A Message to our Supporters ...

November 4, 2009

To our hundreds of volunteers, thank you for your two years of amazing work on this citizens' ballot initiative.  You played a key role in collecting more than 8,000 signatures to place Measure C on the ballot and in seeing it through to the end, through a grueling campaign period.  Measure C failed at the polls on Tuesday, 45% Yes to 55% No.  It failed by the same margin the city's own Measure A did.  Voters were clearly in a No mood.

Although we lost this one,  we're not done.  The current Walmart store plan is not approved by the city's Design Review Committee; the DRC in fact sent it back for a complete overhaul.

The problem is that without Measure C the city council can still give Walmart whatever it wants.  Last April, the city did just that, loosening the restrictions of the Victoria Code to allow new loading docks, a new entryway, and other "modernizations" on the dilapidated Kmart building. And the newly elected/reelected council is even more likely to give Walmart what it wants.

We are still a powerful force for good in the Ventura community.  Without us, there would not be the current 100,000-square-foot limit on Victoria.  (We'll have to keep the pressure on to keep it!) Without us, there very likely would be a Walmart of 150,000 square feet on Victoria right now. 

The Walmart issue for most of us goes beyond Walmart's immediate plans for Ventura to true 'social justice' - for our working families and small business owners, and our community's quality of life.  We have raised an important awareness among our fellow citizens in Ventura.  We are winners in this respect, and going forward we can still be good stewards on behalf of our fellow Venturans.

It's a tougher road ahead without Measure C to protect Ventura.  But we, and we hope you, are committed to staying part of the city process, and together we will continue to resist Walmart's destructive plans for our beautiful city.

May we all relax now and enjoy the coming holiday season. 

Nan Waltman and Ed Lacey

for the entire Livable Ventura Steering Committee

and the Stop Walmart Ventura Coalition

09/24/09

WAL-MART AND HEALTHCARE REFORM




08/20/09

WAL-MART SUBMITS SMALLER PROPOSAL FOR VENTURA KMART SITE




2/26/09

WAL-MART SUBMITS PLAN
FOR VENTURA STORE!

Wal Mart could HURT city, experts report . . .
Click here to find out more!