Observe the vocal minority, the small, angry and protective unionistas whose concern is only to maintain their power base and the steady flow of union dues. All the bluster about Wal Mart not paying union scale wages and benefits is a smoke screen for their intent to increase their membership and control of the political process.
The opponents of the new grocery store in the currently vacant Nob Hill location are not standing in the way of progress for some magnanamous or humanitarian reasons---they have something to gain here. It's naive to think otherwise---ask yourselves, what do they have to gain by being obstructionists? What does the city gain by caving in to this vocal minority?

""Other chain grocery stores are now trying to organize people to oppose the project," he added."

To get Council to use the power of government to dictate the market. Score 1 for crony capitalism.

I bet if you look at the Council members records of donations you will see donations from the unions blocking the Wal-Mart grocery store. Their investment has paid off.

Organized Labor is so deep into the pockets of the city council that it boarders on fraud. Conflict of interest would be the mildest characterization. Look at when the unfunded pension liabilities started to escalate and when certain people took office and there is a direct correlation. It is embarrassing. The City Council needs to remember we live in the US and shouldn't be intimidated by bully tactics of labor. We shouldn't be at the mercy of organized labor or the underworld thugs associated with them. Are they going to start breaking knees? Detroit is a great business model for labor.

Not again! It's enough already. Move forward with WalMart Neighborhood Market and call it a day. If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck and swims like a duck, it's a duck. If the property was zoned as a grocery store, if it was a grocery store, it should become another grocery store. All of you who argue about food coming from Chine, how many eat Chinese Food?

Stacey, please consider the perspective of the crony capitalism remark... who is subsidized more by government resources? Wal-Mart, Safeway, Raley's, Lucky's... whether directly or indirectly. You bring up good point. Sorry I am unable to connect with that remark.

The food from China argument is a non-issue. Ever shop at 99 Ranch Market? Almost all of their food is brought in from Asian countries and I have yet to hear any uproar from our local meddling utopians.

Unions . . . hate competition. How American is that?

For unions it's not "Buy American" it's "Buy America".

Web Link

Jeb needs to check his facts!!!!! The vote was 4 to 1 NOT 5-0 to approve the zoning administrator's report!! Guess who voted NO??? Matt Sullivan, who else!!

Did Jeb watch the end of the meeting??? It was pretty clear when Matt's request to agendize conditional use permits for grocery stores was discussed that Council women McGovern & Councilman Thorne were both in support of having the WalMart grocery store at the old Nob Hill Foods Location. It was less clear with the Mayor. Councilwoman and union member Cook-Kallio supported Sullivan's request.

Chris,

The "on the fence" donors is a much more interesting list!

Hah, Goldman Sachs leans Democratic. Corzine have anything to do with that?

The council unanimously voting to table approval of Wal-Marts application is disgusting, especially when a grocery store is needed in that area, the merchants in that center hurting, and the city needs the sales tax revenue. I am especially disappointed that Cindy McGovern joined The Three Stooges and Matt Campbell is this vote. Normally she is a voice of reason on the stooge-dominated council.

This vote once again shows that the council is bought and paid for by the unions. We need another candidate to run for Mayor so that we don't put another of The Three Stooges in as Mayor. It's critical that the voters in Pleasanton get rid of the union lap dogs on our City Council.

I also believe that the Council's action will result in yet another lawsuit against the City of Pleasanton, this time by Wal-Mart. They have every right to sue. The City is not following their own regulations. Do you think the union slugs will pay if Pleasanton loses? No, it will be the Pleasanton taxpayers that will be on the hook.

Here's the OpenSecrets page on Wal-Mart: Web Link

Top recipients 2011-2012:
Womack, Steve (R-AR) $23,150
Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN) $10,000
Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) $7,500
Obama, Barack (D) $7,500
Romney, Mitt (R) $7,500

Also interesting how it contributed more to Democrats in the House.

Pete,
Sorry I'm not clear, but I was referring to what looks like local crony capitalism. Do you have any data regarding how much Wal-Mart receives in government subsidy compared to the other corporations? Consider that crony capitalism works both ways.

Wal-Mart -- The High Cost of Low Price has a factsheet:

Web Link

Fact: Wal-Mart increases Medicaid expenditures by about $900 per worker.

Fact: 19% of Wal-Mart employees lack health insurance. The cost of uncompensated care for those workers adds an estimated $10 million in California.

Fact: Wal-Mart is shifting its costs to you. Even if you don't shop there. All you have to do is live and pay taxes in California.

I am not a union member or advocate, I have never been in a union, I am however a taxpayer. I do not care for businesses that shift their costs to me.

Um the city just approved 70 plus acres to build build build, mostly low income. But we have a problem with a Walmart grocery store??? I rather have Walmart than 3,000 low income units

Actually, if Walmart cannot open the grocery store under the same operating conditions that Nob Hill operated under, Walmart will win tens of millions of dollars from the city of Pleasanton in a lawsuit they will surely file. And the courts will allow them to move in and give Walmart a giant check which comes from, yes, our tax dollars we pay that go to the City of Pleasanton.

Pleasanton will never be able to defend this lawsuit because they are wanting to open in a pre-existing grocery store location and have been waiting for a year to open this store. Walmart will sue for damages as well.

Fresh and Easy and Ranch 99 opened up along the Santa Rita corridor with no problem. Safeway in South Pleasanton opened up with a rezoning from office to retail with no problem.

Jon's web link is the most incendiary link I have ever read on these discussion boards. Jon, have you no sense of decency sir?

I do not accept the "facts" presented on your link. They are lies, all lies, paid for and financed by labor groups and Berkeley radicals that are sock puppets for the unions. I did not go to the meeting last night because, indeed sir, I am afraid of being physically accosted by the militant union check-out girls of Safeway.

Beware Pleasanton citizens of the receipts handed back to you at unionized grocers. The ink is meant to seep through the pores of your unsuspecting skin ... and then in a very short time a message becomes indelibly inscribed across your consciousness screen saying: Walmart is bad and unions are good. Well, geniuses, I've figured out the REAL facts. Unions are bad, really really bad. And Walmart is good, really really good.

Jon, I'm a taxpayer, too, and I can spot misrepresentations when I see them. The website you cited is a leftist group that stands only for causes that are espoused by such esteemed liberal and union supporting groups as moveon.org, People for the American Way, the SEIU, etc.
Check out the 'suggested links' section of the website to the hit piece on WalMart, Brave New Films: Web Link

To state that you're not an advocate, while using this site to promote the Wal Mart hitpiece, makes you a liar. What's next, a link to Michael Moore's 'documentaries'?

Great post, Steve. You, me, Anne Coulter, Rick Santorum and other smart, freedom loving people need to stand together and point out the obvious lies on Jon's inflammatory web link. And thanks for showing in vivid detail which lies you're referring to, because now we've exposed Jon as the liar he is.

I'm personally quite prepared to pay higher taxes to help Walmart's workers if it contributes to personal freedom of Walmart's owners. Why should Walmart have to pay into his/her workers' health needs when we have a socialist government that makes us taxpayers pay into it instead?

