Sebastopol’s economy depends heavily on its locally rooted businesses, its independent downtown environment and its distinctive community identity. It is this very distinctive quality of our city that attracts and holds businesses and residents, yet it is the elements of this very quality that are undermined and jeopardized by chains like Grocery Outlet that seek to capitalize on the vitality they would sap.
Sebastopol’s General Plan emphasizes preserving downtown vitality, supporting local businesses, and protecting the city’s unique character, elements which are not easily replicated or replaced when destroyed.
As representatives and custodians of our beautiful city, it behooves you each to resist the false promise of shiny new tax dollars and jobs, a promise that will fade with their shoddy employment practices and the loss of funds and support for our community service organizations, at-risk residents, and non-profits that have long benefited from our existing local groceries.
Sebastopol’s economic viability is closely tied to maintaining a trustworthy, vibrant and local business ecosystem that supports and is supported by independent merchants, local investment, tourism, and honorable community connections.
Approving another national chain grocery retailer in an already saturated market would move the city further away from the long-term vision residents have worked so hard to preserve. It is not financially wise to rush and grab a dishonorable renter rather than exercise caution and work more actively and creatively to attract a decent tenant that will truly fit, honestly respect, and nurture the local environment it seeks to enter.
We can do this. Residents will come up with creative ideas, sources of support, solutions, and unexpected possibilities. The dark shadow of another chain store being allowed to insinuate itself into our common downtown will be removed. Residents will be excited and feel our council members are finally moving in a positive direction.
For all these reasons, as a long time Sebastopol resident and Public Arts chair emeritus, I urge the Planning Commission and City Council to stop the the Grocery Outlet chainstore incursion, keep this predatory business out of our city.
I urge you each to think positively and realize the ways this Sebastopol Commons Rite-Aid building dream solution can be attained.
Sincerely,
Marghe Mills-Thysen