Not wanted: super-size Wal-Marts

[Nambe]

MEDFORD, Oregon (AP)

Two proposed super-size Wal-Marts in Jackson County are running into fierce opposition from residents.

``They're so massive,'' said Medford resident Shareen Fiol, a spokeswoman for the group. ``They're going to run the small businesses out.'' ---

``It is a company that does tend to destroy the culture of an area,'' said Fiol, who said she is also concerned about low-paying jobs at Wal-Mart. ---

The southern Oregon opposition to the Wal-Mart Supercenters echoes dissent brewing in California about the stores. There, growing concerns about reducing traffic and preserving open space clash with Wal-Mart's desire to build gargantuan shopping centers.

Contra Costa County, a fast-growing San Francisco suburb of nearly 1 million people, has banned the Supercenter concept - a precedent Wal- Mart is seeking to overturn at the ballot box.

In Los Angeles, officials are discussing an ordinance that would block or discourage Wal-Mart from opening Supercenters there.

Wal-Mart often fights back against opposition. ---

[Kookaburra]

1. We voted one down in my town

I've never been more proud of our mayor than when he cast the deciding vote to deny one of those horrid places in our little town. There were a few pissed off people after the vote -- most probably wouldn't have put on quite as big a show if the television cameras hadn't been there -- but for the most part the entire town breathed a sigh of relief. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[5thGenDemocrat]

2. One of the largest in the country is coming to Saginaw Township

200,000+ square feet (to include a Sam's Club) , being built even as we speak. In fairness (and why should we be fair?), MalWart is also building a park, retention basin/pond, new sidewalks, etc etc etc within the scope of the project.
The thing is gigantic -- it'll change the whole face of the Bay/Tittabawassee roads area about six miles north of here. But Saginaw Township is a Republican area, meaning they'll chase the thirty pieces of silver regarding of what it does to the small businessman.
I don't shop at MalWart for two reasons: (1) As I just said, they destroy small business and (2) they're union-busting bastards.
John
Let 'em build the thing. Still doesn't mean you'll see me there.

[Enraged_Ape]

3. Not to mention that when these hulks kill the local businesses...

they often have to shut down themselves eventually, since everyone is too broke to shop there.

Then there is a massive, unsightly empty building and weedy parking lot on the landscape that no one can use. (At least, until roller disco comes back into fashion.)

[mediaman007]

10. When they leave

Another thing to watch for is a relocation. I'm aware of a case where the original Wal-Mart was built in a poor location. So they built a larger store across town.

The old store sits empty. The realtor (Wal-Mart Realty) awaits a buyer. Let me guess that the store will be so shabby that the local government will buy it and raze it.

Wal-Mart does very little that does not add money to the bottom line.

[bhairava]

26. Empty stores sometimes stay empty

Wal-Mart used to have an unwritten "policy" of not re-letting old stores or rather not allowing say a Target buy or lease the space. So, many remain empty. I have seen this for myself all over Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Illinois. I'm not sure it happens as much as it used too though. I have seen a few (3) old ones get turned over to local gov't and schools, but rarely seen them sold to competitors. But of course, they are much like McDonalds, few ever close for good.

[no_arbusto]

35. In my town...

They took the "old" Wal Mart and divided it into two spaces. Half of it became a Big Lots and the other half became a technical school. The "old" one opened sometime in the ancient 80's. The new location is .5 miles down the road, conveniently situated on former farmland at the convergence of 3 major highways. They've since expanded to include a Sam's Club too.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. The point of Wal-Mart has always been to

drive local businesses under, even when they were a lot smaller stores. Folks I've talked to around here say Wal-Mart is awful to work for.

[saigon68]

6. WALMART IS RED CHINA'S RETAIL OUTLET

I'm not a red baiter, but I just wonder how much of their stuff is made by slave labor.

[w4rma]

14. Wow, that's a good argument against Walmart.

However, it's important to note that China is a fascist state. It is no longer Communist, but it is still totalitarian, except now it is capitalist:

PBS: So it's no longer a communist state?
Kissinger: I don't consider China a communist state, no. I know that sounds paradoxical, but it's my view.

PBS: It's not a party of the workers and the peasants?
Kissinger: Certainly not a party of the workers and the peasants. In fact, Jiang Zemin in recent weeks has officially said that capitalists and the entrepreneurs should be enrolled in the Communist Party.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/china/interviews/kissinger.html

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JustinCredible]

5. Someone should get the

people who work at Walmarts to Unionize... or the Grocery Union should pick 'em up. That'd show them, and at least make them a little less threatening to my brother who works at a Grocery Store...

