Wal-Mart vs. Contra Costa County (California)

[proud patriot]

Wal-Mart vs. Contra Costa County
Ruth Rosen
Sunday, February 22, 2004



http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/22/EDGS95478M1.DTL


ASK SHOPPERS in Martinez why they shop at the Wal-Mart there and they'll tell you that the prices can't be beat, there's plenty of parking and its one-stop shopping allows them to buy everything from toothpaste to T- shirts.

So why have hundreds of communities across the nation tried to prevent Wal-Mart from moving into their towns? And why, in particular, did the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors pass an ordinance that would ban certain big- box stores larger than 90,000 square feet (the size of two football fields) from unincorporated parts of the county?

Do all these people share some perverse pleasure in forcing consumers to pay higher prices for the food and the goods they buy?

Of course not. The reason is that union members, environmental activists, members of the clergy and elected officials realize that every new Wal-Mart, which brings new jobs and low prices, also comes with hidden costs -- to other retail workers, to small businesses, to smart growth, and most of all, to taxpayers who discover, much to their surprise, that they end up subsidizing the largest corporation in the world.
(snip)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/22/EDGS95478M1.DTL

(this is my backyard)
please see this thread for local events and activism
to help us defeat WalMart
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=4526

[FloridaPat]

1. Walmarts kill everyone else. The big ones put a lot of small

businesses out of business. They are also know for their low wages and lousy benefits. Yes they are cheap. Most of it is imported. They are more like a blight than anything else.

I hate shopping at our super Walmart myself. I end up parking a mile away and have to stand in line 1/2 hour to check out.

[alittlelark]

2. Our family has not shopped at Walmart for almost 2 years

I try to educate friends and aquaintances that do. I have turned some - others just don't get it.

[david_vincent]

3. St. Johnsbury, VT has formally asked Walmart

to come and build in the vicinity. Also, St. Albans, VT is reported to be considering extending a similar invitation "in order to attract jobs."
What I think is interesting is the possibility that communities with flawed leadership will continue to invite Walmart to their towns "for the jobs" while more farsighted cities may try to keep Walmart out. This could result in a division between "Walmart America" - presumably poorer, less educated, and more rural - and the non-Walmart areas.

[proud patriot]

5. It's sad

I'm thankful our community leaders seems
smart about it . However Walmart has financed
Contra Costa Consumers for choice and we are
up against some serious money .

ACORN and Neighborhood Alliance for Local Control
are doing great work to get the word out .

[brainshrub]

12. I have some bad news

Your going to lose. Sorry, but you are. If not this year, then they will buy a few city counsel members and try again.

That's what the bastards did here in Asheville when we tried to stop them from building a huge Ubber-Wal-Mart. Hell, they were SPECIFICALLY ordered by the city to not do any construction until the issue was hashed out, and they ignored them. (Activists brought videos of them buldozing...but they were never punished.)

Your only hope is a boycott the fuckers once Wal-Mart wins. You have to convince the people that Wal-Mart in their enemy.

Here in Asheville, the Wal-Mart is filled to capacity. People are so stupid.

[bleedingheart]

4. Walmart is also taking our township to court over this issue

PA DOT wants them to pay for more road enhancements that would make it more feasible for them to put that big box in our neighborhood and they refuse...which means the taxpayers would have to pay for it...

I really hope they don't succeed.

[PA Democrat]

16. Would that be in North Huntingdon?

I live in the area too, and have been watching this story too. I'm sick of corporate welfare for these SOB's.

[NYC]

6. Best of luck against Walmart.

Good luck.

[proud patriot]

8. Thanks

I hope we win too ..

[gula]

7. Only ever went to WalMart once

What a Zoo.I don't like big stores to start with but that one experience was enough to last me a life time. AND that was before I knew just what a rotten company they were. Now I talk to everyone who mentions Walmart and explain to them just how much it really costs all of us.

[Piperay]

10. I was in one once too and

I was NOT impressed. I walked right out without buying a thing and have never been in one since.

[arikara]

9. I think my husband finally got it...

He was appalled at a program about kids working in a sweatshop for $2 a month and i told him that's the stuff that walmart sells. And of course how they exploit their workers here too.

I haven't been in one in years. I always threaten to leaflet the parking lot so he sneaks without me when he goes. He's coming around now though, I've heard him talking to other people about the evils of walmart.

[Zhade]

11. Corporate grocers are trying to break the union to get Wal-Mart in.

Which is another reason why this strike is so important. If you pass a Von's or Albertsons, honk that horn - the people on the line really need our support!

[LeftHander]

13. Last time I was in WalMart

Was Christmas 1997. I had to go there because they still had a Olympus Stylus Camera (great little camera) that I wanted to give to my wife. Haven't been in one since.

[skippysmom]

14. When I lived in rural upstate NY

I was a frequent Wal-Mart shopper. Why? There was nothing else. I suspect that's the truth in so many towns, sadly.

Now there isn't a Wal-Mart for 20 miles around, and I couldn't be happier. Haven't shopped there in 3-4 years.

[chenGOD]

15. Have never shopped in one...

And I have been telling everyone I know that shops at one here in Seoul to stop going there (and explain why).