The company campaigned heavily throughout the city of 112,000. It flooded the city with television commercials and mailers depicting happy African American families and calling the development "good news for everyone in Inglewood." The working-class town is roughly split between African Americans and Latinos.
The opposition included city, county and state officials, and clergy from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Nation of Islam and St. Michael's Catholic Church in Inglewood.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday April 09, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 33 words Type of Material: Correction
Wal-Mart vote -- A Section A article Wednesday about the Inglewood electorate's rejection of Wal-Mart's proposed Supercenter referred to St. Michael Catholic Church as being in Inglewood. St. Michael is in Los Angeles.
However, some residents said they were swayed by Wal-Mart's insistence that the Supercenter would bring jobs to town and generate $3 million to $5 million in sales tax revenue for better police services and new community centers.
After casting her vote in favor of the measure, homemaker Marie Glenn said the retailer would bring needed jobs for young people.
"I believe Inglewood needs the improvement. I think it's great," said Glenn, 50, who was at a doughnut shop that tried to spur voter interest today by giving away free treats. "The revenue would be great for the city."
But the longtime owners of Randy's Doughnuts, Larry and Ron Weintraub, both opposed the superstore.
Ron said that although he doesn't live in Inglewood, a business he once owned in Texas went under when Wal-Mart came to town.
"I'm sure it's going to hurt small business," he said.
At a polling station in Darby Park, Carl Hargrove said he voted against the measure. The Supercenter would occupy a crumbling asphalt parking lot just a short walk from his home. Hargrove said it wasn't a union issue to him, it was a quality of life issue. "It would create too much traffic for the area," Hargrove said. "Groceries will bring in entirely too many people."
At a party thrown by Supercenter opponents late Tuesday night, the Rev. Tony Muhammad said the vote showed that Wal-Mart's "dollars can't buy the people. They wanted a good fight, and they came to the right place."
