walmart

This week on "What It's Worth", my guest will be John Harvey. When he and his wife found out about a nearby Wal-Mart coming to town, they formed a citizen's group called Our Lancaster First to encourage Smart Growth development as a better alternative to big-box retail. Find out why one community in Massachusetts (out of hundreds across the country) is fighting to keep Wal-Mart out.

Tuesday, March 20th at 9:30pm
Wednesday, March 21st at 10:30am and 7pm

Watch WCCA TV Channel 13
-OR-
Streaming on the web at WCCAtv.com!

I oppose to the proposed 209,000 s.f. Wal-Mart Supercenter on the 44-acre parcel of land between Route 146 and the Blackstone River, on Tobias Way in Worcester.

There are several reasons why such development of this parcel is undesirable and shortsighted. The problems that would be created include, but are not limited to:

• The site, abutting the Blackstone River and bikepath, will have environmental, aesthetic, and recreational consequences
• Neighbors and commuters can expect 16,000+ additional car trips to and from the site by the developer's estimate
• Our region’s “Heritage Corridor” would lead to the world’s largest retailer with no cultural significance or local distinction

Wal-Mart's large-scale, big-box development is a contradiction of the City of Worcester's stated goals and initiatives:

• “The goal should be to distinguish Worcester from its peers by celebrating unique and authentic characteristics, not by disguising them or replicating features in other cities” – Worcester’s Office of Economic Development’s Action Agenda.
• “Protect Worcester’s natural and cultural resources which give it an identity of its own. Create, protect, and preserve greenway linkages, trail corridors, and bikeways connecting recreational, open space, and community resources in and around Worcester” - goals of Worcester’s Open Space and Recreation Plan
• “Fostering the creation and expansion of start up and small businesses in the manufacturing, service, and retail sectors.” – goal of the city’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

Wal-Mart introduces a host of economic concerns that suggest they have turned their back on their responsibility to society, despite company rhetoric to the contrary. Among these concerns are:

• Our tax dollars subsidizing Wal-Mart’s site development, operations and employee benefits through government development grants, tax incentives and healthcare programs.
• Labor violations ranging from employee discrimination, usage of child and immigrant labor, anti-union policies, and environmental violations to sweatshops abroad
• Trivial charitable giving relative to revenues and earnings

More important are the adverse local impacts of:

• Vacancies and job loss caused by competitor store closures and abandonment of previously built Wal-Mart storefronts
• Property value declines of 15-20% are typical of adjacent Wal-Mart properties
• The vast majority of their profits immediately leave the city to go to Wal-Mart’s centralized operations instead of our money circulating locally

No one disputes that Wal-Mart offers lower prices, but these come at significant expense in other areas of our lives. Their public relations story of increased economic development is actually one of economic displacement, and simply reflects a shift of economic activity rather than creation of new activity.

Local merchants, much more than providers of goods and services, contribute to civic and cultural life and provide leadership in community affairs. They help create a sense of place and community identity. They support the local business infrastructure by utilizing local services such as accountants, lawyers, printers, media, distributors, banks, and more. In this way, a dollar spent at a locally owned business sends a ripple of economic benefits through the community.

Economic development in Worcester can be better sustained in the long term with alternative, smarter growth projects. We can do better. Say “No” to the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter and put Worcester First.

Sign Petition

http://www.worcesterfirst.org

Dear media makers: