Wal-Mart Submits Plan To Pave Over Paradise
December 9, 2007
Joni Mitchell may never have set foot in Paradise, California, but her warning that someone would “pave Paradise, and put up a parking lot,” certainly
Al Norman
Case of Disabled Wal-Mart Employee Reaches Supreme Court
December 8, 2007
Wal-Mart says that its workers “are the backbone of our company.” “We recognize the value they bring to our company, and we understand that our
Wal-Mart Creates Another “Dark Store.”
December 8, 2007
There are currently 8 empty Wal-Mart stores in Louisiana — now add a ninth. KATC television reports this week that Wal-Mart is shutting down its
Wal-Mart Cancels One Superstore, Delays Two More
December 8, 2007
On November 13, 2006, Sprawl-Busters reported that citizens in Mill Creek, Washington had forced Wal-Mart to do an Environmental Impact Study(EIS) for a proposed superstore.
Two New Reports Find Wal-Mart’s A Wage Scrooge
December 6, 2007
Season’s Greetings to Wal-Mart from the University of California/Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education. The UC Berkeley Labor Center has been producing research since
Wal-Mart Creating Double Trouble For Neighbors
December 3, 2007
If you motor down South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas you will pass by Wal-Mart supercenter #470. If you keep on cruising down
A Wal-Mart Xmas Toy Story
December 2, 2007
Every year a Massachusetts-based non-profit corporation called W.A.T.C.H. (World Against toys Causing Harm) publishes during the Christmas shopping season, its annual “10 Worst Toys” list.
Walgreens Shopper Wins $2.1 Million In False Arrest Lawsuit
December 1, 2007
The Walgreens company, the country’s largest drugstore chain, calls itself modestly “the pharmacy all others are measured by and one of the most respected American
Citizens Beat Wal-Mart Supercenter in Court
December 1, 2007
Because a local citizen’s group had the guts, the energy and the money to take on the world’s largest retailer, there will be no Wal-Mart
Landowner Files Second Lawsuit Over Wal-Mart Rejection
December 1, 2007
On October 29, 2007 Sprawl-Busters updated the ongoing battle in Duluth, Georgia over a Wal-Mart supercenter. A landowner who stands to make millions of dollars
Workers Stage ‘A Day Without Wal-Mart’ On Sunday
November 29, 2007
It took nearly 30 years for Wal-Mart to become an international company, but its first store outside of the United States was a Sam’s Club
Wal-Mart Puts One More City On Hold
November 29, 2007
On December 15, 2005, Sprawl-Busters reported that the city council in Stoughton, Wisconsin had approved a land annexation measure by a vote of 8-4, which
Wal-Mart Steals Land From Goddess of Agriculture
November 28, 2007
The City of Ceres, California is located in the central San Joaquin Valley, 80 miles south of Sacramento and 95 miles east of San Francisco.
After 5 Years, Still No Home Depot or Wal-Mart
November 28, 2007
The town of Vernon, Connecticut has less than 30,000 people, and its population in 2006 is actually lower than it was in 1990. The town
Three Year Battle Puts Wal-Mart Supercenter Six Miles From Another
November 27, 2007
Wal-Mart won some kind of victory in California this week — but it’s hard to find much to celebrate. After three years of controversy, Wal-Mart
Home Depot Battles State Over Sales Taxes From Credit Cards
November 25, 2007
One of the standard pitches big box retailers like to use to woo local officials is the revenues such stores will generate for the city
Wal-Mart Pull-Out Strikes Sour Note
November 25, 2007
There are 7 Wal-Mart stores in Memphis, Tennessee, so it’s not hard to find cheap, Chinese imports. But this week, Wal-Mart’s decision to cancel a
Mayor Predicts Negative Impacts On Local Businesses From Wal-Mart.
November 23, 2007
Sylvan Lake calls itself “A Town For All Seasons.” Sylvan Lake is situated in Central Alberta, midway between Alberta’s largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary, and
95% Of the Residents Don’t Want Wal-Mart
November 23, 2007
Canfield, Ohio is a small community that has lost around 400 people since the year 2000. The township’s motto is: “A Nice Place to Call
Yet Another Wal-Mart Project Withdrawn
November 21, 2007
Wal-Mart’s plans to continue paving over paradise hit another snag this week. On October 23, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that in Hilo, Hawaii, County Council Chairman
Wal-Mart Now ‘Lukewarm Warm’ On Another Project
November 21, 2007
Wal-Mart has been telling local communities since the summer that its plans now call for expanding existing discount stores into supercenters, rather than totally new
Mayor Pleased With Wal-Mart’s Decision To Pull Out.
