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An overflow crowd is expected to jam the 227-seat Firehouse Arts Center starting at 7 p.m. tonight as the Pleasanton Planning Commission holds a public meeting on plans by Walmart to open one of its Neighborhood Market grocery stores in the long vacant former Nob Hill supermarket on Santa Rita Road.
The meeting will not be videotaped or broadcast by Channel 30 community television, which normally does not televise meetings of the Pleasanton Planning Commission.
The City Council has already approved a city zoning administrator’s review that ruled Walmart could open its market at the site since the proposed market matches the footprint of the Nob Hill store, which the city approved in 1982.
The planned unit development (PUD) approved at the time stays with the property, meaning that a similar use operation can reopen the same type of business under the same operating permit.
Tonight’s meeting is not billed as a public hearing but rather just that, a meeting. It follows promises by some members of the City Council to give anyone with a view on the proposed Walmart market a chance to speak publicly.
Also, two Plesanton residents, Angela Joe-Williams and Linda Martin, appealed the council’s vote of approval and it is that appeal that the Planning Commission will consider tonight.
Pleasanton city staff is recommending that the Planning Commission deny the appeal, thereby upholding the city’s determination that the Neighborhood Market is a supermarket permitted use allowed by the 1982 PUD and is consistent with the city’s General Plan land use policies and programs.
The supermarket is located in the Meadow Plaza shopping center at the southeast corner of West Las Positas Boulevard and Santa Rita. Walmart’s Neighborhood Market would occupy the 33,160-square-foot former Nob Hill market with only interior improvements planned. According to the Walmart application, the market would provide a wide range of grocery, pharmaceuticals, health and wellness items and other merchandise “consumables.” The store would be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Protests, mainly from organized labor groups that oppose Walmart business policies, filled the City Council chamber in the Pleasanton Civic Center last month when the issue was discussed. City planners, expecting a larger crowd this time, decided to hold the meeting in the larger arts center auditorium.
Union organizers have put out a call to grocery and other union locals to attend tonight’s meeting to demonstrate their objections to allowing a Walmart market here, which would be the first of four under consideration in the East Bay.
At the same time, shop owners in Meadow Plaza have been petitioning other businesses and neighborhood residents to demonstrate their support for the Walmart store at the meeting.
If the Planning Commission decides to accept the zoning administrator’s decision, as the City Council did, it’s expected that Angela Joe-Williams and Linda Martin will appeal the Planning Commission’s decision once more back to the council for another, and likely final discussion.
Security is expected to be tight tonight with door personnel limiting those admitted to the Firehouse Arts Center’s 227-seat capacity.
The Planning Commission will occupy the stage area with speakers required to climb stairs to the stage to make their comments at lecterns.
The Firehouse Arts Center is located at 4444 Railroad Ave. in downtown Pleasanton with parking provided in a rear lot accessible off Spring Street.
I hope “limiting” is to P-Town residents and not outside “union members”. People who do not live in Pleasanton and vote in Pleasanton should not be able to fill up the seats, giving the Commission a lopsided view of support of this project. If it was any other franchise there would be no complaints.
We had 1500 bussed in union thugs camped out in our backyard last night. They pooped everywhere, including the back of my husband’s Silverooo pick-up truck. A public forum/meeting should only be open to the public, not to union members who give up their public standing when they pay the first 80% of their paychecks to union mob leaders. I pity those people.
Can’t get over unions history of bad behavior, hey Nance? This is about our community; if you live here, great. If not, find something to do in you own neighborhood.
The City Council opened the gates to this when they did not approve Walmart’s application. That’s because they are bought and paid for by the unions. Remember this in November. Don’t vote anymore union lackeys onto the Council. The Hippy Mayor and Matt Campbell are not running. But the two of The Three Stooges are running for Mayor – Cook-Kallio and Thorne. Do NOT vote for them. We seriously need to have some other candidates running who are not union lackeys and/or left-wing loons.
Wisdom, you are not aware that the Council approved Walmart plan by a vote of 4-1, with Sullivan opposing it. There is nothing stopping Walmart from opening. This meeting is just to let the blowhard Union members bitch. This is thanks to Matt Sullivan.
The unions have nothing but a history of bad behavior. That’s why private companies and corporations were started – to protect workers from the bad union meanies. Go ahead, say my sense of history is warped beyond belief. It doesn’t matter. I believe what I want and no one’s going to tell me otherwise. Unions are bad, really really bad. Only people like me and KR and her barefoot brothers are willing to fight the good fight. Don’t let the throngs of bussed in union camp in your backyard and poop all over. Protect the community! Don’t accept the lies about what Walmart does to its employees. How does that concern us? And why should it concern us anyway? Freedom of choice, that’s what I say.
With LIMITED seating…SPEAKERS (and main floor attendees) should have to show photo proof of residence, i.e. driver’s license. Neighbors should have front priority and city reseidency for all other seats.
After all, this IS A LOCAL ISSUE !!!! WE locals should be able to
buy our bread and milk where we want and close to our homes. Anything beyond that is nobody else’s business. Butt out. Don’t make Mama mad !!
Wouldn’t put you and me on the same side of anything Gollum, with or without shoes. You have a one sided view of history.
Thorne is NOT a union hackey. He is fair and objective. But, Cook-Kalio is a card-carrying union activist who should NOT be allowed to vote on any public UNION issues !
This IS a local ISSUE and we SHOULD be able to purchase BREAD from whichever MULTINAtIONal we DESIRE. Will shoes be required AT the MEETING?
I make no assumptions about shoe requirements, but all the bussing (kissing) you are referring to is scary.
@ Nancy- I’m calling BS on your “Poop” talk. That is VERY juvenile of you, and it didn’t really happen. Your “Poop” talk makes you no better than union noise makers you’re talking about.
Bring on in Walmart –I would much rather see a place that will hire people for jobs then an empty building collecting dust.
I hope the people that don’t like unions won’t need a union police officer, union firefighter, or union nurse any time soon. Wasn’t the Firehouse Arts Center built by many skilled, union journeymen?
And what would we do without union prison guards, dentists and doctors making astronomical amounts of money? Maybe have enough money for K-12 education . . .
Planning commission mtg over
100 total attended
Those who want to stop Walmart going in DID NOT SHOW UP!!!
1 person spoke against Walmart
ALL others in favor of Walmart
The city council better approve this thing
The arrogance of those who forced this back to the planners and to NOT show up!!!
Shame
Don’t believe what these posters are telling you. My husband and I tried to attend, but we couldn’t get past all the union busses that were blocking traffic. We had to walk the last 18 blocks to get there, and they wouldn’t allow us a seat because they had all been taken up by union slobs. The three stooges would only allow union attendees, and they thumbed their big red union noses at all the real residents of Pleasanton. I’ve never seen such a fiasco. You should see our backyard from all the corrupt union revelry that was going on. My husband had to hose out the back of his pick-up truck four times because of all the union droppings — they call ’em calling cards — that they left for us to fret over. My husband told them that they need to own up to their scatological violence, but they just laughed and said they wanted to take away everyone’s freedom.
Tonight’s meeting was very respectful and each person spoke their point of view. All but two were in favor of a supermarket so they could walk to a market, support property rights, and want the shopping center and other businesses to improve.
Sorry to read posts like Nancy, above, that are untrue and make this forum not very useful.
Tell your Councilmember to let this market open without any further appeals.
Huge waste of staff time and money for the appellants not to bother to show. Maybe they realized how silly their appeal was. Remember that it was Sullivan who encouraged someone to appeal when he announces that he’s running for Mayor.
Matt Sullivan, you should shop where you want to, but don’t block property rights. If employees at a business are that unhappy, they can quit, or collectively bargain. Walmart employees have not done this. Their choice. So, let us P-Town residents have our choice, too, about where we want to shop.
curious wrote: “Maybe they realized how silly their appeal was.”
