But less than six months after the retail giant gained approval to build a super center in Patterson amid promises of future community involvement, organizers of Patterson’s annual celebration learned the retailer will not provide money for this year’s event.
While a few other 2010 sponsors opted not to participate in 2011, the loss of Walmart was the biggest hit to the fiesta this year, constituting a $2,000 loss, Apricot Fiesta Secretary Marilyn Hoobler said.
“It would have been icing on cake, so to speak, to keep Walmart this year,” Hoobler said. “When they are here and do have a presence, then hopefully they will hold up to their word.”
Walmart officials explained that they plan to participate more fully once the Patterson store is up and running in late 2012.
“We regret that we aren’t able to participate in the Apricot Fiesta this year,” company spokeswoman Amelia Neufeld said. “These are the types of community events we look forward to supporting in the future once our store is built.
“Our involvement last year was an opportunity to show the community that these are the types of events they can expect Walmart to be involved in once our store is completed. We remain steadfast in completing the store as soon as possible so we can begin establishing long-term partnerships such as these. ”
Construction on the 158,000-square-foot super center — the largest Walmart in Stanislaus County — is slated to break ground this fall on the southwest corner of Sperry and Ward avenues. Neufield said the company appreciated the support last year from more than 3,000 local residents, as well as the City Council and planning commission, which unanimously approved the store’s plans in the fall.
Councilwoman Annette Smith, who sat on the council when it approved the Walmart project, said she was disappointed to hear that the retailer would not take part in this year’s fiesta.
Few cities have given as warm a welcome to the retailer as the people of Patterson, she said. The store’s absence this year makes it appear as if the company’s display of support at the fiesta last year was a marketing ploy to get council votes for the project, rather than a true investment in the community, she said.
“I will say that (Walmart) did join the Chamber (of Commerce), so I don’t see the difference between them joining the chamber or participating in the city’s largest event,” she said. “You’re either invested in the community or you’re not.”
Smith said that even developer Gerry Kamilos — whose proposed PCCP West Park development for the Crows Landing Air Facility she has adamantly opposed in the past — has been a consistent Apricot Fiesta sponsor. Various corporations also sponsor the festivities, including CVS Pharmacy, which has a distribution center and a store in town, and W.W. Grainger Inc., which is building an 820,000-square-foot distribution center in west Patterson.
Hoobler compared the loss of Walmart this year to the loss of home development companies in the past that ceased to sponsor the event after they built projects and left town.
Though overall sponsorships for the Apricot Fiesta are about the same as last year, the difficult economy has created its share of challenges, she said.
“It takes lot more time and lot more effort to keep the numbers consistent with what they’ve been,” Hoobler said.
• Contact Jonathan Partridge at 892-6187 or jonathan@pattersonirrigator.com.
$750,000 for approximately 1% of the youth
$7,500,000 for the rest of the youth.
Not exactly proportional, but it would be fitting if they did think of the others once in a while.
But then, the other 99% aren't related to those that set the agenda and plan the budget.
I am still very confused as to how the skatepark became such a high priority in our current state of financial distress as well as our current state of very inadequate resources for our youth. Before even thinking about the skatepark, more should have been thought of for all the youth as well as funding for our very sad state of public safety.
I am not a fan of the police force being contracted out. The sheriff's department is doing all they can for us, but, in my opinion, it isn't nearly enough. Their hands have been tied by past leadership and we aren't giving them all they need to do the job right.
We need officers that are accountable to our city. We also need enough officers to bring the officer/citizen ratio close to what it should be. We aren't even close to any standard that gives the public a safe environment.
While Annette wasn't in power when the ratio got ignored, she has been in power long enough to have started working towards fixing it. She isn't alone in ignoring public safety.
OOO - If you have access to Annette, let her know that the public is sick and tired of the thugs and gangs running our streets and that before she spends any more money on pet projects, spend it on public safety first.
Why is it that everything gets put on Annette Smith?
Not once were they rubbing their hands together saying "Oh, with all these new homes we can have more police officers". No, they were rubbing their greedy little hands together saying "Oh, I get to build my son's skate park".
Annette Smith was not in office when these homes were planned, approved and when the process started on them. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't the first part of Walker Ranch start getting built in the early 2000s? Somewhere around 2003. If we are talking about The Villages project then yes she had her hand in it but as for the homes that are standing today, they were not planned, or built due to a vote from Annette Smith. So saying the greed from building homes to fund a Skate Park for a certain person's son is a little off base and ridiculous.
A whole lot of money was spent on something that only a few will ever use.
The big point is that unfortunately, our city management seems to only count on sales tax for revenues. At least that is how it looks like they are thinking now.
Had they thought of making sure we had adequate police and fire each and every time they approved new homes, there wouldn't be a question where to get the money for public safety. That would have, as it should have, come first, before the waste. Before approving the homes.
Unfortunately, they didn't think that out before approving all the new growth and we, the citizens, are stuck with the results of their short sightedness. They were looking at the greedy side of growth, not the common sense side of it.
Not once were they rubbing their hands together saying "Oh, with all these new homes we can have more police officers". No, they were rubbing their greedy little hands together saying "Oh, I get to build my son's skate park".
In my recent travels down south, I spent some time in a community that grew like we did. They are going through financial issues right now too. But, they stuck to their guns with public safety during that growth and they aren't suffering there. They have a safe community with sufficient police to protect their citizens. They are tightening their belts in other ways, but not at the expense of public safety.
I wish our leaders would think of us and our safety.
But you're right, it's all the skate park's fault for no one spending money in Patterson! ;-)
Patterson spending money ($750,000 theres 3/4 of a million Observer) on a skatepark = No new cops or firefighters for Patterson! LOL
This is the problem now! Most of everyone travels elsewhere to purchase things they need. With Walmart, this can stop. Now I would prefer something other then Walmart going in but at some point we have to take what we can get and this City needs retail sales tax revenue. The City's public safety (police & fire) along with schools are funded almost entirely by Mello Roos funds. Mello Roos funds that are suppose to come from all these new homes that are completely vacant! The city must get sales tax revenue and get it as soon as they can. People complain on here about not having enough cops. Well the City can't just fork over the money to get more cops. It costs millions to add any personnel that would make a difference.
You spending money elsewhere = No new cops or firefighters for Patterson!
Are you a Patterson native? How long have you lived in Patterson?
I never called my fellow pattersonites stupid! But disengaged i will say! When you have a blossoming gang problem, no infrastructure to support youth, Very little youth programing and a council who is feeding a devlopment team instead of meeting the true needs, something has to be said!
It would be nice to feel i didnt have to interject but when i have young relatives who have to grow up in Patterson, i want the best for their future as well as all those who live in Patterson. Sorry if disagreement that Wal-mart is bad for our community ruffles your feathers, but their actions do not speak very community oriented as they gave lip service too all last year!
Thanks again for the Soap box! Who ever you are?
:)