This Item was not moved forward via will of the people. This company has purposedly ignored the community. The Mi Pueblo organization has no intention on hiring any of the youth of any other ethnic group, such as African American, Asian, Caucaisan, Polynesian,Pacific Islanders. The News article states,.. "The city of EAST PALO ALTO gives Mi Pueblo the green light",....WRONG!!!! Council members "LAURA MARTINEZ, Ruben Abrica,and ? Romero, gave Mi Pueblo the green light. All Hispanics voted for this store to be in a new developement where it does not fit. I am SLANDERLESSLY just letting the public know this store caters to ONE Nationality of people in our dearly diverse city. As of now I hope to be proven. With the actions of Martinez, Abrica, and Romero I assure you a federal investigation "in the mist",....Not anywhere in America should a politician allow someone to grease thier palms to move forward any agenda,.. for personal gain. Is this speculation? or is it information.

As a resident of Belle Haven I applaud the council's decision to allow Mi Pueblo. More choice is better for consumers. Mi Pueblo will offer cheaper, healthier, and diverse food choices close to home. As for it being a grocer geared to hispanics ... doesn't that make sense in a city that's 75% hispanic? If one doesn't support Mi Pueblo, vote with your dollars and shop elsewhere.

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As for "jimmy C's comment,.....Out of that 75% according to the census bureau only 32% have legally migrated to the city of East Palo Alto and homesteaded with the proper documents,....such as green cards,drivers licenses and birth certificates. www.paloaltoonline.com/square/index.php?i=3&d=1&t=3089 heres your link even though migration is on the decline.

It's not right bringing in a Hispanic store![Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staf What's going to happen to our long time locale stores that been here for thirty years they will go out of bussines! I will never enter that Mexican store and still shop our locale stores! I will never vote for a Mexican council member. The city is just bad for not supporting our locale guys. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

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The public voted for the city council. The city council voted for Mi Pueblo. So, the public voted for Mi Pueblo.

As a resident of EPA, I strongly agree with Woods that this was the wrong location for a supermarket based ONLY on the economic/tax base argument. That said, The owners of Mi Puelblo saw an opportunity to provide a service to and under served community in a great location and they jumped on the chance. Sounds like good capitalism to me.

Change is always hard. Mi Pueblo is just an indicator of the larger changes taking place in the EPA community and all across the USA... the growth and influence of Hispanics in America. Welcome to 2009. Despite what a few bigots above might be saying...(STOP HATING!) most people embrace and appreciate the positive contributions that Hispanics make to EPA and the USA - I know that I do.

Congrats to Juvenal Chavez and the Mi Pueblo team. Thank you for joining our community. We need more entrepreneurs like you coming to our community.

Just make sure that you take the time to listen to the concerns of the citizens of EPA in your offerings and employment preferences. Hire local. Provide a place for all. And make sure you keep our neighborhood clean and secure!

Keith

The "local stores" are mostly Liquor/Tobacco/Lotto ticket shops owned by people outside the community-they are local by location NOT spirit of ownership.
NOBODY gets all their groceries in EPA right now-it's impossible-so the few true local spots have a chance to succeed. Cooley Market is all we need in the Gardens-and I live by the G market.
Outside businessmen looked at EPA and said "What these folks need is better access to alcohol, smokes n lotto tickets" which was BS and now they are gonna have to pay for it because someone else said we need healthy low cost variety in groceries and that has been the view for 30 yrs-thanks to Mi Pueblo for opening where NOONE else would [portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Everyone has a right to an opinion on this matter. Heres is the "but,..... part and more less the truth, I attended these sessions from the very begginings. It started with the Brown Act violation ,...by Council member Carlos Romero.... the people of EPA never really got a heartfeeling of a chance. Keep in mind thAT 3/4 of the latino community is also not feeling this large corner store either. Carlos Romero, Ruben Abrica and "lara martinez" ,...(A PRONOUN) Who cannot be serious about city politics. If you are reading this post . I ASK WHY ARE YOU THERE? activate yourself. Folks watch these people they cannot hide this is who they are,... and all hispanics don't operate this way. They have proved that they are tainted I challenge all to watch carefully. Call the FEDERALLY!!!

