Wal-Mart's Foothold In Los Angeles

"The vote came after weeks of debate in the city 12 miles east of downtown Los Angeles as labor leaders, local politicians and community groups tried to persuade the City Council that such a store would depress wages and hurt the economy.

But Rosemead officials said they could not afford to pass up the $640,000 that Wal-Mart is projected to add to the city's annual sales tax receipts, which now stand at $3 million.

...Rosemead, a middle-class bedroom community where 90% of the 53,000 residents are Asian or Latino, has struggled to attract more businesses and has been without a major grocery store since the local Ralphs closed two weeks ago. A city-sponsored study found that the Supercenter could create 325 to 500 jobs."

Thanks to Chris Steins