Superstore proponents say bigger stores give us more choice.

But the reality is that a retailer opening a superstore quickly becomes our only choice.

Measure D-08 will help shield Atascadero from a shopping mono-culture and protect our downtown and the variety of choices that Atascadero deserves.

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Superstores do not bring added revenue, but are a form of economic displacement.

Studies show that 80% or more of superstore sales are "transferred sales" from existing merchants.

Superstores increase two things, traffic and crime. Taxpayers will have to pick up the cost of infrastructure and every police and emergency response to the superstore.

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Superstores provide low-paying jobs that displace better, higher-paying jobs elsewhere in the local economy.

Wages and benefits in Atascadero will decline if a superstore opens here.

The rise of superstores over the past 20 years has decimated two long-standing pillars of the American middle class: small business owners and manufacturing jobs.

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MACKEY, MARJORIE ALLAN, LON BERAUD, ELLEN BRENNLER, MIKE BRYNE, CHARLOTTE AND MIKE BYLES, DORDO HEATHERINGTON, PAM LUNA, GEORGE MARKS, DOUGLAS O'KEEFE, JOAN

GERI ASPRAS AMANDA AYRES ELLEN AYRES JOHN BAAS KATHRYN L. BADGER ROCKY BEDELL LINDA BENCHMAN FRANCOIS BERAUD CORY BLACK THOMAS BLETKO KURT BOWERMAN SUSAN BOWERMAN CATHY BRADY PATRICK BRADY MARTY BROWN COLIN BUCKLER DEB BUCKLER MELISSA BUCKLER RANDY BUCKLER DAVID CLARK TOM COMAR ROGER COMBS CINDY CSASUR PAUL DAMOURIA TRACY DIVITA BAAS KOREY DUDLEY JULIE DUNN EICKEMEYER, DR. JAMES AND JENNIFER FANES, DIANE FRANK, FRED FRANK, PATRICIA FRIEDRICHSEN, JOHANNA FRIEDRICHSEN, ROBERT FUGLIE, GORDON GARCIA, CAL GOERS, JOHN W. GOLDSTEIN, JONATHAN GRACEFFA, MICHELLE GRACEFFA, SAL GRAY, ANN HALE, GEORGE HALE, NOBUKO HALLIDAY, DONNA HAMILTON, MARYALICE HARDING, STEVE

HARRISON, DIANE HARRISON, MIKE HARVEY, SUSAN HASTINGS, SANDY HASTINGS, TIM HEATHERINGTON, JOHN HETHERINGTON, LYNE HOLMAN, JOHN HUFDON, LORETTA HUMPHREY, GENE HUNT, DONNA HUNT, WILLIAM HUNTER, LLYN IVERSON, JON JODRY, MARY JANE JODRY, WILLIAM "BILL" JODRY JONES, CORRINA KEVORKIN, CYNTHIA KIEL, RONALD KINDEL, MARIA KOLT, LEAH KRIEGER, MICA LAMOURIA, DEBRA LANCASTER, HEATHER LANCASTER, PALMER LARSEN, VICTOR LASALLE, STEVE LAWRENCE, RANDY MACHADO, SANDRA MALLORY, JEANNIE MANNING, LORI MARCH, LINDSAY MARCH, WINFRED MARKS, SORRELL MONTEATH, DOUG MUSGRAVE, NEVIN MYL, JONATHAN PAFF, ALSTON PERKINS, LEE PERKINS-KWAS, PATRICIA PETERSON, PAULETTE PETKO, JANICE PHILLIPS, GENINE PHILLIPS, LARRY PHILLIPS, MARK

POPE, CHRYSTINA POPE, JON POSSON, LISE POSSON, STEVE POWERS, BOB POWERS, ROBIN POWERS, VIRGINIA QUINN, BOB RANSOM, JUDY ROELBBER, ELIZABETH ROTHMAN, MADELINE ROTHMAN, RON SACKETT, CHERYL SACKETT, VERNON SANCHEZ, ADELE SCHMIDT, CRAIG SCHOENIKE, BARBARA SHAYDAK, ERNA SHAYDAK, JOHN SHECKLER, PAUL SHERBURNE, CASANDRA SHERBURNE, CRAIG C. SHERBURNE, CRAIG P. SHERBURNE, DEBRA SKINNER, ROBERT SLEAN, JAY STONE, CAROLYN STONE, JIMMIE TEUBNER, R. MICHAEL TEUBNER, ROBERTA TILLMAN, JANNEIL TILLMAN, STEVE TOUEY-MOTE, DAVE TOUEY-MOTE, MARIE TRENTICOSTE, NORA VALKO, BONNIE VALKO, MIKE WALLACE, BRIAN WEISS, MELISSA WEYMAN, RAY WICKER, TONY ARTHUR WINGENBACH, CARLA WOOD, IAN WORKMAN, BARBARA YORK, JUDY

Latest News About Measure D-08

Lon Allan: What’s all the fuss over Measure D-08?
By Lon Allan
The Tribune 09/02/2008

I decided it was time to take a closer look at the so-called “Shield Initiative,” which will appear on the Atascadero ballot as Measure D-08. I’ve read dozens of letters to the editor addressing what the writers see as “doom and gloom” for Atascadero if the measure wins approval in November.

Frankly folks, I don’t see anything to be afraid of. It is a rather benign ordinance.

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Argument in Favor of Measure D-08

The choice is clear. Do we want to develop a vibrant, walkable CITY CENTER, OR a massive Superstore complex on the edge of town? Do we want diverse, sustainable economic retail GROWTH to shore up much needed tax base OR a Superstore that shifts sales tax revenue from others with minimal financial gains to the City? This decision forever defines the development and character of Atascadero. Make no mistake, a superstore will change our City’s SHOPPING PATTERNS and prevent the realization of an economically viable downtown. All large cities on the Central Coast and County have adopted similar ordinances banning Superstores to ensure their economic survival.

VOTE YES FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH and TO BAN SUPERSTORES

WHY IS MEASURE D-08 NEEDED?

SUPERSTORES have BIG NEGATIVE IMPACTS:

ECONOMIC:
• Superstores drain revenue from locally-owned businesses
• Superstores decimate plazas with Grocery-based anchor tenants such as Spencer’s, Food For Less and K-Mart plazas
• Higher demand of city services raises citizen tax burden
• Property Values of homes near Superstores decline
• Tourism suffers if city loses its unique character

VALUES: Quality of life is threatened by…
• Loss of downtown as community and social center
• Superstore paves the way to sprawling L.A. style urbanization
• Traffic congestion, air, light and noise pollution 24/7

ASK YOURSELF:
• Why does Atascadero boast the greatest population gain in the Central Coast for 2007?
• What attraction does Atascadero hold for you?
• Which would attract future tourist dollars: a Superstore or a vibrant downtown center?

MEASURE D-08 DOES NOT PREVENT A GROCERY STORE being built anywhere in the city.

SUMMARY: This Measure reinforces Atascadero’s General Plan, ensuring the vitality of the City’s downtown and its future economic growth and safeguarding the region’s economic welfare. Visit website: www.atascaderoshield.com

Vote Yes on Measure D-08

The undersigned author and proponents of the Direct Argument in favor of ballot measure D-08 at the General Municipal Election for the City of Atascadero to be held on November 4, 2008, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Thomas A. Comar
Atascadero Shield Initiative

Ellen Bakker Beraud
City Council Member

Mike Brennler
City Council Member

Joan M. O'Keefe
Planning Commissioner

Brian Wallace
Downtown Business Owner

Rebuttal to Argument Against Ballot Measure D-08

Measure D-08 grew out of a groundswell of community support for downtown development and in opposition to superstores.

Superstores will compete with our developing downtown, decrease shopping choice and merely shift sales tax revenue, draining city services.

Superstores increase two things, traffic and crime. Taxpayers will have to pick up the cost of infrastructure and every police and emergency response to the superstore.

Measure D-08 is a conservative ordinance allowing membership clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club which generate less traffic than superstores and are not open 24/7.

Measure D-08 Protects CHOICE:
• Diversity in shopping
• Established plazas with grocery store anchors
• Head of household jobs

Measure D-08 Protects SALES TAX REVENUE:

Superstores do not bring added revenue, but are a form of economic displacement--studies show that 80% or more of superstore sales are "transferred sales" from existing merchants.

SUMMARY:
Measure D-08 welcomes new business to Atascadero, encourages greater competition and more consumer choice by not allowing superstores to become the only place to buy certain kinds of goods. Once competitors close, superstore prices increase. All large cities on the Central Coast and the county itself ban superstores.

Size caps facilitate a market composed of small and mid-sized stores. Banning superstores allows Downtown investment. They don't sell small town quality of life on any shelf at superstores, but once they take it from us, we can't buy it back at any price.

The undersigned proponents of the Rebuttal to Argument Against ballot measure D-08 at the General Municipal Election for the City of Atascadero to be held on November 4, 2008, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief.

George Luna
City Council Member

Douglas Marks
Planning Commissioner

Sorrell Marks
Parks & Recreation Commissioner

Dr. Randy Lawrence
MD, General Surgeon

Ronald Rothman
Atascadero Shield Committee