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The supermarket Mi Pueblo will move into East Palo Alto after all, after the City Council approved its liquor off-sale license and architectural permits at a special city council meeting Tuesday night.
The council voted 3-2 in favor of the San Jose-based company, with council members David Woods and A. Peter Evans dissenting. More than 250 people attended the meeting to object to or support a new supermarket, an issue that has sharply divided the local community.
East Palo Alto city officials have attempted to attract a supermarket to town for decades so residents need not drive to other cities for their groceries. Supporters lauded Mi Pueblo as a long-awaited supermarket that adds diversity to the city, while opponents have labeled it a specialty market catering to Hispanics that would shut out local mom-and-pop grocers.
“This store coming in is going to offer our community more options, and that’s what we need,” said Councilwoman Laura Martinez. “The small markets are not going anywhere. It’s now their turn to step up their game and see what they can offer to this community.”
Mayor Ruben Abrica and Councilman Carlos Moreno concurred. Moreno said Mi Pueblo would keep shoppers in town and prevent “economic leakage” from grocery trips to other cities. It would also generate a large amount of foot traffic, which in turn would bring additional revenue to other businesses nearby, he said.
Mi Pueblo operates 12 markets in Northern California, including one in Mountain View. It is moving into the former Circuit City store in the Ravenswood 101 Shopping Center along East Bayshore Road, next to existing businesses such as Home Depot.
Councilman Woods said that site should be reserved for a tax-generating business, as many groceries aren’t taxable under state law.
“I would be for Mi Pueblo if they were coming to any other location in East Palo Alto,” Woods said. “We are giving up too much to get very little.”
The public hearing, the second on the controversial topic, lasted more than two hours, with residents voicing their support and concerns before the council discussed and voted on the issue.
Opponents argued that small grocers have fostered lasting relationships with the community and said the city would benefit more from a general supermarket such as Safeway or Wal-Mart.
“The potential benefits of shopping at mom-and-pop businesses are well-documented,” said resident Susi Feltch. “We need to remain loyal to them, especially when they’ve remained loyal to the community.”
Mi Pueblo’s supporters said it would offer lower prices than local markets and finally grant the city a full-service grocery store.
“We deserve progress,” said resident Guadalupe Martinez.
Other residents countered with claims of discrimination, saying Mi Pueblo catered mostly to Hispanics and alleging it would not hire people of other races.
“All of us want a supermarket in East Palo Alto, but this one is not a full-service market,” said resident Keisha Evans, an African American who said she felt disrespected by staff at Mi Pueblo while shopping there. A cashier had allegedly returned her change without looking her in the eye. “The salespeople, they don’t see me,” she said.
Resident Rosa Gutierrez was saddened by such claims.
“Ever since I’ve been able to vote, every candidate has promised to bring a supermarket to the city,” Gutierrez said. “Now that it’s here, I’m saddened to see it has become a racial issue and brought about racial tension.”
Councilman Woods took issue with the security Mi Pueblo brought to the council meeting last week.
“I do find it offensive for someone who’s wanting to do business with the community that would need security at a City Council meeting,” he said.
Perla Rodriguez, vice-president of public affairs for Mi Pueblo, said her company employs a third-party security company for all its stores and for all key activities such as Tuesday’s meeting to ensure safety for its staff and customers.
East Palo Alto has long struggled to both house and retain supermarkets, even as small grocers such as Pal Market and Oakwood Market continue to operate.
A former Palo Alto Co-Op Market briefly occupied a site on Bay Road and University Avenue, but it closed in the early 1970s. A small Value Max supermarket located in the former Whiskey Gulch area closed in the 1990s.
Mi Pueblo supporters were elated after the council vote, but their joy did not spread round the room.
“I feel really betrayed by the city,” said Pal Market owner Rafik Shuman, a member of the East Palo Alto Merchants Association. Shuman said the city was not transparent or forthcoming with local merchants about its negotiations with the company.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez said Mi Pueblo aims to open in East Palo Alto before Thanksgiving if possible. The store plans to hire about 200 people and open 365 days a year from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., she said.
For the merchants’ group, however, the issue isn’t over yet.
“We’ll evaluate what occurred this evening and take appropriate steps,” said merchants association attorney A.K. Abraham. “I can reasonably assure that there will be court action in the near future.”
