by Timothy Rutt
Over 100 souls packed the house at the Altadena Town Council Tuesday night, and even with a full agenda for the evening, most of them had one thing on their mind: Walmart.
Walmart representatives were there to make a presentation on the Neighborhood Market currently under construction at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Figueroa Drive,. Critics were also there in force to ask questions, while others asked for favors, such as local jobs, or a market for local growers.
Walmart spokesman Javier Angulo said that Walmart made taken an effort to move forward in areas that need access to fresh grocieries and durable goods. Argula quoted an LA Times article from 2011 that called northwest Pasadena a “food desert,” and that there were only three grocery stores serving 42,000 residents.
One of several flyers circulated in the meeting by Walmart opponents took issue with that figure, pointing out that there were two supermarkets within a mile of the Walmart location (Baja Ranch and Super King), as well as a Ralphs in Altadena and several smaller markets (such as Armen Grocery, Bo’s Altadena Market, and others). The flyer counted ten supermarkets within a one to five mile radius and 11 smaller grocery stores (altho’ Armen was double-counted, as a grocery store and as a “supermarket” under its previous ownership as Altadena Food Fair). The counts included markets in La Canada and Pasadena.
Walmart’s presentation included video of a company initiative for healthier food choices (including an endorsement by First Lady Michelle Obama), information on a $2 billion commitment through 2015 by the retailer to help end hunger in America, and testimony from Walmart employees and managers. However, critics at the meeting took issue with the retailer’s pay scale and benefits as well as the secretiveness of the market moving into the derelict Lincoln Avenue building.
Town councilman Tecumseh Shackelford, who represented the Neighborhood Market's census tract, said that “it was a disrespect to us in this commuity not to let us know” about Walmart’s plans.
Local jobs were a recurring topic, Speaker Elliot Gold said that independent research came up with the figures that the 60 jobs the Walmart Neighborhood Market would create would result in a net loss of 24 jobs in total around the area, a figure disputed by Angulo. Angulo also disputed figures given by another speaker, that Walmart has a high number of employees who qualify for federal assistance.
Argulo also agreed to meet with members of the town council to discuss local jobs, including subcontractors for the building's construction. Councilman Brent Musson said the outcome of that meeting will be on both the council's website and his own.
There were also concerns about the quality and type of food available at the market, as Walmart is known for purchasing genetically modified food created by the Monsanto Coroporation. Angulo said that the local market manager has discretion on where they purchase the food, and that Walmart buys more organic produce than anyone in the U.S.
During the public comment period of the meeting, several speakers representing the anti-Walmart group Save Altadena asked the council -- which is an advisory body to the county board of supervisors -- to ask the supervisors to institute a moratorium on large development. Former town councilman Steve Lamb asked the council to encourage the county to pass a moratorium until it can revise the hearing process so that there will be a conditional use permit with various conditions required for all supermarkets.
The council took no action on that request, but did approve a motion to ask the supervisors to support a traffic study of the market’s impact.
