Inland Utopia

I would like to come up with solutions to solve the Wal-Mart versus residents’ fight that is happening in North Western Ontario. It may not be the Israelis versus the Palestinians but it surely feels that way.

One, it is going to take sacrifices from both sides. Wal-Mart may have to give up the idea of a 24/7 supercenter and consider having the same hours as the one in Upland.

Two, Wal-Mart can use green technology to help build positive public relations such as having the store being able to power its own energy and being energy efficient.

Three, the abandoned lot needs to be demolished. It is creating decreased property values. Maybe give the property owner a permit to do the demolition in the next few months, and if Wal-Mart refuses, use the redevelopment agency’s money to pay for it and put a lien on it. It’s like code enforcement going after a residential property owner for bad landscaping.

Four, many of the property owners are worried about “the underclass” such as the homeless hanging around the new shopping center. Maybe team up with Upland who has the same problem so we could make shopping up and down the 10 freeway overpass a good one.

Ontario residents deserve better. We do deserve representatives that do not have the perception of being bought by outside interests such as Councilman Wapner, just because we do not have the thousands of dollars to stuff in their campaign accounts does not mean that we should be ignored.

Our city does deserve growth and opportunity, but at what price should this growth and opportunity provide for our city? It is not about NIMBYism, it is about being pragmatic to business and our residents which make our city work. Since the advent of Proposition 13 we are reliant on sales tax revenue to fund our local government, we should learn to work with the concerns of the residents so businesses would be able to navigate the hoops of public relations.

It has been almost a decade since Target, Toys R’Us and Food 4 Less left the parcel on Fifth and Mountain and if Wal-Mart wants to stop being an absentee landlord they need to negotiate with the residents and clean the blight they purchased.

Unlike the Chino Spectrum, this planned Super Center is near a residential district. Wal-Mart needs to make concessions in order for their project to happen. If concessions such as forgoing the 24/7 nature of the operation can not happen, then Wal-Mart needs to sell off the property so we can find a tenant that would fit well with the neighborhood.

For the last decade the former parcel on Fifth and Mountain in Ontario has been an eyesore since their former tenants left. Ontario residents have been fighting Wal-Mart who bought the property and the city government to prevent a Super Wal-Mart from being built in their neighborhood.

I could understand that the city of Ontario would like to have more sales tax revenue and more jobs flowing thru, but it seems the city only listens to big money flowing thru its leader’s campaign accounts. There should be an amicable compromise between the residents and the property owner to make things happen.

I would suggest solutions on restricting the hours of operation where it would only be 24/7 during the winter season as a start to make an olive branch to the residents who surround the parcel. A regular sized wal-mart with a micro-market such as their Marketside concept or a Wal-Mart neighborhood market a few blocks a way would  have more public support.

I think honestly there should be a referendum with people who live in a 1.5 mile radius in Ontario to decide if the project should be there. If not, Wal-Mart should be refunded the purchase of their land plus 15% and find a new business or residential complex that would be least offensive.