Walmart in Desert Hot Springs Status and Porn Report

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. - Oct. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA – While some people consider it a done deal that Walmart is coming to town the reality is that there are a considerable number of hurdles that could take several years to overcome.

Public opinion is divided, the leader of the Yes on Walmart campaign is quite a surprise and the Chamber of Commerce unconcerned about negative effects on small businesses.

Winning approval of a Walmart in Desert Hot Springs is not assured or immediate.

Don’t blame the Planning Commission or the City Council. The proposed 155,000 square foot Walmart Supercenter has not come before either group although anticipation is that it could be on the agenda sometime next year.

Although Walmart did purchase some land on Palm Drive just north of Dillon Road a few years ago there are multiple public and private decisions ahead. First for the proposed Supercenter is a massive Environmental Impact Report that needs to be assembled and reviewed then denied or approved.

Walmart is Not Always A Winner

It’s an expensive gamble that Walmart is bankrolling. Although Walmart is already a member of the DHS Chamber of Commerce and running ads on the Chamber website with their representative working the room the expense is a drop in the bucket for the $128 billion dollar corporation. Locally there have been a couple stumbles along the way.Across the country in numerous cities where Walmart announced intentions to build not all projects were approved. Reasons vary. Not surprisingly there are cases where Walmart ended up selling off the land to be used for something else. Being the largest business in the world does not guarantee that Walmart always gets what it wants.

Most recently it was a matter of city staff not following proper procedures at city hall. Staff proposed that the contract to review of the EIR be handled by the Altum Group of Palm Desert, a firm with previous experience dealing with Walmart entitlements.

Then it was discovered that the $120,000 contract was required to be put out to competitive bidding , not just handed over to whoever the staff choose. That added another 90 days just to put that contract out to bid.

The contract encompasses the Walmart entitlements including the Environmental Impact Reports, analysis of possible tax credits and more.

Porn Star Heads Up Yes on Walmart Campaign

Valdez uses the stage name of Hank Cruz for making pornographic movies but kept the fame of his porn star career secret from the public during his failed 2013 election campaign.Taking a hands-on approach and assuming a front running civilian leadership position promoting Walmart with a Yes on DHS Walmart Facebook Page is former DHS mayor candidate John-Paul Valdez (http://www.desertvortex.com/2013/12/09/mayor-candidate-jo...).

Although Valdez prides himself as an economist in addition to his remarkable work in front of the camera it is not known if Hank Cruz is now employed by Walmart or just enjoys shopping there.

Chamber of Commerce Supports Big Biz

Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce board members cited the proposed Walmart as possibly serving as a major anchor for new retail business while ignoring the threat of Walmart destroying the city’s existing small businesses.

Leadership of the Chamber may not be familiar the fragility of small businesses or understanding of Walmart’s unyielding power to overwhelm local economies by draining profits out of town.

Apparently there was no discussion of concern about Walmart doing away with many independently owned small businesses in our city – many locally owned and not members of the Chamber of Commerce – who will simply not be able to compete with the largest retail business in the world.

They also discussed the proposed “good wage” measure currently under consideration by the city council which would create increase local wages and boost local spending power.

The Chamber noted that delays by city staff – often due to lack of staffing – have been announced at city council meetings regarding various projects. Developers are watching” said John Soulliere, Chamber Chairman, “they know every piece of available dirt in the city and they need to feel welcomed and that they won’t get bogged down by the process or agendas that are not conducive to expedited development. They’re going to put money on the table and to them, a pro-development posture, flexibility and consistency in project approvals minimizes risk.”

Soulliere does not own or work for a small business. He is employed as  Administrative Officer  [not assistant general manager ~correction by Editor] for the Mission Springs Water District.

[Editors Note: Post publication of this article John Soulliere clarified that the Chamber's support of Walmart  was a board decision, not his position alone or supported independently as chairman. Additionally Soulliere made it clear he has no association with John Paul Valdez or pornography and that he finds the above image of Valdez (as Hank Cruz) to be offensive and not relevant to Walmart or the subject of this article.]

For more see: http://www.desertvortex.com