Finally, so the liars claim that Walmart contributes to 4.7 billion in wage losses per year. Well, who in their right mind thinks a check-out girl at Safeway should make more than minimum wage? Think about it, geniuses! Indeed!!!

What kind of arguments did New Leaf encounter in applying to open their new store? Did they have to jump through the same hoops that Walmart is having to do.
If they are not allowed to put in the Neighborhood Market I hope they do file a suit against this city. And I hope they win!
In Tracy they fought for a Walmart Superstore for years. They never gave up. The residents wanted it and finally they won. They are getting their new Supercenter.
That's ok Pleasanton, don't allow this grocery store. It's not that far to Tracy. I'm sure they would love to have us spend our money in their town.

I think the "unions are bad" phony is the sarcastic union spokesdame who snidely summarizes for unions at every gathering.
That there was a union steward 'checking off' the dutiful robot list, proves the intense control they employ over the union members...to track who needs more pressure applied, and 'leaned on'. Members are not allowed to have a free, independent thought, much less the right to speak in an open forum without an approved script.
The fact that there is a 67% vacancy factor at the center since having no anchor grocery, shows the lengths few council zealot extremists are willing go to to throw the neighborhood and the center in the ditch. The 67% vacancy also serves a giant flashing warning sign to anybody even thinking of doing business in Pleasanton. The city will help you go broke !!! They'll Trample your rights and make a neighborhood do without a neighborhood service. Ruthless, Heartless !! Getting in bed with union thugs, is really flipping-off the community.......over a neighborhood market !!!
Is there no shame!

There is no shame, sir! Indeed. Nor is there any sense of decency! Give us our Walmart! As a former Arkansas native, I can say with udder conviction that Walmart is what has made this country great. After all, Europeans take vacations to the United States just to shop at Walmart. I'd pay higher taxes any day of the week in order to subsidize the company and compensate for its taking a hard line against employees who think they deserve health benefits. Well, those Walmart employees may not have health benefits, but they're free!!! Unlike the unionized robots that stock shelves and bag groceries at Safeway.

In the last 7yrs. that I have lived in Pleasanton Meadows I have noticed that the "landscape" is changing and not in a positive way. There is definitely an increase in violent crimes; ie. armed robbery at Chop Sticks and Domino's. On the rare occasion when I have gone to Walmart I have noticed an increase of undesirables hanging out (loitering). As a single woman, this causing me certain for my safety. I believe that Walmart invites these type of individuals. Yet, I don't see this happening at Dublin Targets. I don't believe we need another grocery store in the area; we already have three in the surrounding areas. I would like to see a higher quality store move into that space.

Member, I don't know what 'loitering' exactly means, but as part of walkability and pedestrian friendly places and places to sit down outside, this should be encouraged. Do you consider "loitering" people simply sitting outside or eating bagels and coffee at the Safeway shopping center on Valley and Santa Rita 'undesirables' too? And how about selling those Girl Scout Cookies outside? I didn't think so. So loitering at the Safeway is fine, but it is not at the Walmart. That is a double standard.

I see people asking for handouts at the Safeway especially since the new BART station opened on the West side of Pleasanton, there are more people on the streets of Pleasanton asking for money. And there are many robberies and muggings happen at Stoneridge Mall.

But that isn't Walmart's fault.

Lies, lies lies, from the pretender on this thread calling herself
unions are bad. I've actually 'talked' with several walmart workers/supervisors. They DO get generous medical insurance...one was telling me she had a handicapped child and all the medical benifits there were getting. Stop the lies. although I would guess she or nobody else in the country get the kind of benefits you get for free...as part of the public union team.

Walmart will sue the city,

Your user name sums it all up. It would be arrogant of us to believe that this is Wal-Mart's first time 'round dealing with local jurisdictions.

For all you geniuses who are against Walmart being able to act freely like any other individual person in this country, I want to give a CALL OUT to our job creating heroes, even those like Walmart who relies so heavily on child labor in China. Have you any idea what kind of investment it takes to even begin to do an offshore start-up company? First, you need to pay off numerous subcontractors who will collect the kids and put them in factories that shelter you from blame. Then you have to arm those subcontractors who need to control their workplaces. And then you need to pay off foreign governments. Why? So that Walmart shoppers can pay higher prices for longer-transported food goods and all the legal teams Walmart needs to employ to defend itself against unfair labor practices. This is what it has come to. In order to be free in this country, one has to make enough money to pay for legal representation against all the union sock puppets who try to squeeze a dime out of you on false charges of unfair labor practices. I think only Rick Santorum has the courage to declare lawsuits against Walmart off limits to all who might seek to bring false testimony against them. BTW, Santorum defeats Obama in California by a 64-35% margin. I 'talked with' several people in the know, and they claim anyone who thinks Obama is competitive in California is lying.

P.S. Do NOT look at the fact sheet that Jon posted three hours ago. It is lies, lies, lies! Listen to steve who calls Jon the liar that he is.

A house on the corner of Newton Way & Glen Isle Avenue has "3 - NO WALMART" signs in front of their home?? I support WalMart and look forward to an anchor store in this vacant shopping center!!!

If you dont like walmart-dont shop there.
If you dont like walmart-dont work there.

Pathetic! Yet another example of inefficient government process which gets nothing done. I will be very disappointed if another dollar is spent or another hour consumed on a 4-1 majority vote.

It is time that the vocal minority is un-masked. Unions had their place during the 1940's but now no longer represent workers interests. I wonder how many union members today would prefer to have higher wages and higher quality jobs instead of paying union dues to fuel a disruptive, inefficient union management hierarchy. Clearly the impact of another large Safeway was greater than a smaller community market that people really want, yet no union stampede there.

Do we have too much government? Can our local councils decide if John Smith can replace John Brown running a business? It is beginning to look that way! All Walmart is asking to do is replace the name Nob Hill with Walmart. To do that the Council is trying to make them jump through every hoop they can dream up. Who is afraid that Walmart will do a better job of serving the residents of Pleasanton? Democracy at its worst!

Before we start jumping down each other's throats, I'd be curious to know what the residents of that area want, because they're the ones who will probably be using it the most often. You've got the Fairlands neighborhood, and then you've got the townhouses off of Santa Rita and the apartment complexes a bit further down. That's a rather diverse group demographically. Anyone know if there has been resident feedback of any sort?

Personally, I don't like Wal-mart's business practices and I wish that Trader Joe's corporate could be convinced to move the store to the Nob Hill location, but we already know that's not going to happen...

I don't live in the neighborhoods close to this location. But if this store goes in I will be shopping there. It will be a happy day that I don't have to set foot in a Luckys or Safeway.
With some of the tactics the Safeway union has used to stop this I have been very soured on them. I have vowed to never buy another product in a Safeway store.

There are two houses on my street that each have 6 'No Walmart' signs on their front lawns. After seeing those signs, and then hearing about how the unions have been marching down main street in their militant aprons and hacking internet sites, I'll never set foot into another union establishment as long as I live. Union tactics leave me very sour. They should learn how to be a good American citizen from Walmart.