November 21, 2007
After a year of angering residents in Morganton, North Carolina, Wal-Mart announced this week that it won’t be coming to town, and has let its
African Foods Supplier Says Wal-Mart Sabotaged Her Product
November 20, 2007
You can understand big corporations by how they treat little people. Another book slamming Wal-Mart’s corporate practices has been written — this one by a
Wal-Mart’s Unsustainability Report
November 17, 2007
One of the little-noticed side stories in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, was the impact the storm had on Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott. “Katrina was
Wal-Mart Scrubs Plans—After 4 Years
November 17, 2007
Like an aimless college student, Wal-Mart just spent four years studying in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. But after four years of research, Wal-Mart announced this week
“Wal-Mart Nation” Movie Looks Inside the Box
November 14, 2007
Wal-Mart, in all its quirky, cultish splendor, is revealed in a new independent film blowing out of Toronto, Canada like a chilling breeze through Bentonville,
Wal-Mart’s Reputation Among Consumers Continues To Decline
November 12, 2007
It looks like Wal-Mart’s low prices aren’t the only thing falling at the corporate chain. Consumer opinion of the company continues to fall lower as
City Gives $2 Million Subsidy To Fill Empty Wal-Mart
November 12, 2007
Carson City, Nevada has around 53,000 residents and one dead Wal-Mart. That’s because it has two Wal-Mart supercenters, one on Market Street, and the other
Home Depot Sues City Official For Bias
November 11, 2007
Still smarting over a defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles City Council, Home Depot filed a lawsuit on Friday against one Councilwoman they
Wal-Mart Plan Near Airport Crashes & Burn
November 11, 2007
Call it pilot error. Call it a bad corporate flight plan. Either way, the world’s largest retailer crashed and burned this week in a small
Judge Sides with Wal-Mart, But Second Lawsuit This Week
November 11, 2007
Wal-Mart has no illusions about how neighbors feel about their proposed supercenter at the Northcross Mall in Austin, Texas. Their plan attracted not one, but
Ten States Where Wal-Mart Did Not Build
November 9, 2007
Looking for a safe haven from big box sprawl? Within the borders of the United States, its hard to find a place that has not
Planning Commission Unanimously Rejects Wal-Mart Proposal
November 8, 2007
On October 13, 2007 Sprawl-Busters reported that the idea of a Wal-Mart supercenter was not floating many boats in Venice, Florida. The city promotes its
Wal-Mart Fined For Overcharging Its Customers
November 8, 2007
Here’s some news about sweet potatoes that’s not very sweet. it turns out that one big box store is illegally charging its customers for the
Wal-Mart “Wins” By 106 Votes.
November 7, 2007
Is it possible to buy votes with hot dogs? A developer in Heber City, Utah used hot dogs and soda to try to influence the
Wal-Mart Weed Pulled From the Garden
November 6, 2007
On July 20, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a crowd estimated at 100 people turned out in Garden Grove, California to whack Wal-Mart’s weeds. A hearing
Sagging Sales Shuts Down Wal-Mart Store
November 6, 2007
If you take the last train to Clarksville, you’ll find a Wal-Mart. But not for much longer. On the Clarksville, Texas website, the town has
Wal-Mart Organizing Customer Action Network To Lobby
November 5, 2007
Want to help fight citizens protecting their homes and neighborhoods? Want to help force huge superstores into tiny communities? Want to overwhelm your neighbors with
Citizens Group Gears Up To Lobby Supervisors To Reject Wal-Mart
November 4, 2007
On September 25th, Sprawl-Busters reported that the tiny township of North Whitehall, Pennsylvania was up against a big problem: A Wal-Mart supercenter. North Whitehall already
We Can Do Much Better Than Wal-Mart
November 3, 2007
Residents in the tiny village of Mt. Orab, Ohio have been waiting for months for the other shoe to drop. Rumors have been circulating since
Home Depot Settles Nightclub Fire Lawsuit
November 3, 2007
The Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island caught fire on February 20, 2003, and 100 people packed into the nightclub were killed, and more
International Day Of Protest Against Big Box Stores Set for November 17th.
November 1, 2007
This week Sprawl-Busters received an email from a worker in the town of Mayawaddi in Myanmar (Burma), on the border of the Thailand district of
Wal-Mart Suffers Early Halloween Trick
October 30, 2007
It was an early trick or treat for Wal-Mart last night in Atascadero, California, but the giant retailer left without the candy. The City Council
Landowner Sues City Over Big Box Moratorium
October 29, 2007
When you can’t get what you want by regulation, try litigation. That’s the apparent strategy in Duluth, Georgia, where a landowner who stands to make
Town Official Sues Meijer’s For Frivolous SLAPP Lawsuit
October 28, 2007
Developers often use lawsuits to try to intimated local officials. Sometimes the legal action can get very personal. Meijer’s is a retail supercenter chain that
Voters Will Determine Fate of Wal-mart Project November 6th.
October 28, 2007
Heber City, Utah voted in 2005 for a cap on the size of retail stores — but city officials in 2007 voted to give them
Wal-Mart Loses 2nd. Court Case
October 27, 2007
A Wal-Mart front group in Tucson, Arizona has two strikes against it, but wants to take one final cut at the pitch. The “Consumers for
Residents Organize To Put Superstore Ban On Ballot
October 27, 2007
Activists in Ventura, California say the foot-dragging has gone on long enough. On July 31, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that Wal-Mart had signed a lease on
City Staff OK Site Plan, Battle Goes On
October 27, 2007
Sprawl-Busters has been narrating the battle against Wal-Mart in Tarpon Springs, Florida since April 11, 2005. A couple of days ago, local residents told Sprawl-Busters
Citizens Mull Appeal Of Village Decision to OK Wal-Mart.
October 26, 2007
On September 25, 2007, Sprawl-Busters reported that a developer called Newman Development, based in Vestal, New York, wanted to build a 130,720 s.f. Wal-Mart supercenter