Pro-Wal-Mart, union forces renew battle over Supercenters

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Nov. 12, 1999 | 11:07 a.m.

Disc jockeys verbally assaulted Clark County commissioners and a citizens group collected signatures Thursday in an effort to force the board to reconsider a controversial ordinance they believe targets Wal-Mart.

The scene was similar to their first petition drive last month. Only on Thursday, KXNT 840-AM and "Citizens for Competition" were outnumbered by a vociferous line of union members.

And this time, the message each contingent was trying to relay was somewhat muddled.

The two sides have been battling since the commission approved an ordinance Oct. 6 that bans stores larger than 110,000 square feet from devoting more than 7,500 square feet to groceries.

The measure, which was pushed by the union, prevents the nonunion Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter. It also presents obstacles for other "big box stores" such as Costco Wholesale.

On Thursday KXNT representatives told union leaders that their beef with the ordinance was about commissioners' willingness to deny residents their right to free enterprise. They said they do not want to make it a "union issue."

But union leaders Roberta West and Mike Gittings scoffed, saying they heard disc jockeys make disparaging comments about the union in urging residents to show up at the nonunion Kings Ranch Market on Decatur Boulevard.

Disc jockeys have also repeatedly referred to the commissioners who voted for the ordinance -- Erin Kenny, Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Myrna Williams -- as the "three witches."

Union leaders attended Thursday's event to distribute forms allowing those who signed the petition without fully understanding the ordinance to rescind their vote.

Gittings said residents don't understand the ordinance was solely about zoning.

"This ordinance applies to everyone," Gittings said, emphasizing that it does not target Wal-Mart. " If Wal-Mart wants a Supercenter, they can have one. It just has to be smaller."

Meanwhile, union members surrounding Gittings tossed out bright orange anti-Wal-Mart T-shirts.

Gittings conceded the issue is two-sided for the union. It supports the ordinance because it is wise planning. But it also opposes Wal-Mart because, he said, the company doesn't provide health benefits to all employees and pays low wages.

"Citizens for Competition" has about five months to collect 27,760 signatures -- 10 percent of the people who voted during the last election. If the signatures are collected, the commission will have to reconsider the ordinance.

If the ordinance is again approved, the measure would be placed on next November's general election ballot.

Dan Burdish, former executive director of the Nevada Republican Party, said his citizens group has collected about 3,000 signatures so far. But, he added, it plans to be more aggressive following the Thanksgiving weekend.