If you don't like the unions, don't shop there.
If you don't like the unions, don't work there.
If you work as a union worker, just quit. It's doing the right thing and your family will understand. Walmart will hire you, and with minimum wage you'll be able to purchase health insurance for you and your family no problem. I 'talked' with some Walmart supervisors and they told me that all Walmart workers are extremely happy with their jobs, wages, and their working conditions.

Now that I know the various unions are actively protesting against the Wal-Mart, I'll be sure to shop there.

Pssst, CalPERS and CalSTRS both invest in Wal-Mart.

Thank you Stacey for this very disturbing news. I had no idea such corrupt rotten to the core union-backed institutions as CalPERS and CalSTRS were contributing to Walmart. Perhaps a letter to Walmart would set them straight, because I'm sure they are ethically very discriminating as to whose investment money they choose to take. But all told, something very disturbing is going on here. My strong hunch is CalPERS and CalSTRS may be investing in Walmart as something of a ruse -- just like the Taliban has infiltrated the Democratic Party. All the more reason to bring a Walmart into our community, as it will lure the union rats toward the cheese. (Notice how Jon's post above has not been hacked into and removed while so many Walmart-is-freedom posters have been erased systematically. No mystery there!)

I live a block from the proposed Walmart store. I want and need them to open ASAP.

I hate 99-Ranch and Fresh & Easy is over priced with poor selection and variety. Safeway is too far away to walk.

I'm w/Don - we miss Nob Hill terribly...it was great to send the kids there to pick something up on their bikes. Every neighborhood needs a market.... Most of my neighbors desperately want something there, as well.

How come some stores can open many stores they whant ,others can't.
It is because Walmart it's not a high end store ?

Groceries are groceries. There is nothing high end or low end about groceries.

This isn't a Neiman Marcus vs a Dollar Store discussion.

Workers at Safeway (unionized) and the management of Safeway and Luckys don't want a competing store to open that will compete with them. That is the only reason there is this protest.

Unionized teachers don't want charter schools to open. It is the same thing.

My personal observations at the Council meeting were that Cheryl Cook-Kalio and Matt Sullivan were being very friendly with the union people after the initial discussion at the council. I didn't recognize any local citizens being in this group, maybe they were. So there is outside Pleasanton residents influencing them. Wasn't Cheryl's picture in the paper at another pro-union candidate today? The PUD allows for a grocery store. There have been environmental reviews when this was done. This should go forward for approval. If the few council members want to start massive regulations on every business, look out - greater vacancy and fewer services for residents to come! The unions are concerned about the "mom & pop" grocery stores? Where is one in Pleasanton? The smallest we have is Cole's or 7-11.

Thanks for the unions California's schools teaches have the highest average salaries
and California's students - second-lowest test scores in the country. According to 2011 survey, California ranked as the worst state in which to do business; but unions oppose right-to-work business to be open. California's young working families moving out of state, but unions want to unionize even babysitters. Isn't it a time to stop these mobs from destroying our state? In Pleasanton it could be done with very small steps, for instance by boycotting Safeway.

Web Link

Web Link

Web Link

I have seen the Pleasanton residents get fired up for good causes, but this time around they are being ridicules and mostly pushed by unionized businesses. Why would you not want Walmart to open this grocery store? Lets see now, its an abandoned building that is getting to be an eye sore for the neighborhood, attracting no other businesses to the area and brining in no revenue to the city. It would bring in competitive prices for the other local chain stores, provide employment to what was the estimate, 80 people I believe. It would provide close food shopping to the residents nearby, allowing them to walk there bringing a green element to the reason to open the new store. Yes Walmart is not known to be the best place to work, but is a place to work for those that don't have the experience, education and ability to work elsewhere allowing them to get the experience and knowledge to go on to other better paying jobs. So come on P-town residents stop trying to prevent these people from being employed, brining in lower prices for food and providing a local place to shop on that side of town.

You can bet if it was Trader Joe's or Whole Foods that was wanting to go into the Nob Hill space this city council would have approved it in a heartbeat....Oh you want to move Trader Joes...ok, when would you like to open and you have our ok to do whatever remodeling you want.
What problems did Safeway have building their huge new monstrosity of a store and look how quick that land was rezoned to accommodate them.
And what about the New Leaf store going in? What opposition did they get? NONE. But the mere mention of Walmart and everyone is in a tizzy.
This whole issue is a crock! As is the present city council.

Unions get out of the way, we need jobs and the neighborhood needs a grocery store.

OK, so I understand competition is good and the site is zoned for a grocery store but you must understand that Walmart brings other variables into play..Namely, people camp out in their parking lots at nite. This is an issue that needs to be resolved up front

There are 12 members of this household that plan to shop at the new Walmart every day. Even if we don't need any grocery goods, we'll be supporting the store anyway because Walmart = Freedom. We especially like the variety of foods they offer, and the really really low prices they have on beer. Union check-out girls and union teachers are acting like a militant mob and have been trying to unionize our babysitter. If you want to contribute to a great cause, send money to the Walmart corporation to help them wrestle off the stranglehold put on all of us by the union thugs. Walmart needs our community support.

yes, my neighborhood needs a local grocery store within walking distance - but not anymore of the crappy pre-packaged imported preserved till god knows when type of food that Walmart peddles. I can get big brand crap at all the safeways in town! would like some fresh, local, and some organic food! not to mention access to the variety that is out there (hmm.. wholefoods???) and overnite campers? yeah, let the kids walk there alone ?? - no thanks! & yes the crime has gone up in my neighborhood & hometown feeling is slowly giving away to "watch your back" feeling!!!

[Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

Good grief! People camp overnight? Walmart allows Rv travelers to stay the night at their major stores. This will be solely a grocery, the city would surely monitor any activity such as this in a relatively small car park. As to the small percentage of Walmart employees that are not covered by medical insurance? If factual, could simply be explained by pointing out the other fact that a significant percentage of their employees are part time. As is the case with many employers, such benefits are not offered to part time employees. Claims of loitering are a little vapid as well. simply because Walmart is selling groceries are we to believe that the evil underclass will invade our pure crime free city? Walmart is no better or worse than any other business. Let them open, the store will thrive, or fail based upon pricing, product, and service. Sort of what free enterprise stands for.

@"Walmart recently announced that all new part-time employees who work less than 24 hours per week would be ineligible for health care coverage. Part-time employees who work enough hours to qualify will be required to wait at least a year before being able to join the plan. At the same time, employees currently covered were informed that their premiums will rise by as much as 60 percent. Given that many Walmart employees live in poverty due to low wages paid by the company, the cuts in health care are simply devastating."

@"Walmart, citing its First Amendment privileges, consistently declines to specify how many of its 1.4 million workers are part-time."

Yawn. More union slime propaganda. Why would anyone in Pleasanton care about health coverage for Walmart workers? (It's not exactly like altruism is what got us here! neeyuk-neeyuk-neeyuk!)

