WAL MART STRIKES OUT A SECOND TIME AS IT WORKS TO APPEAL AN ALBUQUERQUE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMISSION'S REJECTION OF A BID TO BUILD A SUPER STORE AT COORS AND MONTANO. THE LATEST BLOW CAME THIS WEEK FROM A CITY LAND USE HEARING OFFICER, WHO UPHELD THE COMMISSION'S DECISION.
HUNDREDS OF WESTSIDERS AND ACTIVISTS TURNED OUT FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS LAST YEAR, PROTESTING ANOTHER WAL MART IN THEIR AREA. THE BIGGEST BEEFS WERE THE EXTRA TRAFFIC IT WOULD GENERATE AT AN ALREADY TRAFFIC-CLOGGED INTERSECTION ... AND THE GUN SALES THAT WOULD BE TOO CLOSE TO THE BOSQUE PREP SCHOOL NEARBY. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS FINAL "SAY" BUT WON'T TAKE UP THE ISSUE BEFORE FEBRUARY 20TH.