This Item was not moved forward via will of the people. This company has purposedly ignored the community. The Mi Pueblo organization has no intention on hiring any of the youth of any other ethnic group, such as African American, Asian, Caucaisan, Polynesian,Pacific Islanders. The News article states,.. “The city of EAST PALO ALTO gives Mi Pueblo the green light”,….WRONG!!!! Council members “LAURA MARTINEZ, Ruben Abrica,and ? Romero, gave Mi Pueblo the green light. All Hispanics voted for this store to be in a new developement where it does not fit. I am SLANDERLESSLY just letting the public know this store caters to ONE Nationality of people in our dearly diverse city. As of now I hope to be proven. With the actions of Martinez, Abrica, and Romero I assure you a federal investigation “in the mist”,….Not anywhere in America should a politician allow someone to grease thier palms to move forward any agenda,.. for personal gain. Is this speculation? or is it information.
As a resident of Belle Haven I applaud the council’s decision to allow Mi Pueblo. More choice is better for consumers. Mi Pueblo will offer cheaper, healthier, and diverse food choices close to home. As for it being a grocer geared to hispanics … doesn’t that make sense in a city that’s 75% hispanic? If one doesn’t support Mi Pueblo, vote with your dollars and shop elsewhere.
I agree with Willie, I have been a resident of EPA for 46 years and before it was infested with hispanics, it was mostly african-american. My experiences with these hispanic stores are that we are not welcome from the moment we walk in the door. The smiles disappear, no greeting (I always greet everyone). They make it very clear that your money is welcome, but you aren’t?
They frequently walk to the front of the long line, and dare you to say something! The cashiers here (all hispanics) give their people discounts in spanish-I saw a caucaisan women scold them once when she caught them discussing the discount in spanish in front of her. If you ask to use the restroom you will be greeted by rodents and insects, someone is obviously paying a lot of money to do as they please. Not too mention the extra gangs and drugs (check the news). One young hispanic asked me during a visit to 7-Eleven, do I like being alive? I asked him, do you? Is that how youngsters get their stripes now, harassing old ladies at 7-Eleven?
When me and my children were moving into our home 12 years ago, they welcomed us to the community by shooting through our window! When I went and knocked on their door with my pistol, everyone disappeard, haven’t had a problem since.
Of course I drive out of town to spend my money. Congress waited too long to do something about the infestation and also blame a lot of the country’s money problems on them. Too late!
I was shocked when I went to a corner store, and the owner’s (who also only hire hispanics) were being nice and courteos! Asking me to come to a town meeting to stop the new store arrival! I told them, that’s what you get-you guys cater to them more than anyone, and we (african-americans) were your main source of income for 30 years-now we don’t exist, but you want our help? People that don’t live in this community really can’t comment because they don’t live here for a reason!
As for “jimmy C’s comment,…..Out of that 75% according to the census bureau only 32% have legally migrated to the city of East Palo Alto and homesteaded with the proper documents,….such as green cards,drivers licenses and birth certificates. http://www.paloaltoonline.com/square/index.php?i=3&d=1&t=3089 heres your link even though migration is on the decline.
It’s not right bringing in a Hispanic store! The owner
of this mi pueblo is a long tine cartel drug person! I don’t understand why our eleted
officials would bring them in here while we are trying to clean our streets from people like him! What’s going to happen to our long time locale stores that been here for thirty years they will go out of bussines! I will never enter that Mexican store and still shop our locale stores! I will never vote for a Mexican council member. The city is just bad for not supporting our locale guys.. Who got greased of course romero did after what I seen at the special meeting and abrica just had his mind already even before the meeting! There should be a federal investigation on abrica and romero and mi pubelo. We the black comminity should get togeater and take back our city from the mexicans! God help us and god help our local stores. The new epama has gained lots of respect for a hard fight they did. The cartels should stay out of our city abs I promise they will not survive in our city we will boycott the new cartel Mexican store… They bring guns and lay hands on our own people in city chambers no respect and just because of that should of got kicked out from our city I hope the epama will pursue this to supreme court god help the epama they did a good thing foe our city god bless you and god panish the city council there nothing but crooks! We will see what happens I’m pretty sure this is not over and Juvenal Chavez should stay out of our city and keep the drugs away from our kids! Of course they will hire us the blacks for six months them out they go and in the mexicans to stay in the new big box, how aguly this is. Never hit a sister in our town and I promise they will be punished and I will make sure of that long live our black comminity and long live epama who tried really hard for us much respect for the epama, they have proven them selves, I will contact the epama to get there help to elect the next bodies for the next voting! Bye bye Hispanics from those chairs and welcome the new African Americans! Who is the contact person for the EPAMA I would like to meet the founder. Yes to our local bussiness and no to the cartel from san jose so please if anyone knows how contact the epama please let know I would love to talk to them! Please epama cone forword and let’s join the comminity and let’s fight the cartel and the garbage Hispanic council members. Thank you John long time EPA resident
wow, Nazi’s in EPA…
it seems that Cynthia Davis and Willie L are seeing the once almost named Nairobi town slipping away….these are new times and need to adjust… i am oppose to the market as well but when u say “infested” and “ you people” makes me vomit….i am a proud mex-american, father of 2 girls mixed with blk and samoan….just cause these 2 idiots, mainly cynthia davis, i will never raise my children in EPA i am a well college educated man, this is just ignorance…
Go ahead u gun weilding mom, lacking self control..