You're right Exployer, Cook-Kalio's photo was front page of a section with a Dem planning to become a new Dem candidate The fellow had raised $1.2 million in 3 months.
Cook-Kalio is always busy with much time spent on union activities and DEM party politics. I've always felt it so inappropriate to have a PUBLIC union employee (teacher) on city council. At the least, the ONLY DECENT way to to deal with public issues with needed integrity, would be for any UNION member/activist to excuse themselves on all conflict of interest issues. There is no integrity with that conflicting overlap !!!

People control, as in corporate control, because corporations are people too my friend.

Union control? Now that's another matter. That's socialism where people are turned into a herd of fat cats. We're not going to get anywhere in this God forsaken country until we have an independent investigation of how the Taliban have infiltrated the Democratic Party. And now Cook-Kalio is TALKING with them! Where will it all end?

Start donating now to the Walmart Lawsuit Defense Fund. I expect to see large donations to it from the Alameda Labor Council so they can protect working families from Walmart.

Its sad that we are fighting over a grocery store...


Either way Pleasanton loses, we get a Walmart or we don't get one, Walmart sues us.....

I thought Cook-Kallio was the champion of property rights. Didn't she say property owners had the right to do with whatever they wanted to with their property? Oh, I guess what she really meant is that they can as long as they bring in another union business.

So if there were two auto manufacturing factories in town, one shut down and another non-union auto manufacturing company wanted to come in and re-open the same factory, she'd oppose it? Of course.

What a hypocrite.

I'm not a lawyer, but I have a friend who has an unnamed cousin who has done extensive paralegal work in another community, and he says that Walmart has already made plans to sue the city. Thank the unions for that! And the corrupt politicians too! And the union sympathizers! Hey geniuses, you're all a bunch of sock puppets.

It's not bad enough that PUBLIC unions are breaking every city, county and state with their greedy, excessive benefits packages, that we are force to pay, Or that the unions elect all our officials who run our lives, from council, legislature, governor, etc, thru dues money, forceful intimidation, tv lies, etc. etc. etc. Now thru control of our officials are going to tell us WHERE we can do our GROCERY shopping ! ! ! Are we going to ALLOW that control of our lives ? ? ? I hope we defend our rights to our own lives in our communities. The unions are bringing in people from outside the tri-valley to control our lives ! That is criminal.
And, I'm really sick of the liars who talk about 'another' WalMart. There will still be one WalMart and a neighborhood grocery MARKET ! !

I've always felt it was wrong to have a PUBLIC union member and political activist on the city council. If nothing else, at least on issues involving union participant and activism. it would be appropriate to excuse ones self from that agenda issue, to avoid the chants about bias, lack of integrity, conflict-of-interest. etc,
Activist member should be excused during the subject discussion and vote to avoid the taint and smell.

Do they hire white females that live in P-twn? I am in need of a job and this looks promising.

In response to Birdland's comment regarding loitering;

Definition of loitering - to remain in an area for no obvious reason. This doesn't mean enjoying a cup of coffee or selling Girl Scouts cookies. (No, double standard - as you suggest.)

Just because there are more crimes committed at the mall doesn't make it ok to accept it or encourage it through out P-town. As I mentioned in my previous comment there has already been two armed robberies in the Plaza where WalMart plans to move in. Also, if you want to use comparisons, we could say there are more crimes committed in Oakland but it doesn't mean I want to live there. Been there done that!

Sorry to say but it seems Walmart tends to attract more crime. Remember the shooting at the Walmart in Castro Valley over the holidays? How about today's news about the attempted kidnapping at another Bay Area Walmart? hmmmmm....

The Nob Hill Plaza as you call it already has 'no loitering' signs posted all over the place around the parking lot throughout. Maybe the union can travel down to take a look at the signs already there.

Sounds like the union is resorting to the Fear approach. Regarding the robberies, there have been a number of bank robberies in town. Does that mean there is a correlation between banks and particular bank companies and crime too?

Also the supposed robbery in the restaurant in the Nob Hill Plaza happened while there was a major vacancy in the shopping center. Many of the tenants have left because there is no anchor store there. Would the robbers have actually robbed the place if the shopping center was 100% leased with shoppers going in and out, with many potential witnesses milling about? Probably not. So actually more vacancies in commercial properties contribute to higher crime. Someone is more likely to rob someplace where there is no one there to see the crime.

Can you list the number of grocery store and grocery store parking lot crimes that have happened in Northern California? I did not realize that grocery stores really were a magnet for high crime.

Also, how about listing those crimes that have happened in the Walmart Parking lot on Owens and Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton, the date, and what happened in the last 10 years?

I've always thought it wrong to have a council member voting on matters of tax revenues when the council member is a taxpayer him or herself. Too much conflict of interest. But then I realized that there is no conflict of interest unless unions are involved.

I heard the Safeway checkout girls and bag boys have called in some of their strong arm help from Chicago, probably some of Obama's boys. The sock puppet thugs are going to try to control where we do our shopping. My cousin tells me those campers who camp in the parking lot are union sleezeballs who actually intend to put up a gauntlet in the parking lot to force the elderly to limp through if they want to shop at Walmart. We can't even call in the police because they're union-corrupted too. I tell you I fear for this country.

I did find one reported incident of a Walmart in Pleasanton crime from January 26, 2001. If there are others, member from Pleasanton Meadows, please post all the details. Here is the weblink of what happened 11 years ago.

Web Link

It appears most Walmart hatred comments result from the notion, all products sold in Walmart aren't made in the US. Perhaps, this is true, perhaps not, depends on what you want to buy. Grocery products certainly arent all made in foreign contries, a trip to the current Walmart will confirm this. Competition is what grocery sales is all about, and checking prices at our local markets confirms Walmart is not the lowest. MORE COMPETITION is better for ALL consumers

My neighbors tell me that those other stores that are undercutting Walmart's prices often leave their customers barfing in the parking lot. That might be because of union tampering with the food products, I don't know.

What does it matter to anyone if someone chooses to work in a non union store? How could it possibly affect you?

Walmart comes in and pays its majority part-time workers minimum wages with no benefits. The local economy suffers a little bit, but that's free market capitalism. Look at Arkansas, and who wouldn't want to live there? How could any of this possibly affect me? All I care about is my grocery prices.

Some of you just don't understand how bad, how really really bad unions are. Those ten buck an hour overpaid checkout girls and bag boys will stop at nothing to support their families. It's downright UnAmerican.

It's a grocery store replacing a grocery store. It's within walking distance of the neighborhood.

Stacey if only it were that easy. Should be but our great city council have made it so much more.
I want to know what New Leaf had to do to be able to get their store?
Anyone know ??

I just returned from Florida and they have these stores all over the place and I went in and bought some groceries. Very clean, staff was friendly and helpful, and the prices were outstanding. I think those above writing that our council members on the take may be correct.

