Mighty Hercules defeats Wal-Mart


By Jim Smith

The great Hercules of Greek lore was a giant of a man - half god, half human - for whom no task was too big. The city of Hercules in Northern California is small in population - about half that of Venice - but its city council has more guts than L.A.’s when it comes to taking on the rich and powerful.


The City Council voted unanimously May 23 to use its power of eminent domain to prevent Wal-Mart from building a 17-acre big-box store on land overlooking San Pablo Bay. The 300 people in the council chambers erupted in cheers and applause. Hercules had previously tried to buy the land from Wal-Mart, but its offer was rejected.

When several speakers, at a May 22 hearing at Walgrove Elementary, urged the L.A. City Council to use eminent domain to save Lincoln Place, several hundred people in attendance erupted in cheers and applause. However, L.A. City Councilmembers Ed Reyes and Herb Wesson - unlike their Hercules counterparts - ignored the advice.

Posted: Thu - June 1, 2006 at 09:49 PM          


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