This city in a whole do not have brains. No leadership will ever come from here..and this place is no ones 40 acres and a mule..
NOTE: Most the store’s in EPA are liqour stores….
The public voted for the city council. The city council voted for Mi Pueblo. So, the public voted for Mi Pueblo.
As a resident of EPA, I strongly agree with Woods that this was the wrong location for a supermarket based ONLY on the economic/tax base argument. That said, The owners of Mi Puelblo saw an opportunity to provide a service to and under served community in a great location and they jumped on the chance. Sounds like good capitalism to me.
Change is always hard. Mi Pueblo is just an indicator of the larger changes taking place in the EPA community and all across the USA… the growth and influence of Hispanics in America. Welcome to 2009. Despite what a few bigots above might be saying…(STOP HATING!) most people embrace and appreciate the positive contributions that Hispanics make to EPA and the USA – I know that I do.
Congrats to Juvenal Chavez and the Mi Pueblo team. Thank you for joining our community. We need more entrepreneurs like you coming to our community.
Just make sure that you take the time to listen to the concerns of the citizens of EPA in your offerings and employment preferences. Hire local. Provide a place for all. And make sure you keep our neighborhood clean and secure!
Keith
If most Blacks “hate” this “Mexican” store they probably won’t apply and thus can’t get hired-yet in that situation who is the racist?
The “local stores” are mostly Liquor/Tobacco/Lotto ticket shops owned by people outside the community-they are local by location NOT spirit of ownership.
NOBODY gets all their groceries in EPA right now-it’s impossible-so the few true local spots have a chance to succeed. Cooley Market is all we need in the Gardens-and I live by the G market.
Outside businessmen looked at EPA and said “What these folks need is better access to alcohol, smokes n lotto tickets” which was BS and now they are gonna have to pay for it because someone else said we need healthy low cost variety in groceries and that has been the view for 30 yrs-thanks to Mi Pueblo for opening where NOONE else would and FYI if you don’t like the Latinos move cause we ain’t leaving and the “New Nairobi” ain’t coming!!
Everyone has a right to an opinion on this matter. Heres is the “but,….. part and more less the truth, I attended these sessions from the very begginings. It started with the Brown Act violation ,…by Council member Carlos Romero…. the people of EPA never really got a heartfeeling of a chance. Keep in mind thAT 3/4 of the latino community is also not feeling this large corner store either. Carlos Romero, Ruben Abrica and “lara martinez” ,…(A PRONOUN) Who cannot be serious about city politics. If you are reading this post . I ASK WHY ARE YOU THERE? activate yourself. Folks watch these people they cannot hide this is who they are,… and all hispanics don’t operate this way. They have proved that they are tainted I challenge all to watch carefully. Call the FEDERALLY!!!
I know all the owners of the local stores and the best store is pal market becase of great customer service and out of all the stores they have the best low prices and cleaness of there store, they wanted to tear down there existing store and build a huge supermarket before mi pueblo wanted to come in. They been working with the city for the last 2 years, after speaking with the owner of pal market after mi pueblo got approved, they are thinking twice about building it because it will be too hard and two supermarkets in EPA, they been here for the last 30 years and they supported the comminity for ever they would never say no to support. Oakwood and garden market are very pissed they feel the three Hispanics on the council had there minds made up 8 months ago. Carlos Ramiro should be recalled for his actions and disrespect to the locale merchants. I’m pretty sure that the epama will not sleep until they get justice I know thease members they are hard core owners and with lots of residents supporting them! I know I will and I already talked to th president of the epama and he promises he is not done even though mi pueblo opens up they will still fight. All they really have to do is go back to court and they will get what they want and stop this nonesence from our elected city council members! I know they already picked there people to run for city council for the next term and they will succeed throwing out abrica and the mute Laura Martinez and recall Carlos Ramiro, our city needs a change and where it starts is the city council! I respect epama for the fight they put and I never seen this in our city the epama have power then everyone thinks they are a strong assoction and god bless them I’m a long time OG and I support them and there president who worked very hard on this issue I give him 5 stars I hope he will run for city council one day, I will vote for him and many others will too. This current body members in our city are worried only for there greased pockets! ! We just lost a four corner project because our mayor wanted Mexican market instead of helping a local bussiness owner who been here for the last 3 decades between gun shots and fights and kicking out drug dealers instead he voted for a Hispanic who brings security guards to a city council meeting, did you see our local stores bring there security guards no because our people love them and they will never lay hands on them because they love our people and they are not racist just like Juvenal Chavez all he had was people wearing yellow shirts and they where all Hispanics and the white t shirts where all different race that should tell you alot about our locale merchants they are waual and not raceist like mi pueblo!!! This is not over now residents turn to fight back and not to support our 3 Hispanic city council members that will be kicked off and replaced with a transparent goverment thank you mi pueblo for making us Stonger and more powerful we willakw this right agian we the residents promise you that you will not make it in our town! I promise mi pueblo and your 3 paid off city officals will be removed out from our city for good maybe not know but later you will be! And god bless the epama and our local residents! We will not sleep untill we are satified!