I haven't read through the entire thread, but do know this question was asked earlier, but not sure if it was answered. Will this Walmart approve overnight camping as in the other parking lot? I believe the residents of nearby neighborhood have a right to this answer prior to the store opening. Fair question. If anyone has the answer, can you please post. Thank you.

kate,

The ones I saw in Florida did not have RV's in the lot and as a matter of fact they parking is not set up for that type of thing. I think this will be very good for this town and we stand to gain more tax revenue. I know friends who live over there who go to Safeway in Dublin because it is closer and more convenient than going to Safeway in Pleasanton and also there is a bank there as well.

Actually Kate, Jeffrey didn't see any RV's in the lot..."as a matter of fact they parking is not set up for that type of thing." A public process is the right decision to air all concerns.

Wal-mart wants to open a supermarket where there is pre-existing zoning approval for a supermarket.

The parking lot for the supermarket is part of a series of approvals that were done in the 1980s. Camping was not a conditional or permitted use of these approvals that were approved in the 1980s and there is no residential/camping use in any of those documents that are on the city's website.

What other uses... outside of a grocery store, would Wal-Mart be able to obtain due to "All other listed uses permitted"? A public process is the right approach.

Thank you for answer to the RV/camping question.

In my extensive travels through Arkansas, Kentuck, West Virginny and Mississipp, I've probably seen thousands of Walmarts. I've never seen a single camper in any of them. What I have seen on countless occasions is secret agent union members from other stores that set up gauntlets in the parking lots, just daring little old ladies to walk through on their way to buy .29-cent jars of Skippy peanut butter. Yes, people have complained and asked Walmart to employ guards in the parking lots to chase off the union strongarm thugs. But Walmart has testified on numerous occasions that whenever they've done that, Obama has sent Eric Holder's gman-thugs to support the union gauntlets. So Walmart no longer bothers to place security out in their parking lots. Another example of state tyranny wedded with union violence -- crony socialism.

It's a grocery store replacing a grocery store. No one cares about your extensive travels.

Pete,

There already was a public process that resulted in the original PUD and permitted uses. There were no proposed changes in the Walmart Neighborhood Market application that would trigger design review. Now if Walmart were to operate in a manner inconsistent with their application and the original PUD, the public has more leverage.

"No one cares about your extensive travels."

Stacey is sounding more and more like a stay-at-home union sock puppet who supports crony socialism. I don't think we should be placing any undue restrictions upon Walmart just because the unions say we should. In fact, we shouldn't place any restrictions upon Walmart at all. Walmart = freedom. (Its employee food stamps will help generate local tax revenues too!) And unions are bad. Really really bad.

Unions are bad,

Why did it take you more than 24 hours to come up with a response that doesn't even address the fact that a grocery store wants to replace one that closed down? Did your boss get back to you a bit too slowly on how you should respond?

The administrative decision can be appealed, but the Council can't really overturn the decision on appeal unless someone can bring forward a legitimate reason for why the administrative decision was wrong. Such a reason would be for things like how the application to operate does not in fact conform to the original PUD. I have yet to see Tank or Unions offer any such reason. Until then, this is a grocery store replacing a grocery store that was previously approved through a very public process.

I have a life, unlike some whose identity is so bound up with the PW site that they must sleep with an open laptop screen on the pillow next to them at night. If only your laptop made you coffee and served you a couple of aspirin for your bloodshot eyes in the morning!

I've got another fact for you. Safeway is unionized. And unions are bad. Really really bad. And yes, there's that highly significant fact that Walmart wants to replace a store that closed down. THAT really requires a comment. And so here it is: The immoral sock puppet unions are putting out misinformation that Walmarts have adopted this strategy (30 times they've done this in So-Cal) because it's the only way they can slide into communities without having to satisfy community concerns re. traffic congestion, demographics, and pollution. The lies those unions tell! Viva food stamps forever!

It's obvious that you are running a disinformation campaign that you personally benefit from. It's a grocery store replacing a grocery store. Clearly you care nothing at all about the impact of the pre-approved land use to the neighborhood, which bears both the burden of that impact by virtue of location and receives the benefit of having a grocery store within walking distances. If you have personal issues against groups of people acting in their own self-interest, perhaps that's a discussion for you to have with your union leadership next time the contract is up for negotiation.

The slave plantation was approved by the southern states. It enabled the south to profit from cotton sales. And plantation owners were acting within their own self interest. (And as Kathleen Reugsegger so eloquently argues, the slaves had the choice to either work for their masters or be whipped -- it was their free choice.) If some people had a problem with plantation owners acting in their own self interest, well that's a discussion they should've had amongst themselves and their union-influenced cronies.

Thus far, the union-paid shils on this site have been bested by Kathleen Reugsegger and 24-7 Stacey.

KR: Walmart workers can choose to work or not work. This constitutes the penultimate expression of American freedom.

Stacey: First there was a grocery, now there isn't a grocery, soon there shall be a grocery. Food stamps? Who cares? Union workers would be receiving food stamps too if they weren't so corrupt and dependent on their unions!

The rightwing moralists in Pleasanton have never had too more rational and constructive defenders. I am humbled in their presence.

Unions,

How much are you being paid to try to divert the conversation away from whether or not the application conforms to the original PUD and how does the local neighborhood benefit from whatever it is that you're selling?

No one can ever "best" anyone in a conversation in which they actively chose to avoid. Perhaps when Unions/Tank offers up a legitimate reason for why the zoning administrator's administrative decision was wrong and that the application does not, in fact, conform to the existing PUD, will I feel "bested".

The South shall rise again! For it has the reasoning power of Stace and Kathleen behind it. This is a legal-administrative decision. No room for moral concerns here! Because I say so! Besides, my morality starts and stops with me. Self interest is freedom. Everything else is dictated by the crony socialist unions.

Further, wage slavery wouldn't be wage slavery if it weren't for the corrupt unions. Wage slavery is only the appearance of wage slavery. Stacey, and the Rug woman and I have no problem with workers being paid a wage that ensures their eligibility for food stamps. Isn't that American freedom? Viva Walmart!

Tank (who is Ubrrb), You kind of blew off the notion that both PERS and STRS have invested in WalMart (and likely many, many pension groups) and a long list of non-union shops. Happy to make your pension off these people who can't seem to think for themselves or are apparently forced into taking these jobs or the customers who have no other choices but to shop there.

If the customers or the employees or the unions have an issue with WalMart: (1) don't shop there; (2) don't work there and/or (3) go in an organize the employees (no excuses--it can be done if everyone wants the representation). Otherwise, taking some false moral high ground to keep the store out of any area despite the wishes of potential customers and employees is just baloney--trying to act on behalf of people who don't want you to act on their behalf.

Unions,

I agree with you that slavery in the South was highly immoral, but what does that have to do with a grocery store moving into one that closed? How does it advance the discussion on appealing administrative decisions in any way?

