Heads up, Peoria, Arizona: Wal-Mart has big plans for your community. Sprawl-Busters received the following SOS today from Peoria: “Wal-Mart is proposing to move into our neighborhood in Peoria, Arizona, and I need help stopping it. The proposed site for this “Super Wal-Mart” is right in the middle of a neighborhood and growing community, and is extremely close to a new high school being built. I realize the land cannot be rezoned, but don’t voters have a right to vote them (Wal-Mart) out? There is already a Wal-Mart 4 miles from this location. I have already posted signs around the neighborhood to contact the city and voice opposition, I have also emailed our councilperson. Both the councilperson and planning/zoning dept. sound like it’s going to happen whether we like it or not, as the bottom line is revenue for our city.”
Whenever people tell me that they’ve heard a big box store is a “done deal,” I reply: “Excuse me, did you say a DUMB deal? Because there’s no such thing as a done deal unless the citizens in your town sit on their duffs and do nothing. Then it will be done to you.” Try imagining America with a Wal-Mart every four miles. If that doesn’t motivate you to get up and fight, nothing will.
