Resident voices opposition to proposed Hobby Lobby at former JCPenney site

Janice Tim, a River Estates resident, told the Ukiah City Planning Commission at its April 9 meeting that she strongly opposed the proposed establishment of a Hobby Lobby store in the former JCPenney building. "I'm here to express strong opposition to the proposed establishment of a Hobby Lobby store in the former JCPenney location in Ukiah," Tim said during the public comment period.

Tim said she was concerned that Hobby Lobby's corporate history and public record run counter to Ukiah's values of "inclusivity, respect, and community well-being." She referenced the company's past litigation over the Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage and said the company has publicly described operating according to the owners' religious beliefs. "The company's legal challenge ... established a precedent that many view as discriminatory and harmful to women's health care," Tim said.

Nut graf: Tim asked the commission to consider whether the city has any legal authority or appropriate mechanisms to respond to the proposal. She urged officials to prioritize businesses she said would better reflect Ukiah's values over the economic benefits of a large national chain.

In her remarks Tim also raised other concerns she said have been reported about Hobby Lobby, including employee-disability discrimination claims and controversies involving a museum associated with the company's owners. She said the company’s stated religious mission and prior legal actions could create division and discomfort if the chain opened in Ukiah.

The commission thanked Tim for her comments; no formal agenda item connected to the JCPenney site or a Hobby Lobby application was discussed during the meeting.

Ending: The remarks were delivered during the meeting’s public comment period. Commissioners did not take action on the Hobby Lobby topic at the April 9 session; Tim asked staff to advise her if the matter belongs to another decision-making body.