International Council of Shopping Centers Convention -- Las Vegas! May 20-22, 2012!
Arvada's mayor on the leadership team actively involved in "pursuing Wal-Mart."
If you don't think the Ralston Road Safeway was sacrificed for Walmart, note the third item under 'Meetings' -- highlighted here (emphasis and annotation added):
Met with Safeway. Upset about the Wal-Mart, said would push them out of business at this location. Unhappy with AURA and IRG - claimed they wanted to move their store to Arvada Plaza
• Howard Gerelick, Vice President, Real Estate Denver & Phoenix Division
• Arvada Personnel - Mark [Deven], Marc [Williams], Hazel [Hartbarger], Katy [Press] (I did not attend this meeting [Maureen Phair])
Some not especially good news here for the future of K-Mart either.
Where is commitment to free enterprise? Where is the concern for good paying existing jobs? Just how much government manipulation of and intrusion into the market place is acceptable to most Arvadans? Why is the Mayor, who knows he will be subject to a quasi-judicial process, part of 'Arvada Personnel' telling a King Sooper's executive "we are pursuing Wal-Mart"?
Email and telephone the city council. Tell them that in Arvada we value free enterprise; we valued the Safeway store; we cherish our neighborhoods; we insist on open, honest government; and ... Walmart is not a good fit for Arvada!
Document obtained from the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority.
