MAC Board Denies Goodwill Application

An application to bring a Goodwill to the was rejected Monday by the .

MAC members cited location and possible blight to the area from donation drop offs as main reasons they rejected the proposal with a 5-to-1 vote. Member John Ryzanych was the lone vote in favor of bringing a Goodwill to town.

During Monday's meeting, more than a dozen speakers spoke in support and opposition of the second-hand store moving into the space that would take up more than 7,000 sq. ft. off Castro Valley Boulevard.

Those in opposition stressed that they wanted to see a more "appealing establishment" at the site, which they considered to be a gateway into the community. One woman said there were plenty of donation centers and Goodwill-like stores not far from Castro Valley where folks could donate. Many added that donation pickup trucks often come by peoples' homes so they don't even need to leave their driveways to make donations.

Supporters of the store said it will make an impact in the environment to have people shop second-hand. Others supported the company's vocational services and job-training programs earned through purchases from the store. A woman who admitted being "one of Castro Valley's poor people that wants Goodwill here" said it would greatly benefit her and so many others in similar financial situations.

A representative of Goodwill Industries stressed that the store would provide seven full-time jobs and five job-training positions that would rotate different employees into the store. She said the company considered the community's pushback when it first , which is

"The issue is the land use," said councilmember Cheryl Miraglia. "Not a case of hatred against Goodwill."

Council members discussed the overall condition of the blighted property and the lack of public need for a Goodwill store in that particular area due to the many that already surround Castro Valley.

Councilmember Marc Crawford said he doesn't want Goodwill particularly on the Boulevard and would prefer a retailer that sells new products in that location instead.

"It's a decline for our community," he said. "Alternate locations just haven't been explored."

The decision goes to the Planning Commission and then to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, who may vote in favor or against the MAC's decision.

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