I know all the owners of the local stores and the best store is pal market becase of great customer service and out of all the stores they have the best low prices and cleaness of there store, they wanted to tear down there existing store and build a huge supermarket before mi pueblo wanted to come in. They been working with the city for the last 2 years, after speaking with the owner of pal market after mi pueblo got approved, they are thinking twice about building it because it will be too hard and two supermarkets in EPA, they been here for the last 30 years and they supported the comminity for ever they would never say no to support. Oakwood and garden market are very pissed they feel the three Hispanics on the council had there minds made up 8 months ago. Carlos Ramiro should be recalled for his actions and disrespect to the locale merchants. I'm pretty sure that the epama will not sleep until they get justice I know thease members they are hard core owners and with lots of residents supporting them! I know I will and I already talked to th president of the epama and he promises he is not done even though mi pueblo opens up they will still fight. All they really have to do is go back to court and they will get what they want and stop this nonesence from our elected city council members! I know they already picked there people to run for city council for the next term and they will succeed throwing out abrica and the mute Laura Martinez and recall Carlos Ramiro, our city needs a change and where it starts is the city council! I respect epama for the fight they put and I never seen this in our city the epama have power then everyone thinks they are a strong assoction and god bless them I'm a long time OG and I support them and there president who worked very hard on this issue I give him 5 stars I hope he will run for city council one day, I will vote for him and many others will too. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

To bring a market at this location is ridiculous, i never would have seen a Mi Pueblo market next to a Nordtroms....haha...but i do agree that we need a large market but not in this location...What happened to the empty lot in front of the library

NO supermarket wants to come here. Sure a Safeway at the corner of Bay and university would be way better. Everyone would love that, but for many years the city has been trying and can't get any big name store to come in. We could wait 15 more years and we would still not have a major store. Its coming, everyone makes a choice where they spend their money. If you like the move and dont want to drive far for croceries, then shop there, if you like the small corner stores then you can still give them your business. If safeway has better deals i'm still going to safeway, but if Mi Pueblo has compettetive pricing, i'm shopping at mi pueblo.

The important question to consider is whether opening this store will generate additional traffic in Palo Alto. The PA city council needs to look at this and advise the EPA council, since they are not quite up to speed on this matter, that traffic studies and an EIR should be done before a permit is granted.

PA does NOT, and should not, have a say in the matter about a grocery store on the east side. The Ikea traffic has been handled well, much better than feared.

All of the anti-Hispanic panic is just bizarre. The face of EPA has changed; whether folks here are undocumented or not is not the point. People should shop here if we have the stores.

I think the outstanding issue that has not been resolved, at least to my satisfaction, is: How was the location where Mi Pueblo is to built zoned? I thought there was a zoning issue and ignoring it can cause future problems.

I am not sure what exactly is behind the agenda to keep Mi Pueblo out, but so far it looks like greed, racism, classism, fear of change and who knows what else.

We have much larger issues in this community. Get this store in, have it well guarded and I'll shop there at times. I canNOT stand the dirty small markets with overpriced stuff, rude clerks, filthy parking lots, terrible drivers and the lack of concern for personal safety of patrons. I only ventured recently into some of the eastside stores for work errands and was appalled by these stores. If the owners of these littler stores suffer due to a Mi Pueblo, too bad - clean up your act improve your business folks! That's what a free market economy is about.

About time we have a Supermarket in EPA. The local stores have ripped off ppl for a long time. If you look at there prices you will understand what I am saying. Now they need to get there acts together and offer customers better price, product and service.

I am so happy to have a grocery store! All these little markets suck! They have rotten/old food at their stores. They also sell tobacco and alcohol to minors. When you enter to buy anything you don't even know how much you're going to pay because they refuse to stick price tags on items...EPA is better than that. We deserve better... Anyone who disagrees is settling for less. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Everybody get ready because EPA is moving forward...I'm black and I want Mi Pueblo here in EPA. We need this store. I'm sick of people complaining about the past. You as an individual have the power to talk and speak. Ms. Evans needs to get a therapist and complain to who ever that person is...for real...if you don't like the customer service..complain to the store..duhh. I am so sick of the drama at council mtgs. People need to stay focused and let the council do their jobs...If the roudy people (and you know who i'm talking bout) would shut up and stop the side conversations the council would get done sooner and comuntiy forum would be ealier...It's so sad how unprofessional people are. There is a sign that says no food in the chambers and people still do it..even the people in the back. (if you're reading this...pay attention) [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Welcome to Mi Pueblo.... :)

Mi Pueblo is here to stay!!! yee yee!!! Everybody get a job!!!

