Tucson, AZ. Wal-Mart Backs Down On Lawsuit Over Ballot Signatures
Wal-Mart’s tough, John-Wayne-shoot-out in Tucson is over---for now. Sprawl-Busters reported on July 6th that Wal-Mart was threatening to take the city of Tucson to court---because the city refused to validate thousands of referendum signatures to challenge the Tucson big box store law. When Wal-Mart turned in its signatures, the city clerk rejected them on legal grounds. The city asserted that state law prohibits ballot initiatives from targeting zoning ordinances because it circumvents the zoning process, including public hearings required by state law. After legal toughtalk last week, Wal-Mart yesterday ended the gunfight. The retailer objects to the city’s law that limits stores larger than 100,000 s.f. to no more than 10% of square footage to non-taxable items, like groceries. Wal-Mart had hired a consultant to pay signature gatherers, collected names, and was ready to take their case to the voters next November. But yesterday, their legal guns were back in the holster.
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Posted by Al Norman on Tuesday, July 17 | 0 comments | Permalink
Independent America: Life Without the Big Box
In 2005, two reporters set out to drive across America in search of Mom-and-Pop stores. Unlike those who have gone before them, this dynamic duo avoided Wal-Marts, chain hotels and side-of-the-road fast food joints in hopes of gaining a better understanding of how Small Town America is reacting to changing economic situations, and what people are doing about it.
From YouTube:
Visit http://www.independentamerica.net/ for more, and be sure to catch the movie on the Sundance Channel on July 30th.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, July 16 | 0 comments | Permalink
Gulf Restoration Network on Cypress Mulch
Wal-Mart gained a lot of press after Hurricane Katrina for helping victims of the disaster but it seems that Wal-Mart’s commitment to the area was short-lived. The Gulf Restoration Network, a “network of environmental, social justice, and citizens’ groups and individuals committed to restoring the Gulf of Mexico to an ecologically and biologically sustainable condition,” recently released this video exposing the fact that Wal-Mart and others use old growth cypress forests for mulch. Those trees, the video points out, are not only crucial to the local ecosystem but also help protect the Gulf Coast from disasters like Katrina.
Despite the fact that CEO Lee Scott admits “Environmental loss threatens the health of the natural systems we depend on,” the company continues to sell mulch from old-growth forests. Visit http://healthygulf.org to take action.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, July 16 | 2 comments | Permalink
San Diego, CA. Big Box Ordinance Lost On One Councilor’s Vote
Residents in San Diego, California will not be protected from big box stores after all. On June 5, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart was threatening a voter referendum on a big box ban in San Diego, because of their unhappiness with a size cap on retail stores passed by the city council. A series of city council votes, stretching back to last November, had prompted Wal-Mart to threaten city officials that if the size cap ordinance passed, the retailer would gather signatures to try to repeal the measure using the ballot. In November, 2006, the city council took its first major step towards imposing a cap on the size of retail buildings when it voted 5-3 to ban retail stores of more than 90,000 s.f. that use 10% of their interior space to sell groceries or other merchandise that is not subject to sales tax. This ordinance is modeled on similar ordinances in California--most notably Turlock--where Wal-Mart has failed repeatedly to challenge the law in the courts. The Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, told reporters at the time that he would veto the new cap if it went through its required second vote in January. The second reading of the ordinance was delayed from the original January date, so that the public could have time to comment. San Diego’s ordinance was seen as a pre-emptive strike, since the city currently has no Wal-Mart supercenter.
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Posted by Al Norman on Wednesday, July 11 | 0 comments | Permalink
Cayce, SC. City Wants “Better Class” of Big Box Stores
The city of Cayce, South Carolina, which lies along the Congaree River, includes the site of one of the earliest European settlements in what was then known as the “back country.” Cayce also contains the site of Fort Granby, where several important Revolutionary War battles were fought. Today, Cayce is the home of more than 12,100 people. “Linked to the interstate system at multiple points,” according to the city’s website, “and adjacent to the international airport, Cayce offers quick access to jobs, shopping, entertainment and the world.” Because of Cayce’s convenient location, city officials were worried that big box stores would eventually come there too. According to The Sun News, Cayce has voted to take some very small steps to regulate big boxes. Cayce has amended city zoning aimed at retailers such as Wal-Mart superstores, Target, Kohl’s, Sam’s Club and others. “We are not trying to restrict them from coming into the city,” said the city’s planning and development director. “We are trying to get a better class of development.” The City Council recently voted unanimously to add additional regulations on retail stores with more than 90,000 s.f. and any group of buildings exceeding 175,000 s.f. The ordinance gives the community more say over project aesthetics, like landscaping and lighting. The city’s planning commission spent months discussing the impact future retail development could have on residential and commercial areas. A Wal-Mart spokesman told The Sun News that the retailer is designing stores to fit in with the surrounding community. “We are following along with what already exists in communities.
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Posted by Al Norman on Monday, July 09 | 0 comments | Permalink
Nashville, NC. Town Builds A Welfare Road To Wal-Mart
Imagine a world where taxpayers in every small town build new roads to every business that wants one. That’s the world Wal-Mart inhabits—a world where public subsidies literally carry people to their front door. The tiny town of Nashville, North Carolina is only 3 square miles, and has a population of just 4,501 residents. It has 38 retail stores, including 5 grocery stores, 3 general merchandise stores, and 10 gas stations. The town calls itself the “original” Nashville. It’s the county seat of Nash County. It’s also the site of a new Wal-Mart supercenter. The road to that Wal-Mart supercenter is being built with public welfare. The world’s richest retailer just can’t get enough of that good,old corporate welfare.