I also think slavery in the South was highly immoral, though I agree with Kathleen Rugsegger that slaves had the freedom to work or not work, depending on whether they wanted to be whipped or not. But I support Walmart's efforts in 2012 to hire heads of households at reduced hours and minimum wage and no benefits so that they can supplement their incomes with food stamps. This is, after all, as KR rightly notes, the essence of American freedom. And it has absolutely nothing to do with Walmart putting another store in Pleasanton. Because, in the final analysis, no one, and especially me, cares or should care about Walmart workers, or even the way Walmart's presence leads to higher food prices and lower wages and reduced competition in the community. Because, like Stace and KR, I only care about myself. And the administrative decision.

Like the other thread, this conversation too has run it's course. Unions/Tank has offered nothing in the way of advancing the discussion on how to appeal administrative decisions and providing legitimate reasons that the Council could use to overturn the decision.

Mittens, The only one using slavery and employment at WalMart as if it's a reasonable comparison is you. To listen to you, these employees need your help and wise guidance, so follow your convictions and actually do something to help those people out of the dark aisles at WalMart. Otherwise it's all hammer and no nail.

Mittens, Tank, Unions are bad bad bad and the cronies have probably been hired to monitor the internet and send distracting messages.

They are all probably employees of Saint Consulting or have been trained by them and are funded by Safeway Foods, i.e.,

Web Link

Just ignore them and don't respond to them, as if they don't exist. Because they don't exist. They are just out-of-town corporate hired guns probably being paid by Safeway Foods and just out there to muddy the message, repeat back everything that is said, and ridicule it.

Their aim is so that Safeway Foods retains market share.

And besides that, Walmart is going to sue the city if we don't knuckle under to its demands. Down with the union thugs. Ignore them because the union sock puppet check-out girls and bag boys at Safeway are trying to extort money from all of us. Support Walmart, because if you don't they'll sue us for every dime we have. Walmart is all about freedom. They're free to hire lawyers. They're free to sue us all. Walmart is a giant job creating hero. Walmart is ethical. Walmart will sue the city.

Actually, if the city denies the approval of the grocery store (which they won't), Walmart will sue the city.

If the city approves the grocery store, Our Pleasanton or whatever union or Safeway based organization or whativer they will be called by that time will sue the city. Are you going to hire Keith Wagner?

There's a huge difference between Southern plantation slave labor and Walmart's wage labor. Years. Today is 2012. Back then was back then.

I was talking to a Walmartian employee yesterday. He told me that he had a free choice. He didn't have to work there if he hadn't chosen to. He could stand at a congested intersection and clean windshields instead, or work saturday mornings at his church parking lot car washes. Besides, working at Walmart, he qualifies for government assisted food stamps.

Which all goes to show you that we should ignore the union sock puppet Safeway checkout girl and bagboy rantings. They are corrupt and violent. And besides, if we listen to them, "Walmart will sue the city." I'm going to xerox this and send to city council.

Mittens, Give some proof that everyone or even the majority of people working at WalMart are there because they had no choice. I suppose some may not have a skill set that allows them to work elsewhere, but as has already been noted, there are many reasons for someone to work at WalMart.

All sizzle and no steak, Tank. You talk in circles and offer no substantive solutions and do even less to bring about the change only you feel is necessary.

What other proof does one need but to show people homeless, living underneath interstate overpasses because, naturally, they lack the skill sets to make a decent living for themselves and their family with Walmart wage and food stamps. That's what happens when people have the freedom to work or not work. Sheeesh!

I talked to another Walmartian employee this morning. She told me of the many reasons she's working at Walmart it's the food stamp eligibility that she finds most attractive. Were she to work for Safeway or any of the other union-corrupted extortionist grocers, she wouldn't be eligible for the food stamps.

Don't get me wrong. I love supplementing Walmart's employees with my tax money. I consider it the price of freedom. What really annoys me is the lefties on these discussion boards who politicize everything. If they want to do loony leftist activist work, they should go into Walmart and agitate. Otherwise, it's no steak and all sizzle. Leave the truly moral political activity to Katlyn Ruegsugger, Stacey, Steve, and the rest of us who hang out on these threads. My vote goes to Rugsegger for whatever political office she's running for. Vote Freedom, Vote Walmart! Besides, if you don't, Walmart will sue the city.

Uabrrb et al, Somewhere in all your "reasoning" is the implication that WalMart sends out troops who offer the person washing windshields or cars, heaven forbid, a steady paying job at a wage you find unacceptable. First reality is WalMart doesn't force anyone into a job. Second reality, the prospect of signing up 1.4 million Americans for union dues must be irresistible. Web Link

"In 2011, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who
were members of a union--was 11.8 percent, essentially unchanged from 11.9
percent in 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number
of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.8 million, also showed
little movement over the year. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union
data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent and there were
17.7 million union workers."

Care to enlighten us about two-tiered wage/benefit systems where the longest standing members cannibalize their newest members clearly protecting their own interests over the less empowered. And before you start on any corporation, this is also happening in the public sector, and for many years, and not so long ago in Pleasanton where a block of money for raises was spread liberally across the most senior end of salary schedule and peppered with promises at the bottom.

I think all this Union/Non-Union arguing is really irrelevant to me. I'll shop where there is what I want, be it Union or not. To me, a Walmart store will be just more of the same. All packaging, lack of freshness, lots of additives. I can find those things at Safeway, Lucky, Smart and Final, etc. I'm glad we have a Farmer's Market and a 99 Ranch, to have some diversion from the Kra(p)fts of life.

but I guess it'll serve the neighborhood, so people won't have to drive to get their Velveeta and Hamburger Helpers.

I'm with you Mort--I don't look for a store and then determine where to shop by whether it is unionized or not. Product/price/service.

What Uabrrb/Tank can't seem to articulate, let alone provide links to, is the cost of WalMart policies to taxpayers: Web Link Another study estimated the US cost is $900ish per employee. However, I have two questions: are all 1.4 million employees the major breadwinners/only employed person in the family (i'm guessing they are not), and what did these people cost us when they weren't employed (Uabrrb/Tank implies they were washing windshields at stop lights)? It seems WalMart may be saving taxpayers money--not much perhaps, but something. Not to imply they are benevolent.

Kathleen,

Why continue to give focus to the disinformation campaign by responding with links about union membership? Unions/Tank's only goal is to create noise. It's a propaganda technique. The conversation is not advanced by answering to any of the noise. The link is wholly irrelevant to the fact that it's a grocery store replacing one that closed. It's an application following a process according to the rule of law. Does the application conform to the existing Conditions of Approval or not? Was the zoning administrator's decision correct?

Walmart will sue,

Anonymous shills don't disappear when they are ignored. Instead they overrun the site, killing off any legitimate discussion and allowing them free reign to utilize the propaganda technique of repetition. The way to respond is in kind: it's a grocery store replacing a grocery store.

[Post removed due to excessive and/or repetitive post by same poster]

Stacey, just providing information that membership in unions is dropping so getting 1.4 million newbies from WalMart must be quite the temptation to those who'd love to get them "representation". And that while unions often profess to protect workers, sometimes they don't actually do that or some do it selectively.

Stacey and Kathleen, you are correct. Actually, the UFCW, the Big Labor union that is trying to prevent the Neighborhood Market from coming to Pleasanton, has attempted to covertly organize Walmart workers this year. The New York Times uncovered this secret operation recently.

