Democracy, Sponsored by Wal-Mart
November 12, 1999
Wal-Mart must think that participatory democracy is like buying an ad. In several cases recently, the merchant of mass mediocrity has decided to form “citizens”
Al Norman
Eighth Best Moratorium
November 12, 1999
Last month the small community of Easton, MD, the Town Council voted to impose a 3 month moratorium on the processing of big box retail
A Wal-Mart Bedtime Story.
November 9, 1999
Here’s a little ‘bedtime for businesss” story from the San Mateo, CA. County Times newspaper, about how Wal-Mart helped some local businesses say good night
Surviving Wal-Mart?
November 9, 1999
The Highland, IL News Leader newspaper printed the following tale about life in small town America once Wal-Mart moves in. “Four years ago Jerseyville, IL
Wal-Mart Sues for Tax Break
November 8, 1999
“Wal-Mart takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously and willingly assumes its obligation to support public services through taxes.” That’s what Wal-Mart tells new
Wal-Mart Sues Over Rejection
November 6, 1999
We reported on August 27, 1999 (see newsflash below) that the Chandler City Council had voted unanimously to turn down a proposed 212,000 s.f. Wal-Mart
“Slow Growth” Slate Elected!
November 4, 1999
Loudon County, Virginia knows sprawl. According to yesterday’s Washington Post, the northern Virginia county has experienced a 67% growth in population during the 90s, bringing
Wal-Mart’s “Castle” is Defeated
November 3, 1999
Wal-Mart has literally abandoned its plans mid-stream in Stratham, New Hampshire. The company’s plans to construct a 200,000 s.f. superstore in the middle of a
Suburban Wal-Mart Not Wanted
November 2, 1999
The West End Community Association in Long Beach, CA. has made it perfectly clear to developers: Residents don’t want a suburban-style retail mall in an
Letters Against Wal-Mart
November 2, 1999
According to a report in today’s Salem Morning Journal, area residents in Green and Salem Townships have started organizing to fend off the annexation of
No Relaxing of Rules for Wal-Mart
October 30, 1999
When Wal-Mart took control of the Asda grocery chain several months ago, the United Kingdom became the second largest international beachhead for the retail conglomerate.
Study Says Wal-Mart Creates Economic & Social Backlash
October 30, 1999
A new study produced by Rutgers University, says that the costs of welcoming in a Wal-Mart supercenter may outweigh the benefits. “The economic and social
Woman Gets No Help At Wal-Mart
October 29, 1999
According to news reports from Lauderhill, FL, 29 year old Denise Williams turned to Wal-Mart for help, with unfortunate results. Williams was abducted by her
Will Taos Beg Wal-Mart to Stay?
October 29, 1999
In the same week that Wal-Mart shut down its 120,000 s.f. store in Warr Acres, OK (see next story), Wal-Mart has notified the town of
Wal-Mart, Love Em, Then Leave Em
October 29, 1999
Wal-Mart wooed the town of Warr Acres in 1991, and now its walking out on the community for a “bigger” suitor. In a newsflash from
Citizens Sue City Over Target
October 28, 1999
At what was supposed to be a routine meeting of the Northfield, MN City Council regarding a Target development, public officials were caught up short
Big Box Ordinance Considered
October 27, 1999
Ten years ago this month, the city of Santa Cruz was given an unusual opportunity for city planning — the Loma Prieta earthquake decimated the
Six Month Moratorium Passed.
October 26, 1999
The city of Rockville, MD has voted to step away from big box retail development for six months and reassess its development plans. City staff
Wal-Mart’s “Astro-Roots” Group
October 22, 1999
Once again, Wal-Mart rises to defend the rights of the beleaguered American consumer! This time it’s in Tucson, AZ, where Wal-Mart executives are displeased with
Home Depot Garbage.
October 22, 1999
Miami resident Michael Brooks rose to speak at a recent meeting of the North Miami City Council regarding a proposed Home Depot. “You want the
A Wal-Mart Toothache
October 21, 1999
The Billings Heights neighborhood is still reeling from the news that a proposed 183,645 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter would add 5,118 new cars a day to
Rite Aid, Wrong Boss
October 21, 1999
Rite Aid has announced that its CEO, Martin Grass, has resigned, amidst charges that the company has overstated its profits by nearly $300 million in
Home Depot Invited to Leave
October 19, 1999
The letter to Arthur Blank, the CEO of Home Depot, was short and direct. “It would save us all a lot of time and energy
The Secret Wal-Mart
October 19, 1999
Here’s the lead sentence from a story in the October 18, 1999 issue of the Highland News Leader: “After several months of secrecy, officials for
Home Depot Splurges on Lobbyist
October 18, 1999
Tony Bennett may have left his heart in San Francisco, but Home Depot left its wallet. For several years now Home Depot has been pushing
Neighbors Begins Campaign to Push Back Wal-Mart Superstore
October 18, 1999
A group of angry residents on the southside of Springfield, Illinois are organizing to keep a Wal-Mart supercenter out of their hair. Wal-Mart has announced
Stand Up for the Big Guy.
