City Gives Wal-Mart Zoning Delicatessen
February 12, 2006
Sprawl-Busters reported last August that Wal-Mart, fresh on the heels of a loss in Hillsboro, Oregon, was seeking to build a store in nearby Cornelius.
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City Officials Roll Over for Wal-Mart
February 12, 2006
More than 2,000 residents in Fairhope, Alabama signed a petition against a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter on 57 acres of land east of the city, but
Wal-Mart Called An Economic & Safety Disaster
February 11, 2006
Ohio is being aerial bombed with proposed Wal-Marts, and opposition is following the giant retailer everywhere they try to drop a store. The following message
Don’t Like Wal-Mart? Don’t Shop There.
February 11, 2006
Here’s a typical Wal-Mart story from a typical American town. A proposed 217,000 s.f. Wal-Mart superstore on 30 acres of land in Perrysburg, Ohio has
Decade-Long Battle Against Wal-Mart Continues
February 11, 2006
Citizens in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, have been engaged in their own Olympic endurance battle against Wal-Mart for roughly ten years. On January 20th,2006, city officials
Wal-Mart Pushes $24 M In Health Costs Onto Taxpayers
February 9, 2006
Wal-Mart gets health care for many of its workers in Washington state at an “everyday low price.” In fact, it’s free — because the taxpayers
Trade Association Sues Maryland Over Wal-Mart Health Care Bill
February 8, 2006
As expected, a retail front group filed a lawsuit this week to overturn a health care law in Maryland that requires employers with more than
Sprawl-Buster to Speak At United Nations
February 8, 2006
Al Norman, the founder of Sprawl-Busters, an international clearinghouse for citizens’ groups fighting big box superstores, has been invited to speak at the United Nations
Wal-Marts Agrees to Limit Store Hours
February 8, 2006
They will not be burning the midnight oil at the proposed Wal-Mart superstore in Livonia, Michigan. After major community opposition was expressed to a 24
Home Depot Kills Off Competitor
February 6, 2006
Home Depot is known in the retail business as a “category killer.” A form of retail plague, companies like Home Depot and Lowe’s kill off
Two Counties Engage in Conflict Resolution Over Wal-Mart
February 6, 2006
Sprawl-Busters reported on January 8, 2006 that two counties in Florida were in a legal battle over a proposed Wal-Mart distribution center. The two counties
Wal-Mart Wins Battle, But Could Lose the War
February 5, 2006
The marathon 3.5 year battle over a 168,000 s.f. proposed Wal-Mart in Pittsfield Township, Michigan reached another decision point this week, when the Planning Commission
39 Big Box Victories in Last Seven Months
February 5, 2006
Sprawl is busting out all over — but citizens groups are stepping up their efforts as well, scoring 39 victories, according to Sprawl-Busters, between July
Wal-Mart “Disappointed” by Rejection.
February 5, 2006
Another community has sent Wal-Mart packing. If Wal-Mart wants to build in Hercules, California, a suburb 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, they’re going to
Court Hears Case Over Wal-Mart Access Road
February 5, 2006
Sprawl-Busters reported last September that residents in Mahoning township, Pennsylvania has sued town officials over a zoning variance for a Wal-Mart superstore. That case is
One Home Depot Opens, One Closes.
February 3, 2006
One minus one = zero. Home Depot opened its doors this week in the town of Clinton, Mississippi. The new store in Clinton, however, caused
Judge Rules Against Wal-Mart In Loading Docks Case
February 2, 2006
Residents in Windsor Township, Pennsylvania didn’t like the idea of a 197,000 s.f. Wal-Mart superstore with 7 loading docks facing their homes, so they took
2,000 Residents Sign Anti-Wal-Mart Petition
February 2, 2006
As many as 400 upset residents crowded into close quarters at town hall in Fairhope, Alabama this week to make it clear they don’t want
Wal-Mart Tries To Lower Its Property Taxes
February 2, 2006
It’s become a familiar ritual in many parts of the country. When Wal-Mart is wooing a town, they promise a tax revenue bonanza. But as
Jail Time For Wal-Mart’s Former Vice Chairman
February 1, 2006
Today is the start of Wal-Mart’s new fiscal year, and what a grand way to begin it — with the confession by its former Vice
Poll Shows 56% Say Wal-Mart Bad for America
February 1, 2006
A national survey of American adults released this week by Zogby International, finds that 38% of American polled have an unfavorable opinion of Wal-Mart. The
Sprawling Project Sparks Community Opposition
February 1, 2006
Delaware, the true home state for corporations like Wal-Mart, which pay no corporate taxes here, is rarely in the news over big box sprawl issues.
TIAA-CREF Asked This Week To Make Wal-Mart Ethical
January 31, 2006
On Thursday, February 2nd, Sprawl-Busters will be part of a delegation meeting with representatives from the huge pension fund TIAA-CREF, to urge the fund to
Neighbors Reject Developer’s Hush Money For Lowe’s
January 29, 2006
Not everything is for sale. That’s a hard lesson for developers to learn, but for some people a 166,000 s.f. Lowe’s store in their backyards
Arts Group Rejects Home Depot Contribution.
