A “National Day of Action” Makes 7 Demands of Wal-Mart
September 1, 2003
A National Day of Action has been called for Thursday, November 21, 2002 (one week before Thanksgiving Day), to kick off the People’s Campaign for
Al Norman
Residents Organize for Referendum Against Wal-Mart Rezoning.
August 26, 2003
Less than two weeks after the San Marcos, California City Council narrowly approved a rezoning for a 139,000 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter, opponents are gathering signatures
Home Depot Plans Get Unanimously Soaked.
August 23, 2003
Home Depot got soaked this week in Vernon, Connecticut, when the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission unanimously sank their plans for a 117,000 s.f. home improvement
Citizens Sue Town Over Vote to Rezone Land For Wal-Mart
August 23, 2003
Residents in Front Royal, Virginia have raised a legal challenge to a vote taken by their Town Council on July 28th, when officials approved rezoning
Planning Commission Votes 5-2 to Reject Wal-Mart Rezoning.
August 20, 2003
Wal-Mart has never been very sensitive to what a zoning map says, and once again a local Planning commission has had to remind the company
Wal-Mart Squeaks By with One Vote, But Challenge Mounting.
August 14, 2003
Even though no residents spoke in favor of a 139,000 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter in south San Marcos, California — the second Wal-Mart in this city
Wal-Mart Superstore Rejected in Supermajority Vote
August 8, 2003
The Kingman, Arizona City Council has rejected Wal-Mart’s request for a zoning change to pave the way for a supercenter. According to the Kingman Miner
City Denies Building Permit for Wal-Mart Supercenter.
August 8, 2003
Is Wal-Mart a “variety store”? Or is it a “department store”? It’s a big difference in Lawrence, Kansas. City officials in Lawrence this week denied
Couple’s Lawsuit Ends up Derailing Wal-Mart Supercenter Plans.
August 8, 2003
Wal-Mart opponents in Topsham, Maine believe that good things come to those who wait. Apparently the long wait for Wal-Mart to get a green light
Residents Fight To Protect Downtown From Eminent Domain.
August 8, 2003
Recently Newsflash recorded the story of Brick, New Jersey, where local officials used eminent domain (condemnation) as a weapon to take over land that was
City Council Slam-Dunks Wal-Mart on 6-0 Vote
August 8, 2003
Add another major “slam-dunk” to the Wal-Mart list of rejections. Residents in Hillsboro, Oregon are celebrating a super victory this week against a Wal-Mart supercenter.
Resident Sues Planning Board and Home Depot Developer
August 7, 2003
One of the favorite threats of developers is litigation. What they can’t get by regulation, they try to get by litigation. Sometimes, citizens use this
City Proposes 15,000 s.f. cap for Conditional Use Permit
August 3, 2003
On July 24th on a 3-1 vote, City planning commissioners in Clovis, California gave preliminary approval to a zoning change that would require conditional use
No Sewer, No Water, Wal-Mart Still Wants to Build.
August 3, 2003
There are no water or sewer lines to the farmland Wal-Mart wants to convert into a supercenter, but the company wants to proceed anyway. However,
Citizen Wal-Mart Puts Itself on the Ballot.
August 1, 2003
Wal-Mart doesn’t like the zoning laws in Contra Costs County, California. So like a good citizen, Wal-Mart is exercising its First Amendment rights as the
City Council in “Little Norway” Narrowly OKs a Wal-Mart.
August 1, 2003
On July 9th, Newsflash reported on the efforts of residents in the picturesque city of Poulsbo, Washington to keep out a Wal-Mart supercenter. The city,
Citizens Group Forms to Seek Big Box Moratorium
August 1, 2003
Just the thought of a Wal-Mart supercenter was enough. Residents in the town of Winona, Wisconsin have started a website, launched a petition drive, and
Wal-Mart Reportedly Buying Into Polish Market.
August 1, 2003
As of July, 2003, Wal-Mart international controlled 1,301 stores outside of the United States — bigger than most of its competitors are in the states.
Mayor Presides Over “Circus Atmosphere” to Get Wal-Mart
July 31, 2003
Mayor Robert Tennett of Front Royal, Virginia, was getting desperate for votes, so he finally had to order some of his Town Council members not
Local Officials Willing to Condemn Land to Keep Out Home Depot
July 30, 2003
We’ve been following the case of Home Depot vs. the Brick township, New Jersey, where local officials have been trying to block the building supply
Residents Take Home Depot Case to Court.
July 30, 2003
Here’s an update from New Jersey about a controversial Home Depot project that is entering a new phase: “On Friday, July 25, 2003, an appeal
Planning Board Recommends 55,000 s.f. Cap on Retail Buildings
July 24, 2003
In Aurora, New York, the town’s Planning and Conservation Board has recommended a size cap of 55,000 s.f. for a single-story or multistory retail building.
City Council votes 90 day “temporary delay” on Wal-Mart
July 24, 2003
The Stoughton, Wisconsin City Council voted on July 22nd to temporarily put on ice any future building permits for retail stores larger than 50,000 s.f.
Wal-Mart Wants to Move 18th Century Home for Supercenter.
July 19, 2003
Wal-Mart seems to have a good sense of history — it’s just short. In fact, it doesn’t seem to stretch back beyond 1962, when pioneer
Home Depot Calls Opposition “Bizarre” and “Most Undemocratic”.
July 16, 2003
When residents in Brattleboro, Vermont announced they were encouraging their neighbors to stay away from the new Home Depot when it opens sometime next fall,
Wal-Mart Used Car Deal Comes to a Crashing End.