Much more likely that they realized how poorly Nancy is making them look.
To Union Police, Fire, ‘skilled union journeymen’ are not, and should never be compared with TAXPAYER PAID PUBLIC EMPLOYEES….two very different animals. If I choose to not do business with one because of price, or any reason…I don’t !! The other, I’m hostage to blackmail…losing my american birthright to freedom.
And, to Peter, Nancy IS a union noise maker!
I was there:
– 29 speakers in favor of Walmart Permit
– 1 speaker opposed.
– 1 speaker seemed in favor of Walmart was was opposed to shopping carts. (WTH?)
Small group of union folks in the room, but they didn’t speak and left before the end. The union mouthpiece was there at the beginning talking to the TV crews, but seemed to disappear once meeting started.
The appellants didn’t show up.
Two candidates showed up in support of Walmart: Al Phillips running against Buchanan for AD16 and Chris Pareja running against Pete Stark for CD15. Both strongly supported property rights and free markets. Google them and support them!
IMO, the “union buses” report was false and planted. Why? Who planted? Was PW complicit? Just asking questions….
One possibility is the plant was to draw out supporters to this meeting in order to generate complacency when appeal happens to council. The appeal wasted 2.5hrs of 125 people’s time, so they hope you won’t bother to show up again at council when they appeal.
Kudos to the commission for their 5:0 vote to reject the appeal. Extra special kudos to Ernie Olson for speaking out from the commission and telling the citizens that we need to be at the council meeting and insist our elected representatives deny the appeal! Now THAT is leadership (take note council)!!
Next step: Watch for the appeal to council. If it happens, the union head fake will be confirmed and the real battle for freedom in Pleasanton will happen at that council meeting.
HF, the union bus report was staged to see how much support WalMart could turn out and what their arguments would be. Its hard to get people turn out in mass twice for the same item. AND the union knows what the arguments in favor of Wal Mart are now for the council meeting.
Not only did the appeal tonight waste people’s time but don’t forget the cost of staff time to set up the the theater and take it down not too mention all the staff reports.
This will no doubt put to rest all the hysterical talk about Walmart mistreating child labor both domestically and abroad. And how Walmarts put downward pressure on local economies? Please! If well paid Safeway workers get laid off and then want to work at Walmart for minimum wage and no benefits, that’s their choice. They can leave town if they want. That’s freedom.
There is cynicism and hatred all around us, but tonight altruism prevailed.
Nancy, you should move to Syria, where the people are realy in need of some help. Take your union thugs with you–there’s nothing for them to b&tch about anymore in this town. They lost, they’re irrelevant and so are you…..next topic!
nancy needs: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pro-Cure-Butt-Juice-Gel/17133635
Lol, cholo,good one!
Nan, there are other ways to help children or others you feel are being abused–volunteer, donate, or help educate families. I don’t know why you thought preventing one or two stores from opening was ever going to cure all those ills. Here are a couple ways to help: http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/ http://www.amnesty.org/ I’m sure there are others.
I saw a cop beating an innocent youth a few days ago. I didn’t complain, but sent a donation to an orphanage in Mexico City instead. I saw a parent abusing his kid at the mall. I didn’t complain, but brought over a batch of muffins for my neighbor’s kids. I think the cop who brutalized the innocent youth deserves a medal, and those who don’t like it don’t have to attend the ceremony. And the abusive parent should be rewarded with a Parent of the Year Award. If you don’t like the award, don’t come to the ceremony.
So, Kath, I guess there’s no taking the farm girl logic out of the barefoot farm gal.
Ninny, once again you add nothing to the conversation. You’ll never get your restraints removed or your meds reduced if you keep ranting like a dillusional Berkeley teenager. Your propensity for taking everything to the extreme diminished any point your were trying to make long ago. You’ve become about as relevant as the failed attempts to keep businesses from moving to Pleasanton. Move on your next boogeyman and save us all from those evil (non-union) businesses.