Somehow Wal-Mart convinces local officials that unless they put out the cash to build a road, or lay down water and sewer pipes, that the giant retailer just won’t be able to locate in their city or town. Officials fall over themselves to put Wal-Mart on the dole, giving the corporation millions of dollars in tax supported infrastructure. These subsidies, which are not offered to smaller merchants, help Wal-Mart bury the competition. According to the Rocky Mount Telegram, town officials in Nashville are building a 5 lane road “to provide access to Wal-Mart” on Eastern Avenue. The supercenter will be located next to the State Employees’ Credit Union near the Nashville Commons Shopping Center. Town Manager Preston Mitchell said the new road will be named EastPointe Avenue. Land preparation for the project began about a month ago. Mitchell told the newspaper that Wal-Mart will retain local sales tax in the Nashville economy, as opposed to it being spent outside the area. The supercenter will be 153,430 s.f. and include a garden center. The store is expected to be finished by April of 2008. It takes about nine months to finish a supercenter once building starts, Mitchell said.
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Posted by Al Norman on Monday, July 09 | 0 comments | Permalink
Brooksville, FL. Commissioner Stands Up To Wal-Mart’s Legal Threats
On May 12, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had run into a Wal of opposition in Brooksville, Florida. The Hernando County Commission voted unanimously on May 9th to turn down a Wal-Mart’s proposal for a 4th supercenter in the county, this one on Barclay Avenue in Brooksville. The Commissioners ruled that the site plan was too close to nearby residential subdivisions, and only 1,500 feet from a Middle School. Commissioner David Russell was quoted by the St. Petersburg Times as saying, “We’re here to make subjective decisions based on the facts we heard today.” That comment has prompted Wal-Mart to make a decision of its own. Wal-Mart announced today that it will appeal the County’s decision to a Special Magistrate. And if they do not prevail before the Magistrate, the retailer is prepared to sue the county in court, Wal-Mart’s lawyer said. Wal-Mart sent a letter to the county, quoting Russell’s full comment, “we’re here to analyze things not only objectively but also subjectively...That’s our right.”
Wal-Mart claims this remark demonstrates that Russell was biased when he voted to reject the store. Wal-Mart argues that Russell and fellow Commissioner Chris Kingsley revealed their bias when they were quoted in newspapers as saying they planned to vote against the company’s request before the meeting took place. Wal-Mart concludes that the Commissioners’ decision was “unreasonable, capricious and contrary to the established Florida law.” Wal-Mart claims it has a right to build the 185,000-s.f. store, because it is zoned for commercial use. The property was part of a larger development approved in 1982—before the county created a comprehensive plan. Wal-Mart says the property is exempt therefore from comp plan requirements. Neighbors testified that the site was too close to residential areas and schools, and that it would cause major traffic congestion on Barclay Avenue. By turning to a Magistrate, Wal-Mart has indicated it wants to work out a solution that prevents further litigation. “The special magistrate will explore whether we can come up with approach to resolve the matter,” Wal-Mart’s lawyer said. “Our hope is to not go to court.” The Magistrate’s job is to produce a report analyzing the arguments from both sides. The Commission would then vote on accepting or rejecting the report. Wal-Mart could then use the Magistrate’s report as evidence in court if it decided to sue the county.
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Posted by Al Norman on Monday, July 09 | 0 comments | Permalink
A Wal-Mart Fourth of July
How will Wal-Mart celebrate this Fourth of July? The company that lauds its founder - an inspirational “self-made” man - has turned its back on the country.
In 1985, Sam Walton committed himself and his business to buying American made goods. His “Buy American” program promised:
“We cannot continue to be a solvent nation as long as we pursue this current accelerating direction. Our company is firmly committed to the philosophy by buying everything possible from suppliers who manufacture their products in the United States.”
Wal-Mart has since abandoned that policy, sourcing the vast majority of its products from overseas. 70% of the company’s goods come from China alone. This means lost jobs for Americans. For every store Wal-Mart opened in America, 336 jobs were lost to China. This is close to 60,000 jobs every single year that Wal-Mart sends overseas.
This July 4th, we’re thinking about equality in America. We’re thinking about how all Americans are equal under the law - but Wal-Mart is thinking how that might cost them. Wal-Mart is defending itself in the largest workplace class action suit in US history. Nearly 2 million women are suing, saying that they were treated unfairly, were paid less and not given promotions as often as men. This kind of treatment is not only illegal - it violates the rights we celebrate on July 4th and every day.
Wal-Mart takes advantage of Uncle Sam by exploiting tax loopholes, abandoning employees to rely on state-provided medical coverage and keeping able workers at part-time hours. Is this the prosperity the founding fathers had in mind in 1776?
From sea to shining sea? Not if Wal-Mart has anything to say about it. Even though the company touts its environmental steps forward, little has actually been accomplished and there is still much more to do. Perhaps that’s why Wal-Mart still hasn’t released its overdue sustainable values network report it promised this spring.
Wal-Mart keeps the American Dream out of reach for thousands of people - not only its employees, but in the communities it builds in, the countries it sources from and ultimately the customers it claims to serve.
Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Tuesday, July 03 | 60 comments | Permalink
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