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

this is to Rita, Shuman worked really hard and he is the only one had a heart to stand up to the council members, Rita you have to remember Shuman put in 450,000.00 on that corner to put in a new 20,000sq supermarket and low income housing on top. I know shuman for 10 years he donates to the youth, he feeds people in need. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Hmmm i wonder if the city council got paid for their votes... May be we need to get this investigated. I bet we will find alot of dirt and money transfered into the voters that aproved this deal.... Feds need to probe into this muted city

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Okay here is the point how can a Grocery store like mi pueblo come in so fast and announce and fill out an application get approoved with out true council with the citizens and the voting class in EPA and open the same year! Something is wrong PEOPLE WAKE UP! They promised Chavez they would be open by July! They just let the public know in May! Hmm how did they get to do that soooooo fast! Now all of a suddden the CITY MANAGER WANTS TO RETIRE!!! HMMMMMM!!! The greed and the back dealings of this city will come to light and to an end very soon!

What people are saying is BE TRUE TO THE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, WHY HAVE THIS POMP AND CEREMONY WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE MI PUEBLO HERE! DON'T LIE TO US AND SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING THE PEOPLES VOICE, WHEN YOU DECIDED THE FATE OF OUR COMMUNITY SOMEWHERE AT A BACK DOOR MEETING!!!! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS!

You took an OATH to uphold our community, when really you just creating deception and perceptions that now have us all fighting over your injustices and greed and personal agendas! WE ALL WANT A GROCERY STORE! BUT NOT MI PUEBLO! NOT AT THAT LOCATION AND THAT TYPE OF STORE!

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We fall for these ideas and concepts but you must understand why there is opposition and what does mean to our people!? Our city!?

They did not once talk about an application for other stores. There was now due process but us being FORCED FED THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL (RUEBEN, CARLOS AND LAURA!)

Why wasnt there a study done on the AFFECTS of such a specialty store coming in to EPA versus a non specific type of store! They spent so much money with re-development and how to glamour this up to sell it to the citizens but not once they do an affect study, a comparison study!

Why did they fast track this Machine in to our lives as quick as they did? With true concern for the oppsosition?

[Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Write and complain to your senators and representatives: let them know the complaints and injustices and the fact that you are being muted and that they are not doing their jobs!
This city and it's staff all need to be shook down like the mob! And that this City Attorney is a JOKE!

Never has there been an application approval processed fast track so quickly is it happened here in EPA!!!!!

Come on people they made you think you had a voice in this! Yeah right it was already decided now they got all of us fighting and arguing like this: WE ARE JUST THEIR PAWNS and we are playing the part. EPA MIGHT AS WELL BE IN SOME FOREIGN COUNTRY OR IRAQ IR IRAN OR SOMETHING!

There is no real voice in EPA! Just propaganda and greed via plauged council and it's commissions and the rotten no good for nothing STAFF!! That doctors and hide EVERYTHING! This is not the first time! They do this with everything! And now MI PUEBLO!

YOU will all be pissed when they start treating youth and young adults like little slaves and ants running around like crazy with no breaks and for little money.

Mark my words there will be no diversity in their stores a year from now!

It's not a lie it's just the way they operate. Go visit a store near you! You might see managers or supervisors (one outta 200)!That are not hispanic. They rehire from another store and bus in but actually is not from that community! They hire some one that is working at the local FoodsCO and offer him a better salary he quits from there and works at Mi Pueblo and let him be the TOKEN RACE. Hes happy cause he has more money and they are happy because they got a BLAck guy. That will gladly speak happily about his employers so long as they keep giving him his raise. And while your at it be part of the quota that we need you to fit (less that one percent). This is not a lie! This is what they do! Do your homework!!! Research! Ask the Foodsco in RedwoodCity! They offered positions already to the butchers and supervisors and mangers there all the way back in MAY! I spoke to a manager working in Redwoodcity, he was my cashier, and he told me that Mi Pueblo said to him in JUNE that they were already in already hiring positions back then! They also were trying to hire him! WOW! no wondedr why we were muted! Promises already made! Why were they already hiring from individuals in May June!? This city will never be right as long as we have this type of leadership! And these are supposed to be our role models! I don't think so!

