Chain Stores Be Gone
A Venice free of chain stores came one step
closer to reality, Feb. 20, thanks to the tireless efforts of Venice
Unchained.
A City Planning Department meeting on the subject
was held at Westminster Auditorium at the urging of Councilmember Bill
Rosendahl. The 50-plus Venetians in attendance supported the plan to ban
“formula retail stores” (wherein every store looks alike, aka chain
stores).
Discussion at the meeting
included how much of Venice should be covered by the proposed ordinance, and how
it should be structured. A Planning Department staff member has been assigned to
shepherd the initiative through the maze of city
bureaucracy.
Many Venetians have been
advocating a chain store ordinance since 2004, and the Neighborhood Council
passed a resolution in support. However, it is due largely to the efforts of
Venice Unchained that this dream may become a reality. Contact them for more
information at www.VeniceUnchained.org
Posted: Sat - March 1, 2008 at 03:50 PM
