Effort to Block Chain Retailers Fails in L.A.

An ordinance designed to help stop a Walmart "Neighborhood Market" from opening in L.A.'s Chinatown neighborhood fell short of the necessary votes at a City Council meeting held yesterday, reports Alice Walton.

1 minute read

October 24, 2012, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


The proposed "interim control ordinance," which would have "blocked retailers with standardized merchandise or facades from opening stores larger than 20,000 square feet" in the neighborhood adjacent to downtown Los Angeles was drafted at the request of Councilman Ed Reyes, who represents the Chinatown area and chairs the council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee. Although the ordinance was opposed by the city's Planning Department and Planning Commission, it gained the support of 11 Council members, just one short of the 12 votes needed to pass.

"Labor supporters urged the council to keep Walmart out of the
neighborhood," says Walton, "arguing that the low-wage jobs are harmful to employees.
However, Councilman Bernard Parks, who represents parts of South Los
Angeles, said any job is better than none. He also noted that low-income
areas often lack access to grocery stores".

"'We are being held hostage over philosophical views and,
particularly, this age-old discussion about high benefits, high wages,'
said Parks, adding that more generous companies don't often locate in
working-class communities."

 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012 in KPCC

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight