In the business-saturated neighborhood of Lakeview, there is an overwhelming 70 percent resistance to a WalMart expansion. The popular North Side neighborhood not only birthed Boystown, but half of the residents are young women -- two groups the corporation has notoriously mistreated. So why does WalMart want in?
At the busy three-street intersection of Chicago's North Clark Street, West
Diversey Parkway and North Broadway lies the border between two
business-saturated North Side neighborhoods, with Lakeview to the north
and Lincoln Park to the south. It is at a building development on this
corner that WalMart is hoping to try out it’s urban concept branded as
“WalMart Market.” On Thursday, neighborhood residents came out to rally
against the retail behemoth’s plan and let their feelings be known with
these feisty words: “Over my dead body.” Facing this hostile resistance,
along with an overwhelming 70 percent of residents polled who don’t
support the store -- you have to wonder, why does WalMart want in?
The
WalMart team has touted that 70-some jobs that will be created if the proposed 31,000-square-foot store at 2840 N. Broadway comes to fruition,
but organizers at the rally aren’t on board. The company’s anti-union
history and corporate greed, they say, is not to be forgotten. Chicago
Jobs with Justice’s Susan Hurley said WalMart’s well-documented tax
evasion schemes, from paying taxes to themselves to getting rebates on sale taxes, save them from over $400 million in taxes each year, meaning local taxpayers have to foot the bill. “We cannot afford to subsidize
companies like WalMart. We literally can’t afford WalMart. And that
doesn’t even start to talk about the cost associated with subsidizing
their work force, who often qualify for food stamps or Medicaid, or even
subsidized housing because of the low income,” Hurley told the crowd.
“We can’t afford to have a neighbor like WalMart. When they pay less, we
all pay more.”
An impassioned Bruce Alan Beal also took a closer look at who might get those jobs by delving into the
local demographics. He said 58 percent of his fellow Lakeview
neighborhood residents are young adult women. Another significant group
in this popular North Side neighborhood is the GLBT community, who 30
years ago settled in to create the Boystown strip and helped turn
Lakeview into one of the most livable parts of the city. Both groups,
Beal said, are notoriously mistreated by Walmart. “I can’t imagine my
young women neighbors getting jobs [at this new WalMart],” Beal said.
Beal
wanted to clarify that he isn’t affiliated with any union groups, but
said he has seen, first-hand, the devastating effect the big-box retail store could have on the quaint shops that currently line the
streets of Lakeview. He was so enraged upon hearing the news that he started a
Facebook Group called “Stop the Lakeview/Lincoln Park Walmart” for a
place to vent. The group, which got over a hundred new members overnight
following a heated meeting last week, now has 868 members.
At
the same time Beal spoke, a woman walked by to yell in support of the
store, saying she’s got to head to the suburbs so she can shop at a
WalMart. Beal, unfazed, dared anyone to walk around the area to do a
random poll. A market researcher himself, Beal started the online survey that found at least 70 percent of residents polled opposed the new store. A “No Walmart in Lakeview” petition also has over 1,000
signatures already. WalMart has contended in the past that they will not
enter where they are not wanted, but a request for comment on the
public push-back was not immediately answered. A call was also not
returned by Mid-America Real Estate Group, the management company for the Broadway Street building the retail giant has set its sights on.
As for the effect WalMart would have on
local businesses, Mark Thomas, the owner of The Alley store at North
Clark Street and West Belmont Avenue, broke it down this simply: “DSW
went into Belmont and Clark --five small shoe stores closed up.
Barbara’s Books used to be directly across the street and a block down,
Barnes and Noble and Borders came --there is no Barbara’s Bookstore
anymore.”
Here's more about how the plan could affect other stores in the area:
Walmart is also interested in setting up shop in River North, another neighborhood in which residents are less than thrilled to hear such news.
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When will the unions picket McDonalds, which recently hired over 50,000 in one day ? They pay less than wal-mart.
We literally can’t afford WalMart and dont want to talk about the cost associated with subsidizing their work force.
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Good post. Beal has been doing magnificent work helping organize this effort.
Lakeview isn't really WalMart's kind of place. We happen to think that the people who ring up our groceries and bag our groceries deserve better than the race to the bottom that Walmart represents. Walmart's kind of business isn't our kind of business.
They just don't meet with our community standards.
This is ALL union opposition.
Consider this... IF nobody wants WalMart, then nobody will shop there and it will close.
THAT you should be supporting, if you truly oppose WalMart for various other reasons.
But it isn't.
These are union pawns and they are opposing this because WalMart is pro free market.
They have a lot of nerve to do so considering the state of the economy is in, no thanks to their leftist agenda.
WalMart will build, and if the people reject them, then the free market will speak, again.
Meanwhile, wave good bye to an era of unions... Their days are numbered THANK GOD.
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Kudos to the activists of Lakeview. Anybody who cherishes human rights, the living wage, and local merchants must continue to rage their voice against the Wal-Mart Machine.
There are massive sex discrimination law suits against the store, due to their treatment of women. State and local governments have found them to be a drain on the public treasury as Wal-Mart workers are paid so pitifully low and have practically no benefits. Such employees must seek public assistance just to survive. The giant, global corporation does not re-invest its profits in the community as would a small business owned by locals. By the way, each of the Wal-Mart heirs is a multi-billionaire.
Given these conditions I'm glad Wal-Mart employees are seeking union representation. Their pathetic working conditions prove the necessity of a strong labor movement.
Preserve the application of quality standards and always keep the name high, Wal-Mart has no shortage of these terms. Thank you
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Where doesn't walmart want in on? It's pretty shocking how much they're taking over our:
1. Environments
2. Societies
3. Local shops
I really can't stand it - I'm willing to pay extra prices in order to just NOT HAVE WALMART THERE!
Given these conditions I'm glad Wal-Mart employees are seeking union representation. Their pathetic working conditions prove the necessity of a strong labor movement.
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I think they like lake view. But all the people like to have some snacks or coffee in front of lake view.. That's why WalMart is looking for lake view for his groceries shops.
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The reasons presented by the mayor are not that understandable and does not make any scene.
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Wal-Mart wouldn’t say what it would sell at the location, but said the neighborhood would benefit from its grocery store. Tunney, through a spokesman, said the alderman wants to weigh community feedback before deciding whether to back Wal-Mart.
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There are so many of the misunderstanding in the subject. Many of the agencies are working on the same reports as this issue has made a good shadow on the thinking of the people.
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