We are not the only town fighting to protect our community from the economic and environmental effects of Walmart.  Walmart has shown time and again that they are willing to ignore public opinion of their projects and skirt the approval process to expand and open new stores.  Recently in Sonoma, a County Judge ruled in favor of a group fighting the proposed Walmart expansion, ruling that the report compiled by Walmart and the city was in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/lawsuit-against-walmart-hits-another-wall-1.2570411

In late July the CA Healthy Communities Network’s lawsuit against the City of Antioch went before an appeals judge, and the judge’s ruling should come back sometime later this month (Sept.).   Continue to check-in with our site for updates on the appeals court’s ruling and other news.

It is good to finally see some brave legislature out of Sacramento in the Bill that Gov. Brown was sent by the State Assembly requiring Big Box Supercenters to study not only the environmental impact of large stores on the communities they join, but also the economic impact on local businesses.  For years opponents of Walmart and other Big Box retail stores have claimed that Walmart kills local business, and finally elected officials are willing to acknowledge this and provide protections to local small businesses that can’t compete with Walmarts cheaply made low priced goods.  http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/01/bill-requiring-closer-look-at-new-walmarts-goes/

Study after study has shown that when a Walmart opens, local businesses shutter, and once vibrant business districts turn to ghost towns.  Walmart proponents typically point to the need for jobs as an argument in favor of opening a store, but those same studies show that while there is an increase in jobs at the start, in only a matter of years, more retail jobs are lost because of local small businesses closing than gained by the opening of a Walmart.   http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-05-04/local/29523684_1_small-businesses-david-neumark-city-stores

Hopefully this Bill will provide local officials with all the information they need to make responsible decisions with regard to development and the economic impacts of adding a Supercenter to a community.