To bring a market at this location is ridiculous, i never would have seen a Mi Pueblo market next to a Nordtroms….haha…but i do agree that we need a large market but not in this location…What happened to the empty lot in front of the library
NO supermarket wants to come here. Sure a Safeway at the corner of Bay and university would be way better. Everyone would love that, but for many years the city has been trying and can’t get any big name store to come in. We could wait 15 more years and we would still not have a major store. Its coming, everyone makes a choice where they spend their money. If you like the move and dont want to drive far for croceries, then shop there, if you like the small corner stores then you can still give them your business. If safeway has better deals i’m still going to safeway, but if Mi Pueblo has compettetive pricing, i’m shopping at mi pueblo.
The important question to consider is whether opening this store will generate additional traffic in Palo Alto. The PA city council needs to look at this and advise the EPA council, since they are not quite up to speed on this matter, that traffic studies and an EIR should be done before a permit is granted.
PA does NOT, and should not, have a say in the matter about a grocery store on the east side. The Ikea traffic has been handled well, much better than feared.
All of the anti-Hispanic panic is just bizarre. The face of EPA has changed; whether folks here are undocumented or not is not the point. People should shop here if we have the stores.
I think the outstanding issue that has not been resolved, at least to my satisfaction, is: How was the location where Mi Pueblo is to built zoned? I thought there was a zoning issue and ignoring it can cause future problems.
I am not sure what exactly is behind the agenda to keep Mi Pueblo out, but so far it looks like greed, racism, classism, fear of change and who knows what else.
We have much larger issues in this community. Get this store in, have it well guarded and I’ll shop there at times. I canNOT stand the dirty small markets with overpriced stuff, rude clerks, filthy parking lots, terrible drivers and the lack of concern for personal safety of patrons. I only ventured recently into some of the eastside stores for work errands and was appalled by these stores. If the owners of these littler stores suffer due to a Mi Pueblo, too bad – clean up your act improve your business folks! That’s what a free market economy is about.
About time we have a Supermarket in EPA. The local stores have ripped off ppl for a long time. If you look at there prices you will understand what I am saying. Now they need to get there acts together and offer customers better price, product and service.
I am so happy to have a grocery store! All these little markets suck! They have rotten/old food at their stores. They also sell tobacco and alcohol to minors. When you enter to buy anything you don’t even know how much you’re going to pay because they refuse to stick price tags on items…EPA is better than that. We deserve better… Anyone who disagrees is settling for less. Shuman is a joke. Why do people even listen to him. Does he even live in EPA? Probably not…It’s so sad how the youth groups followed in his path…he is not a even a good role model. He thinks that he represents EPA… well wake up…SHUMAN u don’t! You don’t have to be loud and obnoxious like him and his followers…None of the small markets have black people working their stores so what is the BIG issue here? People are being ignorant…Shuman, RB and their followers need to go get a degree or read…for real…you make our city look bad.
Everybody get ready because EPA is moving forward…I’m black and I want Mi Pueblo here in EPA. We need this store. I’m sick of people complaining about the past. You as an individual have the power to talk and speak. Ms. Evans needs to get a therapist and complain to who ever that person is…for real…if you don’t like the customer service..complain to the store..duhh. I am so sick of the drama at council mtgs. People need to stay focused and let the council do their jobs…If the roudy people (and you know who i’m talking bout) would shut up and stop the side conversations the council would get done sooner and comuntiy forum would be ealier…It’s so sad how unprofessional people are. There is a sign that says no food in the chambers and people still do it..even the people in the back. (if you’re reading this…pay attention) All the youth that support Evans complain about community forum being soooo late well guess what…Evans wastes everybodies time when he doesn’t take his medication…cause he gets pist off…why doesn’t he call up the city manager before the meeting when he has ?’s….Oh wait I know why…he doesn’t have a relationship with anyone on the council or the city staff cause he hates everybody…he can’t help this city…get rid of him… he’s only been in EPA since 1984…I know people who have lived there longer so he needs to drop his act of “I am the king of the past cause he ain’t even been here that long…
Welcome to Mi Pueblo…. 🙂
Mi Pueblo is here to stay!!! yee yee!!! Everybody get a job!!!