The council and it's constituants have a big lesson to learn (it will come soon) after they learn what the most basic one they should know and that is the BROWN ACT!!!!!

STOP THE LIES AND THE DECEPTIONS!

AS FAR AS THE RACE THING GOES!

As far as the race thing goes: it's a sad thing when the TORCH BEARERS OF THIS CITY: COUNCIL would "accept" an application like this without having community meetings and panel discussions and consort with people like the chamber of commerce (although it is in active), EPA CITIZENS, and local commerce and create a campaign or drive to get EPA CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND THE DECISION BEHIND THIS SPECIFIC NAME BRAND TO EPA! Hear the concerns have a place to truly be open and decipher openly amongst the community!

There was not a race backlash until the council let me remind majority hispanic MUted AND TRIED TO SILENCE opposition by fasttracking this: now why would they do that!? The majority of people that came and protested where hispanics promoting a spanish name brand of course they would do that: the council made this a RACE thing! Representing theirselves! And lied and said that they were promoting this MACHINE HONESTLY AND WITH THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. They created this drama. And people are upset with opposition? Where is the true voice? Where is the TRUE American Constitution and Justice system in this equation?

DO you want to know why there was no Help bring Mi Pueblo campaign with panels and community meetings way before the application was even aproved?? That is because this was decided behind all our backs! The crappy council or I mean the City Council created this monster. For them to be as diverse and so called "educated" they have no real sense of community and no real sense of positive transition and for that matter how to deal with the public and SENSITIVITY!!!!

We would not have this problem if there was no blatant disrespect or disregard for the concerncs of the community and commerce. Imagine if they atleast tried this formula at least a year ago! There would be probably more of a consensus and less turmoil. People feel taken advantage of and upset over the feeling of being austrisized within their own AMERICAN CITY!

They created this dichotomy with their insentivity and personal agendas and without upholding their OATH to be for the people by the people. They created this race animosity!

Let me ask you this!? If MI PUEBLO and Juvenal Chavez was soo much for diversity.... why didnt he make ANY APPEARANCES TO THE BLACK CHURCHES AND THE ISLANDER CHURCHES? WHY DIDNT HE COME AND SPEAK TO THE BLACK WOMENS CLUBS OR THE BLACK CLUBS OR THE ISLANDER YOUTH GROUPS? ASK YOUR SELF THESE QUESTIONS!? IS THIS REALLY THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT WE WANT WHEN HE WOULDNT EVEN STEP FOOT IN ANY OF OF OTHER CHURCHES? OR DID HE EVEN ASK THE VIETNAMES BUDHIST TEMPLE BEHIND THEIR LOCATION? Nope I only saw hispanic churches and hispanic groups. Or was his small donation to Junteenth supposed to cover for all of us? You created this monster now you let this monster into the city!

The council with their lack of honesty, sensitivity, lack of positive transistion, lack of true concern, lack of true sense of community, lack of upholding the Constitution and STATE LEGISLATIVE AND LAWS, and just outright GREED AND LACK OF UNDERSTAND THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS that we are now having a BULLCRAP RACE issue! WAKE UP EPA! WAKE UP EPA! WAKE UP EPA!

DONT LET RACE BE THE DIVERSION:

HE WOULD NOT CONSORT WITH THE REST OR STEP FOOT IN ONE OF OUR CHURCHES BUT OHHHH HE GLADLY WILL TAKE A BLACK MAN'S MONEY, OR AN ISLANDERS MONEY.

THEY MADE THIS RACE CRAP UP! STAND UP EPA! WAKE UP! YOU ARE BEING LIED TO AND FOOLED!!!!!

WAKE UP EPA!

This city seriously needs a federal investigation!

Council thinks they are all the final answer (Abrica said it) but there is still the law and the federal government! Helloooo anyone knows that!!! Still at the the people can still get you off council and recall you! You are not the final answer! Who do they think they are?

Everyone needs to be fired and recalled and also a new face and new leadership! Even the nonprofits and it's leaders are scared to get up and stand up and say they voices cause they all have ties and contracts and secret agreements and dirty politics that make them sit and be silent in their guilt! For some chump change! Two faced beggers!

I hope you get mad when you read this because they are all in it together! Activate yourself stand up for something! Stop selling out!

TO HMMMM.

YES WE DO HAVE BIGGER ISSUES IN THIS CITY THAT IS TO GET ALL THESE CORRUPT OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF AND COMMISSIONS OUT OF HERE!

