not decided what they will do if the Inglewood initiative fails. The company spent more than $1 million in its campaign, according to campaign finance records, while opponents have spent a fraction of that amount. The opposition, however, enlisted public figures, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson to rally voters to its side. On Monday, Jackson and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., urged residents to vote against the Supercenter.

...snip