This is for the person who’s forum name is…..”Arnold. Sounds like you have a personal vendetta with Council member Mr. Pete Evans,…and furthermore his wife at that. “YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYBODY’S EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, OR WISDOM”. When wisdom is present,.. “GOD is near. That attack you made on that mans wife did not come from God, Although he,(*GOD), heard you and knows who you are, will send you a response. I myself have lived here 47 years and Mr. Evans have been here a lot longer than you stated. The whole connected part of the community knows when the smoke clears heads will roll. Remember “Enron,…..Where there is money,theres greed. If you are a writer of checks from a multi-million dollar account you cannot make a mistake or grease a political palm or get your palms greased. The feds will find out and there is no statue of limitation, when there is three or more litigants it will come out. A green politician will falter,…..Laura Martinez is expendible. Lets hope this store can provide for the whole city. I encourage everyone to keep attending the meetings and function as they wish,… If the council members cannot handle it find another public service. KEEP IT REAL PETE!!!!!!!!!!
this is to Rita, Shuman worked really hard and he is the only one had a heart to stand up to the council members, Rita you have to remember Shuman put in 450,000.00 on that corner to put in a new 20,000sq supermarket and low income housing on top. I know shuman for 10 years he donates to the youth, he feeds people in need. The council members stabbed him in the back when they approved Mi Pueblo back in March they never told him that Mi Pueblo is going to come thats why he is sooo pissed, he tried to put money back in our city and redo that whole corner but, the hispanic city council member gottt greased and Laurel does what ever ruben does.. I dont understand every one wearing a yellow t-shirt was hispanic and everyone wearing white t-shore was Hispanic. Black, Tongan, Samoan, Chiness, and arabian and figian… I Hope The FBI Looks InTo This…
Hmmm i wonder if the city council got paid for their votes… May be we need to get this investigated. I bet we will find alot of dirt and money transfered into the voters that aproved this deal…. Feds need to probe into this muted city
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We prefer that you use your real name, but you may use any “member” name you wish. I spoke with another individual on this issue,….. “he was quite clear on the subject,…I sat with him while he posted on your forum. He told the truth clearly his post was deleted by staff. I have become very suspicious of your “Online Forum”,….and current city staff of council members sorry! just letting you know. I am very detoured about this page/forum. Can you give a universal class action statement,…
“I am not the only wonderer?
Okay here is the point how can a Grocery store like mi pueblo come in so fast and announce and fill out an application get approoved with out true council with the citizens and the voting class in EPA and open the same year! Something is wrong PEOPLE WAKE UP! They promised Chavez they would be open by July! They just let the public know in May! Hmm how did they get to do that soooooo fast! Now all of a suddden the CITY MANAGER WANTS TO RETIRE!!! HMMMMMM!!! The greed and the back dealings of this city will come to light and to an end very soon!
What people are saying is BE TRUE TO THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, WHY HAVE THIS POMP AND CEREMONY WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE MI PUEBLO HERE! DON’T LIE TO US AND SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING THE PEOPLES VOICE, WHEN YOU DECIDED THE FATE OF OUR COMMUNITY SOMEWHERE AT A BACK DOOR MEETING!!!! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS!
You took an OATH to uphold our community, when really you just creating deception and perceptions that now have us all fighting over your injustices and greed and personal agendas! WE ALL WANT A GROCERY STORE! BUT NOT MI PUEBLO! NOT AT THAT LOCATION AND THAT TYPE OF STORE!
These people come in and work people worse than slaves.
Do your research! Get out and ask questions on why there is BACKLASH and people against this! What about workers rights!? What about the ONLY BLACK GUY THEy hiRED IN OAKLAND that quit within one month because these people were racist, and made EVERYThING in Spanish: they spoke in nothing but Spanish and made him feel very unwanted.
What about the families that do not get to see their father who is working for this devil and he does not pay overtime nor would even begin to talk about double overtime, plus the fact he cannot spend Christmas at home with his children. Him and all the people in the store got shorted on their check and still have njot got paid for their work.
