Citizens in Rosemead, California are determined to fight off a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter in their community. Here is their report this week to Sprawl-Busters: “Rosemead residents thought they had seen the last of Wal-Mart when they fended off a 2002 attempt by the City of Rosemead to give the giant retailer a sign, in anticipation of their building a Super Center on the 23 acre parcel at the corner of Rush and Walnut Grove. The site, in the southern edge of the city, activated residents in Rosemead and immediately adjacent South San Gabriel, an unincorporated area, to fight the sign. This eventually became the core of the group that became Save Our Community. Wal-Mart’s second attempt is in progress now, starting back in November of 2003, when the developer initiated the process to approve a retail development. Since then, the anti-Wal-Mart movement has grown organically, led by residents, and has gained the support of County Supervisor Gloria Molina, State Senator Gloria Romero, State Assembly member Judy Chu, and Congressmember Hilda Solis. Unfortunately, it’s still up in the air with the Rosemead City Council, who are scheduled to make a decision about this issue on September 7th, at Rosemead High School. Community members are upset about the siting, across the street from an elementary school, immediately adjacent to a residential area, and served by two streets that both run through residential areas. People are also worried about the company’s bad reputation and labor practices, not only locally, but internationally. Some are offended when they figure out that the group in favor of Wal-Mart is being funded by Wal-Mart. The anti-Wal-Mart side recently got a boost from the Garvey School Board, which approved a resolution opposing the development. So, the people are upbeat, and fighting as hard as possible.”
For more background on the Rosemead site fight, go to www.saveourcommunity.us/ For examples of Wal-Mart battles that took place near schools, search this website by “schools.” For stories about California towns that have beat back the Walmartians, search by “California.”
