[Sosfbay-discuss] WAL-MART vs. THE CITY OF MILPITAS

[alexcathy at aol.com]

Dear Green Friends, 

A few weeks ago I posted a note about plans to expand the existing Wal-Mart store in Milpitas into one of Wal-Mart's notorious Supercenters.  See below important information about a meeting in Milpitas to be held tonight.  Please circulate this widely. 




WAL-MART VERSUS THE CITY OF MILPITAS



The City of Milpitas released the Draft Environmental Impact Report(DEIR) for Wal-Mart’s Supercenter application.  The public has45-days to comment.  Tell the City that Milpitas does not need aSupercenter.


* * * Attention:  Important Community Meeting * * *

Please join like-minded, concerned residents to discuss how we can stopthe proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. Please bring your family andfriends.


Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 PM
Omega Restaurant, 90 South Park Victoria Drive





 A Wal-Mart Supercenter comes with risks...  

 Displaced local businesses. Milpitas already serves as a regional retail magnet.  A 24-hour Supercenter will not generatesubstantial gains in sales tax revenues, since it will simplydisplace other existing retail.
Urban decay. As businesses close as a result of aSupercenter, property values will fall due to urban decay and propertytax revenues will be lower than otherwise.
Traffic congestion. The Draft Environmental ImpactReport (DEIR) states that the 24-hour Supercenter will have‘significant unavoidable impacts’ on the roadways due to trafficincreases.
 Lower wages.  Wal-Mart pays lower wages and benefitsthan most of its competitors, particularly in the grocery arena. Theselower wages will impact Milpitas’ economy since many employees arelikely to be residents. These new jobs will displace higher paying jobsin the grocery industry.
Lower quality of life. When a community’s mom-and-popoperations lose to national big-box chains, the community loses aswell. And although Wal-Mart is located on the other side of theInterstate, a 24-hour Supercenter will impact the entire city,including your neighborhood stores.

The City of Milpitas should not allowthe Supercenter. Let’s maintain our quality of life. Tell the City toreject the Wal-Mart expansion, like many other Bay Area cities. 





Send your written comments
via email, letter, or fax by
5:00 PM, Friday December 18th. 

Each letter should address the
various impacts in the Draft
Environmental Impact Report.
All letters should be sent to:
Ms. Cindy Hom, Assistant Planner
City of Milpitas
Planning and Neighborhood Services Department
455 E. Calaveras Boulevard
Milpitas, CA 95035
E-Mail: chom2 at ci.milpitas.ca.gov

 

You may download a .PDF file of a sample letter to council members at: http://alexcathy.com/milpitas_letter.pdf

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