Or the guys that get hurt on the job and they dont pay for the medical bills and because they are an at will company they let his ass go because he is no help to them anymore!? Now he is jobless and disabled!
So many stories, SO MANY FAMILIES AND CASES THAT ARE PENDING and these people do not know where to complain because they are scared and dont want to create waves because of this big MACHINE MI PUERCO I Mean MI DIABLO I MEAN MI PUEBLO.
We fall for these ideas and concepts but you must understand why there is opposition and what does mean to our people!? Our city!?
They did not once talk about an application for other stores. There was now due process but us being FORCED FED THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL (RUEBEN, CARLOS AND LAURA!)
Why wasnt there a study done on the AFFECTS of such a specialty store coming in to EPA versus a non specific type of store! They spent so much money with re-development and how to glamour this up to sell it to the citizens but not once they do an affect study, a comparison study!
Romero stated that EPAMA study was ANECTDOTAL but if he can remeMber when he broke the brown act and moved the meeting for the planning commission to approove Mi Pueblo ONE WEEK LATER LET ME REPEAT ON WEEK LATER than the original planned date, who can do a real accurate study to compare in a week!? What did the sign say!? BROWN ACT VIOLATER! EPA WAKE UP!
He did that on purpose so there would not be any truth to come out on ther lack of study, true concern for the EPA all around (either for or against Mi Pueblo!) HMMMMM? Interesting! So he uses their own study against them but they did not have time bring out all their information he pushed the meeting seven days later? Hmmmm? So yeah the information might have been anectdotal but at least they tried and found out quite interestingly enough everything opposite that Perla Rodriguez said: there were bankruptcy, there were so many losses, there was businesses wiped out, there was unemployment, uprising against Mi Pueblo and management practices!!!!!!
Again I pose this question why wouldnt you do a study asking the negative to the city on such a store coming in!? That’s all!? Why did they fast track this Machine in to our lives as quick as they did? With true concern for the oppsosition? Hmmmm…. What nationality are they again?
These GREASTERS had already signed and does not want their true colors or should I say FLAVORS to come out?
THIS CITY NEEDS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION! I WILL BEGIN TO WRITE LETTERS AND EMAILS! ITS NOT ABOUT THE GROCERY STORE ITS ABOUT THE GAURDIANS OF THIS CITY BEING DISHONEST!
EPA WAKE UP!
NO ONE MADE THIS RACIST!!! THE COUNCIL MADE THIS RACIST BY BRINGING IN A SPECIFIC HERITAGE NAME BRAND!!!!???
THEY MADE THIS RACIST MI PUEBLO? THAT IS IT IN PLAIN WORDS! NO REGARD FOR THE OTHERS (RACES, STORES, LOCAL ECONOMICS, TRUE DEFINITION TO REGIONAL AREA!)
YES EPA DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS AND DESERVES A BETTER COUNCIL!
SO WE CAN TRADE OFF THAN TRADE MI PUEBLO FOR A NEW COUNCIL??
COOL ALRIGHT THAN!!!!!
DEMAND A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Write and complain to your senators and representatives: let them know the complaints and injustices and the fact that you are being muted and that they are not doing their jobs!
This city and it’s staff all need to be shook down like the mob! And that this City Attorney is a JOKE!
Never has there been an application approval processed fast track so quickly is it happened here in EPA!!!!!
Come on people they made you think you had a voice in this! Yeah right it was already decided now they got all of us fighting and arguing like this: WE ARE JUST THEIR PAWNS and we are playing the part. EPA MIGHT AS WELL BE IN SOME FOREIGN COUNTRY OR IRAQ IR IRAN OR SOMETHING!
There is no real voice in EPA! Just propaganda and greed via plauged council and it’s commissions and the rotten no good for nothing STAFF!! That doctors and hide EVERYTHING! This is not the first time! They do this with everything! And now MI PUEBLO!
YOU will all be pissed when they start treating youth and young adults like little slaves and ants running around like crazy with no breaks and for little money.
Mark my words there will be no diversity in their stores a year from now!
It’s not a lie it’s just the way they operate. Go visit a store near you! You might see managers or supervisors (one outta 200)!That are not hispanic. They rehire from another store and bus in but actually is not from that community! They hire some one that is working at the local FoodsCO and offer him a better salary he quits from there and works at Mi Pueblo and let him be the TOKEN RACE. Hes happy cause he has more money and they are happy because they got a BLAck guy. That will gladly speak happily about his employers so long as they keep giving him his raise. And while your at it be part of the quota that we need you to fit (less that one percent). This is not a lie! This is what they do! Do your homework!!! Research! Ask the Foodsco in RedwoodCity! They offered positions already to the butchers and supervisors and mangers there all the way back in MAY! I spoke to a manager working in Redwoodcity, he was my cashier, and he told me that Mi Pueblo said to him in JUNE that they were already in already hiring positions back then! They also were trying to hire him! WOW! no wondedr why we were muted! Promises already made! Why were they already hiring from individuals in May June!? This city will never be right as long as we have this type of leadership! And these are supposed to be our role models! I don’t think so!