[northzax]

7. as much as I despise wal-mart

I don't think that government should be involved in this type of thing. the reason they drive people out of business is because people choose to shop there once they are built. If people didn't shop there, WalMart would cease to be the world's most profitable company. why should the gubmint involve itself in stopping something that is obviously the choice of the people who live there?

[GOPisEvil]

8. Part of the issue here in Austin is environmental.

Wal-Mart wants to build one of these things over an aquifer recharge area. I'm of the opinion that there is enough development over the recharge zones already, and a lot of other people agree with me. I think just about any business trying to build in this particular area would have a fight on its hands.

[JNelson6563]

9. we do a thing called

Government for the people, by the people and of the people (or at least that is how it is suppose to work).

The local government is representing the interests of the people in their community. They handle zoning etc. for the people and that is who WallyWorld has to go to. The people say NO it is up to the local government officials to convey that to Wally.

Officials in DC can get away with a lot more disregard of constituent wishes than the local ones.

Julie

[pw]

11. Government action is how Walmart survives

They get zoning variances to erect stores and parking lots, sometimes property tax incentives (you know, the kind states and towns give to attract new business), in addition to enforcement officials turning a blind eye to labor-law violations. So it hardly seems wrong to enlist the power of representative government to rein them in.

[mefoolonhill]

17. wally world

In shopping at Wal-Mart, we also subsidize and support the ridiculous system of having cheap junk made in sweat shops overseas, and then shipping it tens of thousands of miles, using plenty of fossil fuels in the process. Buy locally made products, support your local business people....

[inthecorneroverhere]

20. agree

Agree! I avoid shopping at Mal-Wart because they import too much from China and E. Asia, because of their union-busting, and because they hurt the independent small businesses that built America.

Wally World is not a patriotic corporation, no matter how they try to make people think that it is. Wally World does virtually nothing for American small businesses and American workers.

[markses]

27. And if folks patronize a porn super store across from an elem. school

That's cool, too, yeah?

It's only consumer choice, after all. Why interfere on behalf of a community, when the market parses these things out so perfectly?

[kskiska]

12. We just got one here last week

and another is under construction on the other side of town. Of course this will leave two huge empty shopping centers where the old stores were located, since all the other stores will move also.

[notadmblnd]

13. Wal-Mart Sucks

<);>(&]

[mefoolonhill]

15. sprawl busters website

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/

[bicentennial_baby]

24. That's my hometown guy!

Al Norman, head of Sprawl Busters, originally started by stopping a Wal-Mart from coming to our town.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. Why is Wal-Mart so successful?

Why is Wal-Mart so successful?

Because a lot of people find it cheaper and more convenient to shop there than shop at the alternatives.

[Aaron]

23. Because most people don't consider social cost when they shop

or if they do they don't care.

[leanings]

18. We're trying

http://www.saveourgateway.com

They're some arrogant bastards.

[MaineDem]

19. Thank you, Oregon

I love to see more places saying "NO" to the almighty WalMart.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

21. I don't mind shopping at Wal-Mart

When I'm throwing a party with the rest of the guys I always go and buy a shitload of food there. Why should I go buy the stuff at a mom and pop convenience store nearby and pay much higher prices? Just so I can feel good and tell myself that I'm hurting the big bad corporation? Sorry, but the nature of the free market is that smaller stores get swallowed up by conglomerates and large corporations. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

[JNelson6563]

22. well when all that is left is shitty jobs at massive

conglomerates we can all take comfort in your words of wisdom.

One way to obliterate the middle class is to eliminate small businesses and decent paying jobs. Wal-Mart does both.

Julie

[mitchum]

25. And you are certainly doing your part to make sure that the "free market"

works, but I am not surprised at all. Since you believe that "socialism is the next step to communism, and then you may as well just shoot yourself in the head" (Sorry, if I didn't quote your previous idiotic statement verbatim)

[Shakeydave]

28. We nixed the expansion of the Fascist-Mart ..............

in our town also! "F" the slave owner PIGS!

[blm]

29. I spend an extra 20 bucks a week just to NOT shop there.

And here in SC there is NOT MUCH to choose from. But, I have been crusading against them for 2 years now. They carry the LEFT BEHIND books by Tim LaHaye, the Moon aligned theocrat whose hand is up Bush's ass.

[Shakeydave]

30. Damn straight!

My only worry is that Target will head down the fascist highway!

[Aaron]

32. Anyone have info on Target's donations to Dems/Repubs? (n/t)

[AnnabelLee]

33. opensecrets.org

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/cgi-win/indivs.exe

[Aaron]

34. They donate alot to the Repub's if I read that right, that's a shame

Ty for the link :)