Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske today announced that she will vote on Tuesday to rescind the “big box” ordinance passed late last year, and issued the following statement citing the need to stop the destructive campaigning that is “tearing our community and City Council apart” over this issue.

“WalMart has inundated my Council District with deceptive mailers and phone calls, inflaming residents on both sides of the issue and jeopardizing the work I have been doing to build a ‘Good Neighbor Network’ of residents who can work together on the issues facing our District and our city.

“In another Council District, one of my fellow council members signed a letter which attacks those of us on the council who voted for the ordinance last October, making it difficult to work together on the important issues facing our city.

“Yesterday, at the 12^th hour, the Mayor announced that he will veto a City Council action placing this item on a ballot for the voters to decide whether or not it should be enacted, putting some of the council at odds with him at a time when we need to work together to restore financial health to our police and fire departments and increase our investment in infrastructure repair.

“Our local community college board has expressed its concern about what this issue would do to their opportunity to win the vote of residents for a building bond measure on the February ballot.

“This issue is tearing our community and our Council apart and it has to stop.

“I cannot condone putting our community and our council through a continued, intense, negative campaign between now and the February election. The proponents of such a campaign – who are an Arkansas-based corporation, without ties to our community – care little about what they are doing to Long Beach. But I care and for that reason I am voting to end this tomorrow.”