The council and it’s constituants have a big lesson to learn (it will come soon) after they learn what the most basic one they should know and that is the BROWN ACT!!!!!
STOP THE LIES AND THE DECEPTIONS!
AS FAR AS THE RACE THING GOES!
As far as the race thing goes: it’s a sad thing when the TORCH BEARERS OF THIS CITY: COUNCIL would “accept” an application like this without having community meetings and panel discussions and consort with people like the chamber of commerce (although it is in active), EPA CITIZENS, and local commerce and create a campaign or drive to get EPA CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THE DECISION BEHIND THIS SPECIFIC NAME BRAND TO EPA! Hear the concerns have a place to truly be open and decipher openly amongst the community!
There was not a race backlash until the council let me remind majority hispanic MUted AND TRIED TO SILENCE opposition by fasttracking this: now why would they do that!? The majority of people that came and protested where hispanics promoting a spanish name brand of course they would do that: the council made this a RACE thing! Representing theirselves! And lied and said that they were promoting this MACHINE HONESTLY AND WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. They created this drama. And people are upset with opposition? Where is the true voice? Where is the TRUE American Constitution and Justice system in this equation?
DO you want to know why there was no Help bring Mi Pueblo campaign with panels and community meetings way before the application was even aproved?? That is because this was decided behind all our backs! The crappy council or I mean the City Council created this monster. For them to be as diverse and so called “educated” they have no real sense of community and no real sense of positive transition and for that matter how to deal with the public and SENSITIVITY!!!!
We would not have this problem if there was no blatant disrespect or disregard for the concerncs of the community and commerce. Imagine if they atleast tried this formula at least a year ago! There would be probably more of a consensus and less turmoil. People feel taken advantage of and upset over the feeling of being austrisized within their own AMERICAN CITY!
They created this dichotomy with their insentivity and personal agendas and without upholding their OATH to be for the people by the people. They created this race animosity!
Let me ask you this!? If MI PUEBLO and Juvenal Chavez was soo much for diversity…. why didnt he make ANY APPEARANCES TO THE BLACK CHURCHES AND THE ISLANDER CHURCHES? WHY DIDNT HE COME AND SPEAK TO THE BLACK WOMENS CLUBS OR THE BLACK CLUBS OR THE ISLANDER YOUTH GROUPS? ASK YOUR SELF THESE QUESTIONS!? IS THIS REALLY THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT WE WANT WHEN HE WOULDNT EVEN STEP FOOT IN ANY OF OF OTHER CHURCHES? OR DID HE EVEN ASK THE VIETNAMES BUDHIST TEMPLE BEHIND THEIR LOCATION? Nope I only saw hispanic churches and hispanic groups. Or was his small donation to Junteenth supposed to cover for all of us? You created this monster now you let this monster into the city!
The council with their lack of honesty, sensitivity, lack of positive transistion, lack of true concern, lack of true sense of community, lack of upholding the Constitution and STATE LEGISLATIVE AND LAWS, and just outright GREED AND LACK OF UNDERSTAND THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS that we are now having a BULLCRAP RACE issue! WAKE UP EPA! WAKE UP EPA! WAKE UP EPA!
DONT LET RACE BE THE DIVERSION:
HE WOULD NOT CONSORT WITH THE REST OR STEP FOOT IN ONE OF OUR CHURCHES BUT OHHHH HE GLADLY WILL TAKE A BLACK MAN’S MONEY, OR AN ISLANDERS MONEY.
THEY MADE THIS RACE CRAP UP! STAND UP EPA! WAKE UP! YOU ARE BEING LIED TO AND FOOLED!!!!!
WAKE UP EPA!
This city seriously needs a federal investigation!
Council thinks they are all the final answer (Abrica said it) but there is still the law and the federal government! Helloooo anyone knows that!!! Still at the the people can still get you off council and recall you! You are not the final answer! Who do they think they are?
Everyone needs to be fired and recalled and also a new face and new leadership! Even the nonprofits and it’s leaders are scared to get up and stand up and say they voices cause they all have ties and contracts and secret agreements and dirty politics that make them sit and be silent in their guilt! For some chump change! Two faced beggers!