UFCW set up a website called OurWalmart.org (somewhat similar to OurPleasanton.org, isn't) to attempt to unionize Walmart. However, what they did not disclose in the website was the affiliation with UFCW.

However, this secret did not last long. The domain of the registration of OurWalmart.org was actually the address the posh and swanky headquarters of the UFCW on K Street in Washington DC.

Nothing but bluster folks. The big posh and swanky outfit UFCW has attempted to organize Walmart workers in the past. And when the genius workers voted to unionize? Well, Walmart just shuts the store down! The Walton heirs are worth 80-90 Billion, and they're worth every penny. It takes guts to shut down a store after it's sock puppet, gutless workers vote to unionize. And what are the elected fatcat leaders of UFCW making? I'm sure it's waaaaaay more than 80-90 Billion. What a bunch of blood suckers. Don't they understand that some people are born to do stoop labor for minimum wage and food stamps, while others are born to make billions on the backs of the working poor and laugh at the people who attempt to rationalize the disparity? Have they no sense of justice, I ask you, sir!

Hrm, yes. And how exactly does that all help with proving that the zoning administrator's decision was wrong and that a public review needs to occur for the application for a grocery store that replaces one that closed?

For someone who keeps telling people not to post here, you sure do a lot of it yerself, Stacey. That's okay, without you, many of us would have nothing to say. Say? Just how's that special restricted site you developed for you and yourself workin' for ya?

So, the zoning administrator's decision was correct then? The application conforms to the existing Conditions of Approval and soon we'll have a grocery store replacing one that closed.

Stacey, you say in an earlier post..."It is not within the City's legal domain to make the choice for Pleasanton residents on where to shop." That's true! That is why due process is a requirement within our Community to maintain a sense of legislative intent... "public health, safety and welfare." are that important.

Pete,

Yes, I wrote that in an earlier post. In context, it compares residents making shopping choices versus using the power of government to decide where residents shop. In this case, a faction wishes to use the power of government to prevent a WalMart Neighborhood Market from opening where Nob Hill used to be simply because the company is WalMart. Do you think there would be such an outcry if it were a different company wanting to replace Nob Hill?

But more to your point, which part of the process is not being followed? The application seems to be moving along in the process exactly as described by law. If it didn't, that's an opportunity to get sued.

Government usually steps in when there is a monopoly to break it up such as when AT&T was broken up several decades ago.

Government oversteps its big brother bounds when it is used by corporations to restrict other competitors from entering the market or locating within a vacant existing grocery store building.

Due process did occur years ago to zone that building as a grocery store. Now Safeway and the unions want that zoning of the existing vacant store taken away so that the near monopoly Safeway has in Pleasanton will be preserved.

What happened to our belief in the free enterprise system?

@"What happened to our belief in the free enterprise system?"

It went out the window the first time a communist union was formed. This goes all the way back to the communist guild system in Europe when there were still dinosaurs roaming the mountains over there. Me and my family have always been in support of free enterprise and make sure to rent all our cars from Enterprise.

I respectfully agree to disagree Stacey... citizens are not a faction. Enjoy your day... maybe too many chocolates will change my mind today. Take care.

Pete,

I agree with you that citizens as a whole are not a faction. Citizens do form factions though. Citizen factions are the root of political parties. Locally they manifest as organized groups surrounding particular issues, like the group that was against Oak Grove. What's your idea of a faction?

It doesn't matter whether Whole Foods (they were the store that Occupy Oakland demonstrators vandalized in Oakland and broke the windows of) or Walmart or Fresh and Easy or Trader Joes would try to lease the now vacant Nob Hill store. To the local union UFCW 5, they are all enemies because they are non-union. The UFCW would try to stop all non-union stores from moving in. They don't care about the community as a whole and would rather have vacant stores and urban blight rather than non-union stores.

In this newsletter from UFCS 5 it states that non-union 'enemies' will be moving into vacant store fronts that used to be Circuit Cities or Mervyns and the union must stop them.

Web Link

Read all about it!

Actually Stacey, I was thinking about the Oak Grove prop. through out these posts. Listening to people argue for property rights etc. I have been wondering if these were the same people who were in favor of supporting the Lins property rights or not just because of where they were from, same as some are against the store just because it's a Walmart.

Stacey, you ask "What's your idea of a faction?" "like the group that was against Oak Grove." Measure "D" lost... because of its communicators, plain and simple. That is constructive criticism. There is more to Pleasanton, than downtown farmers market and the PW.
So you're saying,"It's a grocery store replacing a grocery store." Isn't that like saying, it's a volkswagon replacing a mercedes?...or a timex replacing a rolex...a car is a car, a watch is a watch?
Our Community is competitive... always has been. A grocery store... is just a grocery store. A "Voice," a neighborhood lost... is lost forever! I Love Pleasanton. My way of thinking is not yours... would never expect it to be. We agree to disagree...

I agree with Stacey. A grocery store (next to a neighborhood) selling various food products of brands like General Mills, General Foods, Pillsbury, Bounty Paper Towels, Ritz Crackers, Coca-Cola products, fruits, vegetables, and meat with a few brand differences, etc. is replacing a currently vacant storefront that used to be a grocery store (next to a neighborhood) that used to sell brands like General Mills, General Foods, Pillsbury, Bounty Paper Towels, Ritz Crackers, Coca-Cola products, fruits, vegetables, meat, etc. with a few brand differences.

Pete,

What is your idea of faction and which part of the process is not being followed? I don't expect you to agree with me (i.e., we can agree we have differing ideas of faction or where the process is breaking down), yet I see a missed opportunity to consider another side when a voice is lost in abstruseness. Hope it's not just for the sake of disagreeing.

When the zoning administrator, following the rule of law, receives the application, that person cannot simply consider whether a Volkswagon is replacing a Mercedes and pick one or the other based on brand name. They can only consider whether the application conforms to the original PUD and its Conditions of Approval. If the answer were no, then it could be a grocery store with different operating hours replacing a grocery store with approved hours and our law gives us more discretion. If the answer is yes, then indeed it's a grocery store replacing a grocery store and the decision is non-discretionary. Due process cannot exist without a respect for the rule of law.

Now the process moves on. There is a chance to appeal the zoning administrator's decision. What will the reason for the appeal be? Will the reason be legitimate within the scope of the law?

The headline could read, Corporate Marketing Campaigns...begin in Pleasanton Ca. "Due process cannot exist without a respect for the rule of law." To me, this is clearly not... about unions,groceries or even property rights.
Wal-Mart vs Zoning Adminstrator... no legislative intent required because its clearly a grocery store replacing another grocery store.
I'm a faction within my own mind. A misunderstood rich kid(past) whose own passions were not subject to compromise. Does that help you? Going fishing... eating fresh tonight.
What am I doing? Closest friends ask me... are you able to articulate your concerns with the Community? What's important in your life today? You have done the best you can.Pleasanton will survive. Make sure you catch enough fish for us. Such is life.
Taking a one month leave of even reading PW. Should help, take care.

