Following Walmart retail outcry, LA City Council sends motion to limit chain stores in Chinatown to committee

The Los Angeles City Council pushed forward a motion on Friday to stop large chain stores from moving into Chinatown.

Councilman Ed Reyes, who represents that area, suggested the ordinance after public outcry erupted over Walmart moving into the neighborhood — but the proposed ban won’t affect that store from opening, as Walmart already has its city permits and can start interior construction.

Reyes told colleagues that he’d only just gotten the heads up.

"I find out that [the] Building and Safety [Department] processed the permits yesterday at 4:30," says Reyes. "So this is happening, now."

Looks like Walmart officially has the green light to move into the empty retail space in an apartment complex for seniors on the edge of Chinatown, but Reyes’ motion to stop issuing demolition and construction permits for future chain stores bigger than 20,000 square feet is still on the table.

City council members voted for an amended version of Reyes' motion to work its way through the committee process for a future vote, but it’s got to include more comment from people in Chinatown and an economic impact report.