I hope you get mad when you read this because they are all in it together! Activate yourself stand up for something! Stop selling out!
TO HMMMM.
YES WE DO HAVE BIGGER ISSUES IN THIS CITY THAT IS TO GET ALL THESE CORRUPT OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF AND COMMISSIONS OUT OF HERE!
WE WILL NEVER HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP UNDER THESE FOLKS AND THE PEOPLE THEY ARE IN WITH!
IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT THIS GROCERY STORE BUT HOW THEY DID AND LIED TO US ALL AND STILL CAN KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE!
YES THESE STORES AND BUSINESSES NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE BUT DOES THAT MEAN OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT RUNS US A MUCK AND LIE TO US!!
IF THAT IS THE CASE THEY SHOULD JUST CREATE THEIR OWN NATION!
NO WONDER WHY PEOPLE NEVER TAKE EPA SERIOUS!!!!!
Vida Loca,
Please keep an eye on your blood pressure.
my bad I did not mean to type in all caps, that was non intentional, my caps button was broken its fixed now. was not trying to yell.
no blood pressure is cool though thanks for asking lol
Vida Loca, You are surely right it is if we were standing in the same room, and we were,….the East Palo Alto,…council chambers. I personally know Ruben A.,Carlos R.,David W.,and Pete E.,.. but not Laura M.,. I’ll just say Woods and Evans voted against Mi Pueblo. Pete Evans said prepare for a lawsuit. I say prepare for an investigation. ANNA ESHOO is our congresswoman I love her work, she leaves no stones unturned. If you didnt know now you do,..watch her she takes no sides of wrong doers, Shes business and by,”no means” corrupt. I will right her and encourage all citizens to do the same. This “BROWN ACT” by a few council members is truly unjust toward the legal citizens of this town, of EAST PALO ALTO. “YES there should be a federal investigation. “Believe it or not” now that the city has a flag it has been tainted in the first year its flown, …..I cannot salute a flag like that.
I beleive the last time there was an investigation in East Palo Alto was when Mr. Jones was on council whom coincidentally was the mayor and on council when they approved the gateway 101 project, with County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and helped write the language and description of the “proposed” but already promised area. And that was in the late 80’s. It’s 2009!?
Yep we are behind schedule its time for an investigation!
Shake em all down!
Power to the People! ALL PEOPLES from EPA the whole BAY!
Stand up for your rights! Stand up for WHAT IS RIGHT!
We want a just, even, fair, “transparent” (is that what their signs said) council and its personnel.
We all pull together.
Also to WilliamR:
“Please keep an eye on you bloodpressure”
This is also what happens when you live in a city where you have an ignorant, selfish, self centered, controlling, “Illuminati” council making a mockery of our Justice and Government System: where they do not let the public speak and present and vent their concerns before a great decision like this.
We EPA residents like to come on to TOPIX and PA Online and let em have it!
I am so happy to hear that Mi Pueblo will be opening soon! The smaller stores will always feel unsafe and not at the level that we deserve, the stores are run down, outdated and just can not compete. We need to fully redevelop the Pal Market strip as it is an eye sore that attracts unhealthy minded people. The other “markets” also need to go as some of them sit in locations that would benefit from being strictly residential. Removing these “markets” will only bring true peace and harmony to our city! They are definite eyesores that we should no longer tolerate. Furthermore, we will not allow these “market” owners to think they make decisions re: the progress of EPA!!
East Palo Alto needs the FEDERALLY! Invite the Feds in for a full investigation. This city is so full of it and its crooks!
Taking out the little markets or local commerce does not mean peace and harmony!
Everyone knows with crime or anything that evolves you take one component away you create a more organized smarter syndicate. So what does taking out local businesses have to do with peace and harmony? Yes they have to fix there stores and learn to compete.
You still have the crooked a** city council! We cannot have peace a d harmony when you got crooked council and crooked staff and personell.
Thank goodness the majority of the city council is forward thinking and we will now have something so very basic to EPA. We who truly live here must be united and not let those who do NOT try to divide us. We are an awesome Black and Latino community with the power to move mountains if we could just stop the Hate!
All the haters need not to shop at MI PUEBLO! Regarles of a person legal statuse everyone has the buying power so get over it! Mi PUEBLO is hear to stay. And for all those people that are anti immagrant, tell you what dont patranise any busines that employes undocumented people and you will find youself short of places to shop. Take a trip to downtown palo alto and see all the wonderful hard workers there about 75% latino. So its not just Mi Pueblo. Its all CALIFONIA or better yet the NATION!!!!!