Regulation of Big-Box Stores

* Homeowners of Encino opposes proposed city ordinances that would regulate big-box retailers by establishing a maximum gross floor area devoted to food items. We object to limiting stores--such as those developed by Costco, Wal-Mart, K-Mart and other large retailers--to a maximum of 150,000 square feet, with no more than 7.5% of their space for groceries.

The city of Los Angeles should stay out of the business of interfering with the free market under the guise of preserving neighborhood grocery stores. It should be obvious that in Los Angeles, the era of the mom and pop store is long gone--replaced by large chains.

Los Angeles should not carry economic water for labor unions, which are targeting retailers like Wal-Mart that don’t have union representation, or grocery chains that don’t want more competition.

Big-box retailers offer consumers a much larger variety of items in one place, often at substantial discounts, and make shopping easier. If smaller grocery stores serving residential neighborhoods cannot compete, so be it: This is the free market at work.

Big-box retailers do not hit the elderly, handicapped and poor hard. Quite the contrary. They provide volume goods at a substantial savings to consumers. They draw large numbers of customers, thus giving vitality to a community.

Los Angeles should not be in the business of protecting selected merchants from the responsible competition of others.

GERALD A. SILVER

President, Homeowners of Encino