(October 16, 2007) -- Multiple LBReport.com readers report receiving letters from "Long Beach Consumers for Choice," identified in the letter's footer as sponsored by Wal Mart Stores, Inc. which paid for the mailing, urging defeat of a Council approved ordinance (7-2, DeLong, Lerch dissenting) to ban "big box" retail stores over 100,000 sq. ft. that have over 10% of their floor area dedicated to non-taxable merchandise (e.g. selling groceries).
The Council-enacted ordinance was blocked from taking effect when the Wal Mart sponsored group gathered referendum petition signatures from over 10% of LB registered voters, legally requiring a vote of the people to put the measure into effect.
The direct advocacy ratchets up the pressure on Councilmembers as they face a looming November 6 on whether to put the issue on the ballot at a taxpayer cost of...nobody's quite sure yet. An initial LB City Clerk estimate was roughly $500,000...although that figure may be lower if LBCC's trustees vote to put a measure of their own on the Feb. 2008 ballot.
The letter from the WalMart sponsored group, co-signed by Matt Kinley (LB Area Chamber of Commerce board chair), Lori Lofstrom (Managing Partner Holmes & Lofstrom) and Sandy Cajas (President of the Diversity Marketing group) states in part:
We strongly believe consumers should be able to shop where they want, without interference from local politicians...
Consumers should be the ones who choose what kind of store they want to shop in, not government...
The ban is a result of labor unions pressuring the City Council to try to punish Wal-Mart for no unionizing. The City Council should represent the interests of all Long Beach residents, not just those of special interests.
The letter includes a "questionnaire" that asks, "Do you think it's fair to ban Super Targets and WalMart Superstores -- but not Costco, IKEA, Best Buy and other large retail stores?" and "How important is it for working parents and other busy people to have access to large retail stores where they can get all their shopping done with one stop?" and "Do you think superstores that generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax revenue that could be used to fight crime and gangs would be good for Long Beach?"
The "questionnaire" also includes a database generating pre-checked box saying "Yes, I support a consumer's right to choose and I want to join Long Beach Consumers for Choice! You may list be publicly as a member" followed by blanks for name, address and email.
The letter lists as "Supporters of LB Consumers for Choice" the LB Area Chamber of Commerce, Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, CA Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Cambodian American Chamber of Commerce and several individuals including LB Chamber Board President/CEO Randy Gordon, [bracketed titles following by us for ID] Joseph Magaddino [CSULB Economics Dept], Byron Schweigert [Chief Education/Gov't Affairs LB Memorial Med. Ctr] and Robert Stemler [Keesal, Young & Logan].
The WalMart sponsored group has also launched a website: www.longbeachconsumers4choice.com.
At its October 9 meeting, the LB City Council defeated a motion by Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, seconded by Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga [both candidates for the 54th district Assembly seat] to put the big box measure on the Feb. 2008 city ballot. [Motion failed 4-5: Yes: B. Lowenthal, S. Lowenthal, O'Donnell, Reyes Uranga; No: DeLong, Schipske, Andrews, Gabelich, Lerch].
The Council then voted 9-0 (motion by Schipske, seconded by DeLong) to continue discussion on the issue to Nov. 6 and get detailed information about election cost...including updated cost estimates if LBCC moves ahead with a Feb. 08 election.
The item was originally advanced in 2006 by city staff following a Council directive to review the impacts of "superstore" activity on city infrastructure and retail activity. In June 2006 the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the matter and in July unanimously recommended that the Council adopt the big box grocery ban prohibition.