October 12, 1999
What would this country be like if we didn’t have people willing to stand up for the Big Guy? When the Clark County Commissioners voted
Big Box Bidding War Law Signed
October 8, 1999
Behind all the controversy surrounding Governor Gray Davis’ veto of the big box grocery limit bill (see newsflash below), another piece of important legislation has
Wal-Mart’s Voo Doo Economics
October 8, 1999
City staff in Ocean View, CA have submitted a report to the City Council on October 4th that suggests building a 150,000 s.f. Wal-Mart would
Wal-Mart “irresponsible” Banker
October 8, 1999
Congress should shut the bank doors to Wal-Mart, and keep the retail giant out of the thrift industry. That’s the viewpoint at the United Food
Citizens Sue over Home Depot Sale
October 7, 1999
A group of Yuma, Arizona businessmen has sued the city for selling 10+ acres of land for a 129,000 s.f.Home Depot, saying that the city
Wal-Mart’s Bicycle Mistakes
October 7, 1999
It takes a Big Company to admit its mistakes — and Wal-Mart has admitted to making mistakes at three of its stores in Tulare County,
Wal-Mart Half-Baked in Halfmoon
October 7, 1999
More than 250 angry citizens of Halfmoon, NY turned out in force last night to a hearing of the Halfmoon Planning Board. The object of
Home Depot backs out.
October 4, 1999
The last time we looked in on Mason City, Iowa, the town whose Planning Commmission voted against Wal-Mart three times (see March 30, 2001 newsflash),
New Ordinance Limits Superstores
September 28, 1999
The definition of a compromise is an agreement that makes neither side happy. That pretty much describes the new zoning ordinance regulating big box stores
City Nears Cap on Stores.
September 28, 1999
Westlake, the Ohio city that successfully stopped a SuperKmart in a long court battle several years ago, is now busy working on a ordinance that
Gambling Against Supercenters
September 26, 1999
Despite the Gubernatorial veto of a similar ordinance in California (see below), Las Vegas County Commissioner Erin Kenny has introduced an ordinance that would require
Wal-Mart Next to FDR, Again!
September 26, 1999
Sprawl-busters in Hyde Park, NY report that Wal-Mart has returned to this town of 15,000 people to try and locate directly across from the estate
Win One, Lose One
September 25, 1999
Wal-Mart walked away with an 81% voter margin in September 7ths referendum in Yuma, AZ, where local citizens put the issue on the ballot. City
Governor Rescues Costco
September 24, 1999
The full page ad in the San Francisco Chronical reads: COSTCO NEEDS YOUR HELP! “You’re probably surprised to see an ad from Costco in the
Home Depot Employees Gather.
September 18, 1999
For all practical purposes, it looked like a Home Depot staff meeting instead of a public hearing. The Tucson Planning Commission hearing on September 15th
A Squeaker for Home Depot
September 18, 1999
On July 20, 1999 (see newsflash below) we reported that residents of Lake Geneva (pop 6000) would be voting in a non-binding referendum on a
Sales Head South
September 16, 1999
What’s happened to the Wal-Mart touch in Mexico? Wal-Mart is the majority owner of the largest retailer in Mexico, Cifra, but that company has recently
Big Box Faxs Out.
September 16, 1999
Two years of bitter fighting over a big box development just south of Charlottesville, VA city limits ended yesterday — not with a bang or
Wal-Mart Votes “Con” on El Con
September 15, 1999
Residents in Tucson are breathing a temporary sigh of relief this week, as the official word came out in Tuesday’s Arizona Daily Star that Wal-Mart
Strawberry Fields Forever
September 15, 1999
First, let it be noted that Glendora, CA already has a Wal-Mart on Auto Center Drive. Now the company wants to place a Sam’s Club
Wal-Mart Takes Another Loss
September 14, 1999
“I think we did everything we could,” commented Wal-Mart Attorney Bill Blackburn, “and it’s the city’s loss.” But jubilant residents of Richardson, Texas see it
State Bill Limits Superstores
September 13, 1999
“Economic fascists have already wiped out all of our downtown businesses,” explained California Assemblyman Richard Floyd. “They’ve destroyed independent clothing stores, hardware stores, appliance stores,
Albertson’s Get Mayoral Assist
September 11, 1999
We reported on August 22, 1999 that the Albertson’s grocery chain was trying to win city approval in New Orleans to build a 66,000 s.f.
Hechingers: Another One Bites the Dust.
September 10, 1999
Another great tree in the forest of building supply companies has fallen. The “old growth” companies are being culled out of the forest, as the