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Is Wal-Mart a desirable neighbor?
By: PATRICIA MEHAN - Commentary: | ∞
Valentine's Day is almost here. On that day our community will have a special opportunity to show affection for the city of Carlsbad.
The North County Times published an article (July 21, " "Wal-Mart buys lot in Carlsbad" ) disclosing that Wal-Mart had purchased land at College and El Camino Real in Carlsbad across the street from the Terraces at Sunny Creek. As a result of this publicity, a representative of Wal-Mart contacted the board of the development's homeowners association and agreed to attend a meeting to exchange information.
That exchange never happened. The board expressed specific concerns backed with numerical research. The representative responded by stating how popular Wal-Mart is and how fortunate Carlsbad residents will be to have a Wal-Mart. He showed no plans and gave no specific information other than to say they would obey all local ordinances and were going upscale.
Wal-Mart training must be exceptionally good. This representative was a recent hire, but he had a smooth spiel and kept a constant smile while fielding probing questions. As president of the association, I chaired the meeting and tried to keep the proceedings civil and productive. In turn, he indicated Wal-Mart often made local concessions to help residents feel good about having them as neighbors. In my years of public service, this is as close as I have gotten to being offered a bribe.
The board invited Wal-Mart to attend our annual/election meeting and present their case to the entire community. They declined. They prefer to sponsor public discussions where they control the environment. They have done this many times and know how to deal with unfriendly neighbors. They are good.
I've been told that if Wal-Mart purchases property in Carlsbad and conforms to all the building codes, the city must permit it. All good citizens can relate to that. This is America, and we are supposed to be a lawful country with protection of property rights under appropriate zoning.
An executive with Wal-Mart must ultimately decide whether to proceed with the Carlsbad project. That decision will be based in part on legal constraints. Even with permits, the project will not go forward if management believes it will lose money. Making money is difficult when a significant portion of the population does not want you there.
That brings us back to the Valentine's Day opportunity to show affection for Carlsbad. Concerned citizens are invited to meet near the proposed Wal-Mart on Valentine's Day to ask our city leaders to have a heart and help protect our neighborhood! For more information about the organizers and their concerns, visit http://www.nocarlsbadwalmart.com.
-- Patricia Mehan lives in Carlsbad.
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Spread the Joy wrote on Feb 7, 2008 12:41 PM:Hey Carlsbad. Have a Walmart..maybe two or three then you can be just like Oceanside...a cheap sell-out but one that makes tax revenues and buys all their junk to support the economy of China. How's that gonna' be for your quality of life? Oh and don't forget all the money you'll save on toys that are coated with lead paint. Happy V. Day.
Jay wrote on Feb 7, 2008 1:36 PM:In previous printed comments from this author, she clearly displayed her haughty disdain not only for WalMart shoppers but also for WalMart employees. With that irrational hatred as a starting point, it is no wonder that this NIMBY doesn't want them as neighbors.
Re; Jay wrote on Feb 7, 2008 5:54 PM:Jay, your 'irrational hatred' of Ms Mehan's right to fight a Big-Box next to her home, makes us think that you may have a vested interest in seeing this Wal-Mart built? If these homeowners had bought their homes 'after' a Big-Box had already been built, then you have every right to fault the neighbors, but that's not the case here. These homeowners should absolutely not have to bear the brunt of corrupt developers and ridiculous planing...
Paul wrote on Feb 7, 2008 10:21 PM:Be ready for all of the nastiness that Wal-Mart will bring. When we fought them, they even resorted to suing individual residents for exercising their rights to circulate petitions to force it to a vote of the people.
In the middle of the battle in San Marcos, this particular piece of land in Carlsbad came to light. It was one of only a few places left in Carlsbad that held any chance for Wal-Mart. The land was zoned for smaller commercial, not regional which would be required for 100K+ sf Wal-Mart.
The bottom line is: don't believe a word Wal-Mart's PR guys tell you. They don't care about you or your community. They just want another store. If you need help, there are groups that will help you fight it, local and national.
We The People of Carlsbad... wrote on Feb 8, 2008 9:00 AM:Us Carlsbad citizens need to band together to put a stop to the Wal-Martization of Carlsbad, before it's too late. After witnessing the blood bath that Wal-Mart and a corrupt San Marcos city council waged against those Carlsbad, San Marcos & County home-owners, I can't fathom that our own Carlsbad Council, would allow the same travesty to happen right under their own noses?
Jay wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:48 PM:I have no vested WalMart interest. Just don't like "irrational hatred."
Re; Jay II.... wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:59 PM:Seriously Jay, you're the one that appears to to have the hate and frankly, a little anger in your tone...There's so many more worthwhile things you can find fault in than attacking these very concerned citizens who are desperately trying to protect their neighborhoods, their safety and the equity in their homes...
NIMBY here wrote on Feb 11, 2008 8:52 AM:Sometimes it's ok to be a NIMBY. Like when you don't want something hideous in your backyard. Would I want a Walmart next to my $900k home? No.
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