Major damage done to Asheville Walmart Supercenter by Vandals

[wishlist]

Bulldozers were purposely crashed into the newly constructed Walmart Supercenter this weekend causing nearly $1 million in damage and possibly delaying the expected January opening by a month, according to WLOS TV.

Manager of project says of 130 construction projects he has handled, this is first one to have an incident of vandalism like this.

The Asheville Citizen-Times article says it should still open on time, but WLOS anchor Candice Little on 11 pm news last night said a month delay is expected.

Here is the Asheville C-T article:

http://www.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/article/news/60486.shtml

[telamachus]

1. Vandalism

real bright idea. If this was a protest of sorts I wonder if they care about those people who were waiting to start their jobs at the new stores?

If this was a 'protest' then this is no different than ELF and ALF criminal behavior.

If these were kids joyriding then I wonder if they would have doon so much damage if not encouraged by some of the protesters of walmart?

Pickets and giving honest information to the public may change the status qou...destructive behavior will never change it.

Before someone jumps my shit (supporting walmart BS) I have been a student of and activist for workers rights from sweatshops in the developing world to living wage issues locally. I have first hand experience and extensive study of economics to support my opinions. If you want a rational discussion (throw the dogma out the window) then I am willing.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. I agree with you in principle.

I have never found violence to be an effective form of resolution, except in the case of immediate and unavoidable self-defense. Like someone throwing a punch.

That said, that leaves us on the horns of a dilemma: Did the perps, in this case, feel that they were presented with just that? Fact is, self-defense is, in the immediacy of the moment, a very subjective thing.

One more thing: While I deplore violence(and buddy, I have engaged in it a bit, as well as stopped quite a bit. I am a martial artist and I have bounced in bars), I cannot ignore the fact that things did not substantively change for black people in the US until MLK was murdered and the cities burned.

It's a thorny issue, full of pitfalls and cutbacks.

[telamachus]

4. points taken

"I have never found violence to be an effective form of resolution, except in the case of immediate and unavoidable self-defense. Like someone throwing a punch."

Agreed

"That said, that leaves us on the horns of a dilemma: Did the perps, in this case, feel that they were presented with just that? Fact is, self-defense is, in the immediacy of the moment, a very subjective thing."

'Very subjective', indeed, but very little in this case too support the violence and destruction. The same logical construct (or very similar one) was used as a reason to go into Iraq. Self defense is quite subjective. I see little in the way of immediacy that would justify this as an act of protest (if it was!)

[Catholic Sensation]

8. okay

Did the perps, in this case, feel that they were presented with just that? Fact is, self-defense is, in the immediacy of the moment, a very subjective thing.

Explain to me how the people, in bulldozers, felt they were in danger? And saying "Walmart is a megalomaniacal corporation who steals a town's identity" is not an answer.

[wishlist]

3. Isn't the Walmart a stand-alone building and other stores separate?

Aren't the other stores going to be in a separate nearby building in the shopping complex? (I heard that at least one of them, Port City Java, expects to be open in December, before the Supercenter opens later on.) If so, this damage would not delay the smaller stores from opening on schedule.

Many people in the surrounding neighborhoods are dreading the huge traffic and noise expected and are angry over the way 60 to 70 acres of woods was clearcut and a hill leveled (including excess cutting of trees near the river in violation of the developers' agreement with the city). There has been lots of mud on River Rd there after it rains (and also possibly runoff into the river) plus blasting from explosives shaking foundations of houses up to 1/2 mile away. Ironically, the fact that there was no security during the night reinforces residents concerns that the complex could be a magnet for crime since many Walmart shopping centers have been documented to lack adequate security.

I am still quite surprised over this incident and interested to see what develops next.

[telamachus]

5. If the local

government dropped the ball and will not enforce its own regulations then there is a system that is supposed to eliminate the need for vigilantism. A project of this scale requires years of planning and approval. Just because someone did not get their way is no excuse to commit this type of crime. Maybe those people who were upset will vote the boneheads out of office who approved the construction.

Those trees were clearcut the first time over 100 years ago and quite possibly a time or two afterwords. Runoff is a major concern for both storm/sewer drains and more importantly local small streams.The local building code should include soil sheeting and barricades and it should be enforced. Local walmarts a magnet for crime? That is a new one. Maybe the construction company was trusting of the locals? Maybe they were cheap? Who knows how someone was able to do the crime but there is no civil excuse.

[jdj]

6. Splendid. Blessings to them.

I lived in Asheville during the whole lead up to this Walmart, and this is the freakin most conjested area in Asheville, both housing and commercial-wise, and there is another Walmart less than 1 mile up the road on the other side of the street.

I wish they had burned it down.

I would not use these tactics myself, nor would I encourage it, but I am glad someone else did. I'm sure it was a branch of ELF.

Walmart drives wages down and taxes up in any community, and I have worked for Sams and they are awful to work for, it's a fascist nightmare. They used to make everyone sing the old "Signs" song at staff meetings everymorning, but completely without the sarcasm. After the morning cheers (which I refused to do along with the singing) the would close the meeting with "and the sign says you have to have a membership card to get inside!!"

I loathe them and all they stand for. Asheville vigorously protested this store for YEARS, and since they refused to listen, it gives me pleasure that now they will have to listen with their wallets.

Oh, and I am not willing to debate this. I'll put the dog in dogma when it comes to this, so don't whine at me.

[Spiffarino]

7. It was wrong...

...but it doesn't hurt my feelings in the least. Wally-World has more money than the Sultan of Brunei, and similar ethics. They push-poll, pay-off, and bully locals to get what they want.

Protests, entreaties by the neighbors, and the scorn of millions have no effect on them. But cost them a few million dollars and they squeal like stuck pigs. How typical.