January 29, 2006
On January 25, 2006, a resident’s group in Coconut Grove, a distinctive village in Miami, Florida, sent a sharply-worded letter to The Coconut Grove Arts
Preserved Farm To Get Home Depot As Neighbor?
January 29, 2006
The city of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, which calls itself “the birthplace of the tomato”, may end up with fruit on its face if Home Depot gets
Local Stores Better for Economy Than Retail Chains
January 29, 2006
A new economic impact study from the north side of Chicago, Illinois says that local businesses produce enhanced economic impacts when compared with their chain
Moratorium ‘Breaks The Wal-Mart Mold.’
January 29, 2006
Wal-Mart is going nowhere fast in the city of Ventura, California, following the recent vote by officials to enact a one year moratorium on retail
Wal-Mart Opens in Little Norway
January 28, 2006
Sprawl-Busters wrote on August 1, 2003, that the city council, by one vote, had approved a Wal-Mart supercenter for the community of Poulsbo, Washington, known
Citizen Appeals Tie Up Three Wal-Marts
January 26, 2006
Remember the good old days when it was easy to shove a 200,000 s.f. Wal-Mart down a community’s throat? Nowadays, developers have to go through
Residents Angered By Wal-Mart’s Proximity to Wildlife Refuge
January 25, 2006
One thing is certain: Wal-Mart is not an endangered species, and the giant retailer doesn’t seem to worry too much about species that are. Residents
Planners Want Wal-Mart To Make Their Store Smaller
January 25, 2006
Size matters. A citizen’s Coalition has formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado to prevent the construction of a 207,000 s.f. Wal-Mart Supercenter, and they’re getting some
Home Depot Gets Gas
January 24, 2006
Not to be undone by other discount retailers like Wal-Mart, Home Depot has announced at a meeting with investors recently that the company plans to
Aldermen Fear Wal-Mart Will Leave Downtown Behind.
January 24, 2006
The Canton, Illinois planning and zoning board fell all over themselves this week, drooling over the prospect of a Wal-Mart supercenter. The 33 acres of
Home Depot Founders Put Up Money To Nail Eliot Spitzer
January 23, 2006
“You can do it, we can help.” Home Depot’s slogan should serve well as the campaign slogan for Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, who wants
City Braces For Battle Over Fifth Wal-Mart
January 23, 2006
The city of Spokane, Washington already has 4 Wal-Marts within its borders — two discount stores, and two supercenters. Even Wal-Mart addicts have enough places
Wal-Mart Leaves As Deal Unravels
January 22, 2006
Wal-Mart has reportedly spent six years trying to find a place to build in Escondido, California. But its most recent plans to build a 140,000
Wal-Mart’s Health Care In Reverse
January 22, 2006
While the national headlines focus on efforts across the country to force Wal-Mart to pay more for its workers’ health insurance, an obscure story in
Call TIAA-CREF To Make Wal-Mart Socially Responsible
January 22, 2006
Sprawl-Busters, as part of The Make TIAA-CREF coalition, is asking everyone to make a toll-free call between January 23rd and January 25th. to the head
Small Town Beats Big Box Lowe’s.
January 21, 2006
The Lowe’s real estate people are going to have to look for one more site this week, because their prime location in Westlake Village has
Wal-Mart Would Displace 54 Families From Their Homes
January 21, 2006
If a Wal-Mart supercenter gets a home in West Asheville, North Carolina, dozens of local families will lose theirs. The following story was sent to
Wal-Mart Plan Rejected.
January 20, 2006
Chalk up another victory against unbridled sprawl. The Nashua Planning Board voted 4-3 last night to live free or die without Wal-Mart. The retailer wanted
Six Years Of Fighting Big Boxes Finally Pays Off.
January 20, 2006
It’s just about official now. A developer in Lower Makefield, Pennsylvania has apparently agreed in writing, after years of citizen pressure, to drop their big
New Wal-Mart Creates Dead Wal-Mart
January 20, 2006
Gain one, lose one. That’s what happened this week in Columbia, Missouri, the state that Sam Walton loved to boast had been saturated with Wal-Marts.
Home Depot Wants 400-500 New Stores–Activists Want To Stop Them
January 19, 2006
If you don’t already have a Home Depot where you live, hold the phone. The world’s largest home improvement store, the second largest retailer in
Wal-Mart, Home Depot Fail to Pay Environmental Taxes
January 19, 2006
Ever hear of a multi-billionaire tax delinquent? The state of California is chasing down a couple of deadbeat corporations that have failed to pay years
Labor Department Ends Special Deal With Wal-Mart.
January 19, 2006
Ready or not, here they come. Child-labor law enforcers from the U.S. Department of Labor are no longer going to give Wal-Mart 15 days advance
Citizens Organize Recall Effort In Four Languages
January 19, 2006
Many citizens in Rosemead, California want to get rid of their Mayor, who has been a cheerleader for a Wal-Mart supercenter. Citizens have already removed
Town Changes Zoning To Block Wal-Mart
January 18, 2006
Wal-Mart’s first steps into Amherst, New York were not very auspicious. Town officials have begun efforts to push the project right out of town. Here’s
Wal-Mart Finds Haven in Grand Haven
January 18, 2006
Local citizens in Grand Haven, Michigan are getting a full dose of the Wal-Mart hustle, as township officials and the retailer gang up to push