<![CDATA[Stop Antioch Wal-Mart Expansion - Welcome]]>Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:39:45 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Communities Continue Successful Fights Against Walmart.]]>Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/09/communities-continue-successful-fights-against-walmart.html
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.

]]><![CDATA[Bill targeting Walmart goes to Governor]]>Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/09/bill-targeting-walmart-goes-to-governor.htmlIt 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. 

]]><![CDATA[Antioch officials think worst of budget woes may be over - CoCoTimes]]>Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/04/antioch-officials-think-worst-of-budget-woes-may-be-over-cocotimes.html
This is good news for the city but it should be kept in perspective. Part of our city's financial health came at the sacrifice of many hardworking city staff - i.e. working class families. It seems that every city manager's first line item in slashing a budget starts with staffing, staff salaries and their health/retirement plans. 

Our city still has budgetary problems that will continue unless our city officials focus on building our infrastructure. Antioch is full of blight and crime is only getting worse. We need to focus on protecting local businesses as they are the true investors in our community - not national big box chains like Wal-Mart.  

http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17908959?source=rss ]]><![CDATA[Help bring back code enforcement in Antioch]]>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/03/help-bring-back-code-enforcement-in-antioch.htmlThe good folks at Take Back Antioch are collecting signatures to help bring back the code enforcement department in Antioch.  Commercial and residential blight is a major problem in our city, but right now there is no enforcement agency.  The department needs to come back.  Please sign their petition: 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/tba-code-enforcement/
]]><![CDATA[Quality of Community Forum]]>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/01/quality-of-community-forum.htmlTake Back Antioch's second annual Quality of Community Forum is this Friday, Feb 4. This is a great opportunity for residents to join others concerned about the safety and direction of Antioch.  Please mark your calendar. 

                                                                                            Quality of Community Forum
                                                                                    Antioch Police Station Community Room
                                                                                                            300 "L" Street
                                                                                                        Friday - Feb 4, 2011
                                                                                                         7:00pm - 9:00pm

Article: Forums to address budget, blight
]]><![CDATA[Public Safety Woes]]>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2011/01/public-safety-woes.htmlIt was heartening to learn that the six police officers targeted for layoffs is being postponed (story here). Public safety is of major concern to ACSG, as the Walmart is the major crime magnet in Antioch. If Walmart were such a strong community supporter, then why do they do nothing to step up safety at their store? In 2007, Walmart agreed to provide more security only if their expansion were approved. 

In a city facing bankruptcy and looking at layoffs to the police force, wouldn't it be nice if the largest and wealthiest retail giant in the world would help the city by increase security on their own accord.  Don't hold your breath

]]><![CDATA[Standing-Up for Local Businesses]]>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800http://www.stopantiochwalmart.com/2/post/2010/11/first-post.htmlKudos to CA Healthy Communities Network (HCN) for standing-up to the City of Antioch and Walmart. HCN is suing the city council's egregious decision to allow Walmart it's expansion without conducting an environmental review. The city twice made Walmart conduct an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), each finding significant impacts to traffic, noise and existing businesses. However, Walmart's legal team came riding into town, threatening the city with lawsuits, etc and several city council members changed their votes. It was a slap in the face to local business owners and CA environmental law.  Thank you, HCN!  ]]>