July 13, 2003
In April, 2002, Newsflash passed along the story of the Asbury Automotive Group of Stamford, Connecticut, one of the largest used car chains in America,
Residents Say Lowe’s, Wal-Mart Combo Too Big For Its Britches.
July 13, 2003
One of the largest “double big box malls” in New England has been proposed for Leominster, Masschusetts by New England Development. The project, spread across
Wal-Mart Like Bug With No Place to Land
July 10, 2003
Like a mosquito looking for an arm to land on, Wal-Mart is having a hard time landing in Seminole County, Florida. The giant retailer tried
Little Norway Raises Big No-Way Over Wal-Mart.
July 9, 2003
Probably most people in Poulsbo, Washington never imagined their little town fighting a huge Wal-Mart store, but here’s a first-hand account from residents in “Little
Arkansas Supreme Court Overturns Wal-Mart On Union Trespassing
July 7, 2003
The grocery workers union had something to celebrate this Independence Day after the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled 6-1 on July 3rd. that union members could
Residents Don’t Want Wal-Mart Supercenter in their Acquifer.
July 6, 2003
Local residents of Austin, Texas don’t want a Wal-Mart supercenter inside Austin City Limits. They filed this report of the on-going battle: “Endeavor Real Estate
Jury Awards Former Home Depot Manager $467,000 After Firing
July 2, 2003
Many large retail chains have what they call an “open door” policy, encouraging their “associates” to bring issues or complaints to the attention of management.
Citizens Chain Themselves To Wal-Mart Backhoes.
June 27, 2003
ABC News in Chattanooga reports that construction workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee found more than they bargained for when they showed up for work this week.
Wal-Mart Can’t Build Supercenter Until Fred Foster Shows Up to Vote.
June 25, 2003
In the small town of Front Royal, Virginia, the world’s largest retailer can’t build a supercenter until Town Councilor Fred Foster shows up. One man
Wal-Mart Hires Professional Signature Gatherers To Get On Ballot
June 24, 2003
It looks like citizen Wal-Mart is going to put itself on the ballot again — this time in Contra Costa, California. The world’s biggest retailer
Wal-Mart Given Special Deal to Try for Second Time.
June 24, 2003
Wal-Mart was given a second chance yesterday in Gainsville, Florida. After being rejected May 27th. by the City Commission on a 4-3 vote for a
Federal Judge orders Wal-Mart to Reopen A Unionized Meat Department.
June 23, 2003
In February of 2000, we told you about the success of a group of meatcutters in Jacksonville, Texas who voted to unionize their Wal-Mart. In
State Supreme Court Upholds Wal-Mart Guilt for Customer’s Drug Death
June 21, 2003
The Arkansas Supreme Court this week unanimously upheld a $1.27 million jury decision against Wal-Mart in a case in which the company gave a pharmacy
Supreme Court Rejects Wal-Mart A Second Time.
June 21, 2003
Would your town accept a Wal-Mart on the condition that it be torn down 25 years later? In April of 2003, we reported that Wal-Mart’s
“Pop” Johnson’s Hardware Shuts After 79 Years. Wal-Mart Blamed.
June 21, 2003
The front page of the Daily Times Chronicle in Reading, Massachusetts has a picture of the Johnson True Value Hardware store with a caption over
Home Depot to Pay $14.7 Million Fine for Ruining A Vendor
June 21, 2003
An Associated Press story this week from Santa Fe, New Mexico indicates that a state judge, Carol Vigil, has slapped Home Depot with a $2.76
Home Depot Avoids Criminal Charges in Boy’s Death
June 21, 2003
There’s been another in a series of customer deaths at Home Depot from falling merchandise, but the death of 6 year old Ivan SanMiguel at
Wal-Mart Decides To Take A Permanent Holiday Here.
June 17, 2003
Local residents of Holiday, Florida were more than pleasantly suprised on June 11th. when they learned that the 207,500 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter planned for 31
Town Competes with Home Depot to Buy Land the Retailer Wants.
June 15, 2003
When in doubt, buy them out. Home Depot knows what competition is all about. As a “category killer”, they have played a role in the
Residents Win Round One Against Wal-Mart Rezoning
June 11, 2003
“Miracles happen,” according to San Marcos, California resident Steve Bennett. “We beat the biggest corporation in the world.” On June 11th, after six grueling hours
Wal-Mart Promises a “Mediterranean” appearance.
June 10, 2003
Do good berms make good neighbors? More than 100 angry residents in Estero, Florida gave Wal-Mart officals an earful for more than 2 hours on
WALMART WHISTLE-BLOWER SAYS SHE WAS EXPOSED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS
June 7, 2003
???I want people to understand the magnitude of power that Walmart has,??? says 68 year old Sherian Palmer. As a result of the four years
Mayor Sleeps Well After His Decision to Reject Wal-Mart.
June 7, 2003
Newsflash reported May 15, 2003 that the Blue Springs, Missouri Planning Commission had voted down a Wal-Mart supercenter. The city already has a current Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart pays $200,000 in Court settlement over toy guns.
June 7, 2003
Don’t point that thing at me! Wal-Mart was shot down this week by New York state’s Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer. The AG took aim at
Residents Win Initial Victory in 5 Year Struggle with Safeway
June 6, 2003
Residents in Burlingame, California have filed the following report of a recent victory in a long-standing battle in their hometown: “Safeway is proposing to build