Extremely well reasoned post, nannook — especially your point about being ‘dillusional’. But you miss the point. Kathleen Bugsinrugger and me are making the point that Walmart’s practices of using enslaved child labor in Asia is actually quite moderate. When you read about it, the best thing to do is support an orphanage in Mexico City. Because, you don’t want to punish in any way a large corp like Walmart that subcontracts to forced child labor camps. That would be extreme.
Me and the Bugsinruegger believe the freedom to shop far outweighs any moderate cases of child enslavement, however many cases there may be. Freedom starts with the self. And if you don’t like the world, go change it. Go help an elderly cross the street. But hands off our Walmart!
Kathleen, the union doesn’t care about anyone but themselves. The irony is that unions, yes the unions, are the ones in the first place that were responsible for northern factories moving to the southern states, and are now responsible for driving all of these textile mills and factories out of the U.S.
They have no one to blame but themselves.
You are so transparent, Gollum. If you don’t like Walmart because of its child enslavement practices, just go to China and fight. But don’t spread your blather about being against Walmart — because you really don’t care about children, only union labor. Because, hey, how can you support union labor AND be against child enslavement? Not on MY logic, Gollum. And not on Kathryn Rugsinburner’s logic either.
Same thing with abusive parents. Intervene if you want to. But don’t ask Rugsingnurber or ME to intervene. Or a cop brutalizing an innocent teenager. Go ahead and intervene, if your union will permit you. But don’t ask us to also intervene. We just want our Walmart. So just shut up. We’re on to you. If you support union labor then any position you have on anything is wrong, really really wrong. We pity you. And do not call me a fat, bitter old lady.
No, gollum, do something . . . anything other than try to sell with hyperbologna that the union has no interests of their own in keeping WalMart out. You don’t really care about anything else, otherwise 75 jobs for high school kids or anyone who actually wants/needs to work there would be important to you, as would the people who wish to shop at a grocery store in their neighborhood.
What about the story you told where a student bought an apparent down on his luck guy lunch? This is certainly similar–WalMart could be giving some down on his luck guy a job. I’m surprised you haven’t drilled yourself into the ground with all the twists and turns you’ve made. You see, telling the truth actually makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve said.
And I’m sure had it been 75 Raley jobs, we wouldn’t have heard a peep from you. Remind everyone how those were jobs the union lost at Nob Hill (Raley’s is the parent company) while negotiating for salary and benefits. Got what you wanted … except for the people who had to move or are now unemployed. You are really really wrong, but I wouldn’t waste any pity on you. You made the bed; lie and lie in it.
Well, Gollum, since Karen Rugsbugger so debunked you, I don’t have much to say. If Raley’s subcontracted out to companies that used forced child labor, then you’d probably not be against them. Becuase you are a hypocrite. It’s only because you have the convenient excuse that Walmart does exactly that — contract out with companies that deploy forced child labor — that you’re able to criticize Walmart with such impunity.
Gollum, I swear your head must be four feet wide and made of wood. Since you support unions, you can’t even begin to understand our arguments. Go to Walmart. Look around. All you’ll see is otherwise destitute high school kids. Ask Walmart execs who they hire … well, maybe don’t do that, because Walmart probably won’t tell you because that would infringe on their freedom to do what they want in this world. But you know what? They hire a lot! I trust Rugsyburger’s claim, even if it can’t be backed up, because she’s a libertarian who cares first about herself and Walmart because its a person too.
And one more thing, Gollum. Unless you can provide a notarized document that you have been to China in order to fight use of child labor by Walmart there, just shut up. No one wants to hear you. In fact, even if you’ve been over to China, it’s probably because the big shot unions stole workers’ wages to pay for your first class ticket over there. So just SHUT UP!!! Let us buy our frozen pig’s feet, White Castles, and shoestring potatoe chips at Walmart without having to think about what the company does to kids over in China. Shut Up!!! You care about those kids about as much as I do! I really pity you, I mean a lot.
