Despite heavy showers and cold winds hundreds of residents showed up to fight for their community against the “Beast of Bentonville” (Wal-Mart Corporation). The city banned opponents from picketing outside or carrying signs inside - where they were met with a very visible police presence. A standing room only group of attendees spoke for and against the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter planned for Walters Road and Highway 12. The overwhelming number of speakers were opposed to the project.

Many speakers pointed out the potential damage to aviation fuel pipelines that run near the property and were troubled by the project's encroachment onto Travis. Others complained about the massive traffic it will bring.

Ignoring safety concerns of scores of residents who fear a new Wal-Mart project here could lead to deaths along the adjacent "Blood Alley" (Highway 12), or from low-flying planes from nearby Travis Air Force Base. Some brought up the buried jet pipeline that leads to Travis. The Suisun City Planning Commission recommended Tuesday night the controversial project be approved by the City Council.

The decision to rubber stamp the Environmental Impact Report at a hearing attended by an overflow crowd of 200 residents was not unexpected. The planners made it clear that hoped-for sales taxes were more important than the environment or lives of residents. Speakers even questioned the tax gain, saying stores in Suisun and Fairfield would "cannibalize" each other.

Some speakers were concerned by Wal-Mart's campaign to transport American jobs to China. Dwight Acey, the Suisun Citizens League Spokesperson said, "Almost every item you pick up in Wal-Mart stores have labels that read, "Made in China" on them. I wonder how many American workers have lost their jobs over the decades thanks to wal-Mart? Over half of our national debt is held by China!"

Wal-Mart was represented by city staff, Wal-Mart attorneys and their high priced consultants from McKinsey and Company in their power suits.

The next step is approval by the Suisun City Council Feb. 12. It will first have to vote, by a four-fifths margin, to override the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission, which refused to approve the 227,000 square foot project because, the ALUC said, the project is too big to be that close to Travis Air Force Base.

The ALUC ruled the project was "unsafe," and would encroach upon the base –something that could cause the military to move the base, a major concern for 65,000 military retirees in the county. Travis AFB is the county's largest employer ($1.1 billion a year, 14,000 jobs).

"This is the biggest project in town. It will be the biggest disaster in town," charged Dwight Acey, chair of Suisun Citizens League, one of the community groups opposed to the project. He said the EIR shows there will be as many as 70,000 additional vehicle trips weekly along Highway 12 – known as "Blood Alley" because of all the accidents – making it even more dangerous.

Jean Cain, a resident of Lawler Ranch, said she lives within walking distance of the site and that she sees countless big rigs running red lights at the Walter's Road and Highway 12 intersection. “Traffic is horrendous and we have to deal with it everyday. We can't take any more of it!” said Cain.

Resident Anthony Moscarelli – citing letters from a national pipeline trust – said there are major issues about a buried jet fuel pipeline within feet of the project. "There's not one mention of the fuel pipeline danger," he said, adding the city may be liable for damages, and that an increase in insurance coverage would eat up all of the anticipated sales tax gains.

"I object to my neighbors who will be killed by the project," said Wayne Monger, a geologist who lives near the site, and Paul Greenlee of Suisun Alliance, said "People in the community have said we do not want it. It does not fit our city." Another speaker called the decision a "betrayal" of the people. Another called for a "recall" of elected officials.

Suisun resident Yoshiko Tagami, said she raised the issue of RV’s in the Supercenter lot in her written comments. She wrote, “Criminals, such as child molesters, drug dealers, prostitutes, and other serious criminals, are likely to use out of town RV’s to lure their victims.”

During the hearing she also questioned what Suisun City Manager, Suzanne Bragdon's motive was for pressing so hard for the project. Bragdon did not respond.

George Gyunn, Jr, long time community activist in Suisun, said,”The city staff noted that 60 percent of their respondents to the comment section of the environmental impact report said they did not want the Wal-Mart. If I was a politician I would certainly take note of that.”

Former Solano County Supervisor, Skip Thomson, spoke during the hearing saying, “I was on the Travis Armed Forces Committee and I also understand the city’s need for revenue. In our zealousness to create revenue sometimes we miss the bigger picture. When Thomson brought up the city’s conflict with the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission, he was abruptly cut off by the city’s legal staff and told the commission refused to hear comments about the matter.

Click Here for slide show of the hearing.
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