Starting my own paper would be fun... lol but that takes money...oh well

I am very miffed at "Unions are bad, rally really bad" for making fun of so many posters here. People put their identities on the line and blurt out how much they hate illegals or unions or union teachers or noncitizens presidents, and he or she shouldn't be allowed to mock them. Mockery is no substitute for hatred based upon platitudes.

Stacey, you make a good point about grocery stores being grocery stores. But I think you must be a very dull person.

Do you want to be a covert 'grassroots'/astroturf organizer? Then step...step right up to The Saint University at Web Link which teaches the art and science of Land Use Politics.

In the Curriculum Corner, you've got to love that Course Guide at Web Linkthe-curriculum/course-guide. These courses look delightful (I'm particularly partial to SU 106):

SU 106. Defense Tactics
This course analyzes strategies on how to get a development project rejected by attacking it at every possible level, including building or using existing groups, identifying key leaders in the community through the media, neighbors and local resources while maintaining strict client confidentiality. Techniques include political analysis, community outreach, using anti-sprawl organizations, and identifying potential opponents.

SU 104. Unions
Examination of how unions can be involved in creating strategic alliances in support of or opposition to development projects. Foundation topics include knowledge of existing unions, types of support offered by unions, assessing where union support is helpful and where it is potentially harmful, and how to establish a beneficial relationship with union leaders.

SU 117. Coalition Building Techniques
Examines the practices of identifying local leaders, assessing the community engagement level, and maintaining relationships with local coalitions. This course also provides hands-on experience applying persuasion methods and identifying the best approaches to engaging the public.

Confusing...isn't it? Wal-Mart is about deaf ears. The appeal process, if applied, will provide a balance... no Wal-Mart w/o public process is the right move.

As Stacey said, it is a grocery store replacing a grocery store. That's all.

Was there a city process for Lucky's to have to have a public process when it replaced Albertson's? NOPE. There was no public process. That is because it was a grocery store replacing a grocery store.

Was there a city process for CVS to have a public process when it replaced Longs? NOPE. That is because it was a drug store replacing a drug store.

Was there a city process for Domus to have a public process when it moved back into the building that had been vacant for several years? NOPE.

Was there a city process for each restaurant in town that has changed owners and names and tenants to have a public process? NOPE.

If a tenant wants to move into an already built but vacant commercial building, not change the building, and just be in the same business as the prior tenant, there is no public process because that is the law. You can't discriminate against someone who gets to move into someone's building that had the same use before.

When a developer wants to build a brand new subdivision or new commercial building, there usually is a public process.

But when the families that were the original owners of houses in the subdivision move, there isn't a public process to decide what particular families get to move into the vacant houses.

BTW: Walmart is about selling products at reasonable prices.

Walmart will sue, thanks for the link. It makes my skin crawl when they talk like they are the only 'working people'. When, as I see it they are the ones with goodies, special deals and protections that most of us do not. But, we do our jobs, and manage to live reasonably well. ...but apparently we aren't 'working'
.

I'm the salt of the earth. All the shelf stockers at Walmart are simply posers. I've got one word for them: D-E-N-T-I-S-T. Unions make my skin crawl. They don't produce. All they do is talk about "workers". If you're not producing, get out of the way. If you can't support your kids on minimum wage, don't have them. Since the pharoahs there has always been minimum wage employment, and there always will be. It's life.

Walmart and Costco are the go-to retailers for budget-conscious Americans. Both sell food products.

The UFCW has a social engineering perspective and market share perspective that is motivated by the perpetuity of unions. UFCW wants to try to unionize both of them so that their prices will be as high as Safeway. At the same time, they want to prevent both stores from opening any stores from locating anywhere in the U.S.

UFCW is a social engineer, just like Owebama Care. You either produce or you don't. Safeway food prices are lower than Walmart's but that's only because the union is trying to trick customers into spending their money at Safeway. The union is a trickster. They trick union members into joining the union where the members get 12-15 bucks an hour with 40 hour weeks and fair benefits, instead of 8 bucks an hour with 30 hour weeks and no benefits. But here's the rub. The Safeway union workers have to give back over 50% to the union fatcats and promise always to re-elect them. So union workers make considerably less than Walmart workers, and they're forced to re-elect the fatcats who brainwash them. That's why Safeway's food prices are lower than Walmarts. It's all a big ruse. And besides, they're both just grocery stores, except one is union and evil, and you know which one that is. Unions try to trick everyone into perpetuity.

Once upon a time, in many cities, journalists and editors of newspapers were paid less than the unionized press operators and unionized truck drivers that delivered the newspapers. Why should union drivers and press operators get paid more than the journalists?

Wages should be commensurate to what skills are required to do a job. Why should someone doing advanced programming and testing to develop highly complex automated software get paid the same amount of someone with a job with skills that simply require moving food items over a red laser light reader?

Also, if Safeway is moving toward just selling pre-packaged meat and displaying pre-packaged meat products for sale, why should consumers have to pay for three or four highly paid union workers $26 dollars an hour each to just stand behind the counter?

(P.S. Safeway store workers are required to join the union. They aren't offered the option to join. They are forced to.)

Like 'Walmart will sue the city' so eloquently states, 'Walmart will sue the city'. So let's give Walmart what it deserves ... because otherwise Walmart will sue the city. What's not to like about that?

Unions are bad. Workers never wanted them in the first place. But Rosa Luxumberg and the Trotskyists came in, bashed heads, and forced workers to accept higher wages, 8-hour days, a right to file grievances, and to have collective bargaining rights.

Workers always try to escape being trapped in a union, which is why the unions hire companies like Saint to make sure they stay in. Any stories you've heard about union busting is a lie. Only workers have ever busted their own union, because unions are bad things and they know it.

A fair wage, just benefits, collective bargaining rights -- these should only be judged in terms of whether they raise the price of a product. Owners don't raise the prices, unions do. Owners don't decide to raise prices instead of taking a cut themselves, unions do. This is economics 101 folks.

And what about those workers? Who cares? I only care about the higher price I'm paying because of wage "fairness," What's fair has nothing to do with anything when you only care about yourself as a consumer. Care about yourself, like I do, and if you ever have a chance to bust up a union, do it for the little guys who, you know in their heart of hearts, would rather be making minimum wage than some artificial wage imposed upon them by the union tyrants. History shows that workers hate unions. Because unions are really really bad.

Walmart will sue the city because it has a permitted right to operate there because the land use of the area is designated to be a supermarket, and the city knows it doesn't have a leg to stand on in any way shape or form in any court of law. It is a grocery store replacing a grocery store, and the location has been zoned for a grocery store for 30 odd years.

Land use permits run with the land. They don't run with the owner of the land. Any judge knows that. Any side can argue about unions and collective bargaining in the court room for a minute or so until the judge stops them and says that is off topic.

Safeway opened up their big and fancy store down in South Pleasanton instead of choosing to open up in the empty Nob Hill. Their loss. Too bad.