But you forget Gollum, while I personally would not join a union–others are free to make the choice to join (except for that pesky part where if you need a job and union membership is imposed on you–imposition is always the case btw; there is no option to get the job and opt out of union “representation”). So I’ll repeat, I don’t care if you are in a union; I don’t shop based on whether a place is union or not; I will enter a store for product and service. I know some very wonderful people who are members of various unions. This has always been about your buttinsky lies.
Gollum, you must think we’re really dumb. You see, forced union jobs and forced nonunion jobs are exactly the same. The union forces you to take a relatively higher wage, with more benefits and protections; the nonunion forces you to take a relatively lower wage, with fewer benefits and protections. That’s why, truthfully, no buttinsky lies here, most workers would prefer to work at a nonunion place than a unionized one. Smart people are able to recognize this, Gollum. And, what’s more, being forced to be a union member is far worse than exploiting child labor at the end of a gun barrel. You must really think we’re dumb, really really dumb.
But Kath and me ain’t that. We love our freedom!
Silly girl, non-union employees often make more than union employees. Education would be the poster child example. Just not being a union member saves you all those dues. Must be a hell of an echo in the empty space you occupy.
The appellant of the Walmart appeal was out traipsing out the East Bay having shoppers sign ‘pledge cards’ rather than turning up to the Pleasanton hearing on Monday evening. Angela Joe, the appellant did not have the decency to show up at the appeal hearing, but was out soliciting shoppers to sign these ‘pledge’ cards instea. See the UFCW5 home page pictured on the home page, second picture down, on the here http://www.ufcw5.org with the caption “Members brought the grocery workers pledge card drive to Alameda County this week. pictured above Local 5 rep Angela Joe collects a card from a Nob Hill customer in Alameda.”
Standing outside of grocery stores cajoling shoppers to sign ‘pledge’ cards’ rather than even turning up to the Pleasanton hearing where 100 actual residents showed up to speak…now that is pretty pathetic.
I was there at both places. First, some union goofballs from Safeway (I could tell they were because of the jaundiced look in their eyes), tried to tell us that Safeway union workers make more than Walmart workers. I mean C’mon, get off it. Even Kathy Ruggsinuger knows that’s not true! That’s why everyone is fighting for a Walmart job! So much better than anything unionized, and truth be told, that’s why Safeway workers don’t want a Walmart. Because they won’t be able to help themselves as they’ll helplessly be attracted to Walmart’s high wages and excellent benefits policy.
The pledgers signed only because they were under duress. They were told if they didn’t sign they’d have big poops waiting for them in their pick-up trucks the next morning. Gollum, there must be lots of echoes in your echo chamber. You should try thinking without self-reflection, then you won’t get any unwanted noise from internal dialogue. Kathryn Bugsinrudder and I really pity you.
Your dialogue contributes nothing substantive.
The main reason why Safeway union workers are so against a Walmart being placed in the Pleasanton community is because they will lose business. There is nothing wrong with them feeling this way considering that if there are more shoppers at Safeway, the employees receive more hours.
I personally believe that there is nothing wrong with being a union member. Is it wrong for a person to wish to have job security? Health care benefits? A raise in pay the longer they work for the company? The ability to bid for a full time job? No, there is nothing wrong with that. While I’m sure Walmart has some pretty cool perks too, I’m sure there aren’t many people tripping over themselves to get a job at Walmart instead of Safeway.
Jen, Then why was it okay for Safeway to build a second store in Pleasanton? Wouldn’t one Safeway draw away customers from the other so that maybe those working at Santa Rita lose hours to those on Bernal? I have concerns about unions (you can’t opt out and keep the job for one thing), but many here wanted the WalMart grocery (or any grocery) in their neighborhood. The objection to the union was not their general membership; rather, it was the few trying to prevent this particular grocery store. It is possible that a union member at one of the Safeway’s could make a move into WalMart management.