WE WILL NEVER HAVE GOOD LEADERSHIP UNDER THESE FOLKS AND THE PEOPLE THEY ARE IN WITH!

IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THIS GROCERY STORE BUT HOW THEY DID AND LIED TO US ALL AND STILL CAN KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE!

YES THESE STORES AND BUSINESSES NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE BUT DOES THAT MEAN OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT RUNS US A MUCK AND LIE TO US!!

IF THAT IS THE CASE THEY SHOULD JUST CREATE THEIR OWN NATION!
NO WONDER WHY PEOPLE NEVER TAKE EPA SERIOUS!!!!!

Vida Loca,

Please keep an eye on your blood pressure.

my bad I did not mean to type in all caps, that was non intentional, my caps button was broken its fixed now. was not trying to yell.

no blood pressure is cool though thanks for asking lol

Vida Loca, You are surely right it is if we were standing in the same room, and we were,....the East Palo Alto,...council chambers. I personally know Ruben A.,Carlos R.,David W.,and Pete E.,.. but not Laura M.,. I'll just say Woods and Evans voted against Mi Pueblo. Pete Evans said prepare for a lawsuit. I say prepare for an investigation. ANNA ESHOO is our congresswoman I love her work, she leaves no stones unturned. If you didnt know now you do,..watch her she takes no sides of wrong doers, Shes business and by,"no means" corrupt. I will right her and encourage all citizens to do the same. This "BROWN ACT" by a few council members is truly unjust toward the legal citizens of this town, of EAST PALO ALTO. "YES there should be a federal investigation. "Believe it or not" now that the city has a flag it has been tainted in the first year its flown, .....I cannot salute a flag like that.

I beleive the last time there was an investigation in East Palo Alto was when Mr. Jones was on council whom coincidentally was the mayor and on council when they approved the gateway 101 project, with County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson and helped write the language and description of the "proposed" but already promised area. And that was in the late 80's. It's 2009!?

Yep we are behind schedule its time for an investigation!
Shake em all down!

Power to the People! ALL PEOPLES from EPA the whole BAY!

Stand up for your rights! Stand up for WHAT IS RIGHT!

We want a just, even, fair, "transparent" (is that what their signs said) council and its personnel.

We all pull together.

Also to WilliamR:

"Please keep an eye on you bloodpressure"

This is also what happens when you live in a city where you have an ignorant, selfish, self centered, controlling, "Illuminati" council making a mockery of our Justice and Government System: where they do not let the public speak and present and vent their concerns before a great decision like this.

We EPA residents like to come on to TOPIX and PA Online and let em have it!

I am so happy to hear that Mi Pueblo will be opening soon! The smaller stores will always feel unsafe and not at the level that we deserve, the stores are run down, outdated and just can not compete. We need to fully redevelop the Pal Market strip as it is an eye sore that attracts unhealthy minded people. The other "markets" also need to go as some of them sit in locations that would benefit from being strictly residential. Removing these "markets" will only bring true peace and harmony to our city! They are definite eyesores that we should no longer tolerate. Furthermore, we will not allow these "market" owners to think they make decisions re: the progress of EPA!!

East Palo Alto needs the FEDERALLY! Invite the Feds in for a full investigation. This city is so full of it and its crooks!

Taking out the little markets or local commerce does not mean peace and harmony!

Everyone knows with crime or anything that evolves you take one component away you create a more organized smarter syndicate. So what does taking out local businesses have to do with peace and harmony? Yes they have to fix there stores and learn to compete.

You still have the crooked a** city council! We cannot have peace a d harmony when you got crooked council and crooked staff and personell.

Thank goodness the majority of the city council is forward thinking and we will now have something so very basic to EPA. We who truly live here must be united and not let those who do NOT try to divide us. We are an awesome Black and Latino community with the power to move mountains if we could just stop the Hate!

All the haters need not to shop at MI PUEBLO! Regarles of a person legal statuse everyone has the buying power so get over it! Mi PUEBLO is hear to stay. And for all those people that are anti immagrant, tell you what dont patranise any busines that employes undocumented people and you will find youself short of places to shop. Take a trip to downtown palo alto and see all the wonderful hard workers there about 75% latino. So its not just Mi Pueblo. Its all CALIFONIA or better yet the NATION!!!!!