Jen, you’re being totally unrealistic. It is possible that someone in a union might seek a job with Walmart, though entirely unlikely. But we have to hold on to such arguments because otherwise, really, we don’t have much else to stand on.
Now, a new Walmart is exactly the same as a second Safeway. The second Safeway was put in to cut into the market of the first. That’s why they put it up. To hurt themselves. So there.
And Safeway doesn’t have a reputation for exploiting children overseas, nor has it been hit by federal lawsuits for employing child labor in the US. But that isn’t relevant. Because to point that out is to be a union sock puppet. Who else cares about kids in China but union sock puppets?
I continue to be in awe of the excellent reasoning power of Katlyn Rugsinubber. Some people are only able to assemble weak arguments in support of their own position. But not Rugsinubber’s homespun country logic.
No….new Walmart is exactly the same as a second Safeway!
Not so. The “new” Walmart is a grocery store. Not a full fledged Walmart.
Why do people keep thinking that this Walmart Neighborhood Market is another Walmart.
It is NOT going to be the same kind of store.
The new Safeway IS the same as the old one.
Safeway is Safeway…..
Walmart Neighborhood Market is NOT a regular Walmart
Nance, Got a link to Safeway suppliers/manufacturers and their locations on the planet? Read an interesting piece on how Safeway has helped to destroy family farm operations in favor of corporate mega-farming. Not worried about those people or small businesses?
Nancy,
Didn’t I see you the other day protesting outside of Ranch 99?
Kath,
I was as much in support of big Safeway as I was Walmart. Of course Walmart does both, exploit child labor and destroy family farm operations domestically. Safeway only helps destroy family farm operations. Of course Walmart enables us both to get those 4x-large tee shirts, so that’s a bonus.
It comes down to one’s morality. Some simply don’t support Walmart because they mistakenly believe it is a moral question. They say Walmart is bad news, period. (These types usually are communists and don’t believe in God and support unions.) But you and me, we know that shoppers’ freedom overrides any moral concern, because that’s in the Constitution. And besides, all big grocers are equally bad, and that’s a fact.
The union website here with the appellant pictured says that Safeway, etc. are ‘eviscerating’ benefits http://www.ufcw5.org/
Since the union can’t even be bothered to show up and speak at a hearing they themselves called, why can’t the city bill the union for all the staff and overtime expenses incurred?
Why doesn’t the union leave Pleasanton alone and stop causing the city to incur needless expenses and do what you do best, march in parades (what country did all the T-shirts come from…not USA probably) and stand outside stores to have customers sign union pledge cards?
Eviscerating medical benefits! What are these union thugs going to ask for next, nondiscriminatory practices in the workplace?
What the heck’s going on. They threaten to bus in 3 thousand protesters, and then they disrespect us by not even showing up after all we did is complain about them showing up. They’re like an etch-a-sketch or something. Ya don’t want them, and they show up; ya want them and they disappear.
I signed one of those pledge cards after a checkout girl approached me and “asked” me to sign. I knew if I didn’t a big poop was going to be left on my back porch. I’m scared to death of these people and tired, really really tired. Wish they’d go away and leave all us decent people alone!
If Safeway carries products made in China, then they, too, do both. I don’t frequent Safeway very often (I prefer Gene’s) and don’t shop at WalMart stores. However, I don’t make those choices for others.
In a non-union environment in the private sector, someone would be fired for referring to someone as a ‘checkout “girl.”‘ You union people (Nancy would refer to them as men and girls) and the union have no respect for your co-workers, do you?
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No way I agree with you, Gollum. Each case of abuse requires a different response; these aren’t cookie cutter events. Work for human rights in China; intervene if a child is being abused; brave the nightstick or bullet if you choose. Your reasons for not wanting WalMart have varied to suit your needs and to obscure the truth about the needs of your union.