San Diego bans Wal-Mart, other ‘big-box’ stores.
By on Nov 29th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
San Diego bans Wal-Mart, other ‘big-box’ stores.
The San Diego City Council “voted late Tuesday to ban certain giant retail stores, dealing a blow to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s potential to expand in the nation’s eighth-largest city.”
Also today, WakeUpWalMart released the first ad in its “Hope For The Holidays” campaign. Watch it:
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Wal Mart:
We have significantly increased the salaries of all the workers in this commercial. Please continue to shop at our stores.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:37 pmOh no! Where will the Mighty Haggette shop for Christmas!?
November 29th, 2006 at 7:40 pmI hate Wal Mart. Period.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:40 pmWhen I lived in San Francisco, there were no Wal-Marts on the peninsula.
I noticed that everyone there actually managed to survive.
Shocking, I know…
November 29th, 2006 at 7:44 pmLooks like the mayor is gonna veto it.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:47 pmI bet if Randy “Duke of Ho” Cunnigham was around Wal Mart would already be in full construction mode. The wages would have be lower to offset the bribe they paid Randy
November 29th, 2006 at 7:51 pmOT:
Keith Olbermann is going to have a Special Comment on Newt Gingrich’s thoughts on the First Amendment.
November 29th, 2006 at 7:58 pm#7
Why do you have to be a bigot….intentionally?
November 29th, 2006 at 8:02 pmSan Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders expects the council to override his veto of an effort he believes would crimp revenues to the city and hurt consumers, said spokesman Fred Sainz.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:07 pmKind of late, maybe? Guess what? If American families decide this cross-mess not to buy any presents but rather have a peaceful get together with some good food (no transfat and msg though..) what do You think will W-mart
November 29th, 2006 at 8:10 pmdo?
Tracy,
Wha? Bigot? How so?
November 29th, 2006 at 8:11 pmWhy do you have to be a bigot….intentionally?
Comment by Tracy — November 29, 2006 @ 8:02 pm
Tracy – stop… Really, stop. I can’t keep laughing this hard – my sides are splitting. Gregor a bigot? That would be like one of us calling you brave… Or philanthropic… Or conscious… LOL
November 29th, 2006 at 8:42 pmDo you have to make shEt up….intentionally.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:44 pmOT:
Keith Olbermann is going to have a Special Comment on Newt Gingrich’s thoughts on the First Amendment.
Comment by Zooey
I guess I heard wrong — maybe tomorrow night?
November 29th, 2006 at 8:48 pmFrankly I am no fan of wal-mart, but I don’t think a city or town should pass laws to prevent one retailer from opening a store there. You can vote with your feet by not shopping there. I do think a small community should have some say in what is built, but San Deigo already has a Costco, and most of the other Big Box stores common to any urban area. It isn’t like they are talking about building in some small town somewhere.
November 29th, 2006 at 8:51 pmKranzy,
Something has to be done to stop the Wal-Mart monster. People will not vote with their feet. Why? Because no matter how much the trolls on here tell us the opposite, the economy is in the toilet and people are broke. They will shop where stuff is cheapest. Wal-Mart is cheapest, because they screw the manufacturers out of their profits. I know, they do it to the company I work at. We don’t make dick off the products that are sold at Wal-Mart.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:02 pmThe stretch pants visual did hit me pretty bad, thanks.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:08 pmThe stretch pants visual did hit me pretty bad, thanks.
Comment by ForTruth
Wire brush for the eyes, dear?
November 29th, 2006 at 9:21 pmThe stretch pants visual did hit me pretty bad, thanks.
Comment by ForTruth
Wire brush for the eyes, dear?
—- Zooey
Eye transplant and shots.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:53 pm#12 Please, stop being an idiot. I know it is tough but just…stop.
November 29th, 2006 at 10:06 pm#22 – SpudgeBoy,
November 29th, 2006 at 10:21 pmI usually find better deals at Target or Kohls. DVDs at the former are usually $2 less for new releases and toys at the latter are like 20% less.
“Quite simply, I do not think it is the role of the San Diego City Council to dictate where families should buy their groceries,” said Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who opposed the ban.
I agree with him on it. Putting it up for a vote in the community is one thing, 8 people making the decision is another.
Councilman Tony Young, who joined the 5-3 majority, countered, “I have a vision for San Diego and that vision is about walkable, livable communities, not big, mega-structures that inhibit people’s lives.”
Again his vision as a councilman can’t trump what the people want in the community.
Singling out a retailer s bad business. If they can say Stores that are over 90,000 square feet and have 10% groceries are banned, they could say “People named Ted who sell worms out of their bait shack, can’t do business here”.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:02 pmTundra, singling out a retailer’s bad business should definitely be the boards job (you missed the apostrophe).
November 29th, 2006 at 11:11 pmDear ProgSnobs (2,3,4,5,6,7,10,15,17,23,24,25) – So sure of YOUR infinite wisdom and YOUR knowledge of what constitutes “good corporate citizenship”, you are convinced the average consumer needs YOUR input…..Nationwide, low and middle income families who shop at WalMart save an average of $1800.- to $2000.- per year. Not that you would care – truth is, the most precious, empathetic ProgSnob here could care less. Naturally, the contempt you have for rural folks is telling……and far less attractive than stretch pants on a walrus.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:12 pmI find it curious that people attack WalMart for paying their employees low wages. Certainly the wages are on the low end of the scale but the people who have chosen to work there have entered into employment at WalMart freely — they have not been coerced by any entity or person to trade their skills for a wage at WalMart.
The same holds true for those who shop at WalMart. The WalMart shopper has not been coerced into entering the store and buying products that some other people may think are shabby.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:12 pmOooo, Hook, you don’t get it do you? Yeah, their wages are low and because they are such a huge employer they force wages down all over. Do you understand macroeconomics at all?
November 29th, 2006 at 11:17 pm…and far less attractive than stretch pants on a walrus.
Comment by mighty aphrodite
Haggette got it’s feeling hurt again. Waaaah!
BTW, sorry about your ass….
November 29th, 2006 at 11:19 pmand buying products that some other people may think are shabby.
Comment by The Hook — November 29, 2006 @ 11:12 pm
Spudge makes the products, they are not shabby.
Just defending ya Spudge :)
November 29th, 2006 at 11:20 pmZooey, it doesn’t care about its ass, it is a guy…from Europe. Even their women don’t shave.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:20 pmTundra, I thought you liked the Chinese stuff?
November 29th, 2006 at 11:22 pmZooey, it doesn’t care about its ass, it is a guy…from Europe. Even their women don’t shave.
Comment by JPark
Even a guy with an ass like a walrus would be a bit perturbed, don’t you think?
November 29th, 2006 at 11:27 pmTundra, I thought you liked the Chinese stuff?
Comment by JPark — November 29, 2006 @ 11:22 pm
I actually stay away from Wal-Mart whenever I can. But I do know several people who are low income enough that it really helps them out. Every Wal-Mart I know of has a bus route right there, unlike alot of the other chains. Several people sued Wal-mart to force them to carry the morning after pill. The biggest argument was convience of someone who needs it. Well Wal-Marts are always convenient for those without transportation.
Councilman Tony Young, who joined the 5-3 majority, countered, “I have a vision for San Diego and that vision is about walkable, livable communities, not big, mega-structures that inhibit people’s lives.â€
If an 8 person council decided that it was illegal to open an abortion clinic within the community would it be OK? Reason: I have a vision of our community being away from the filth and tyranny of that evil practice?
Personally I think both are wrong, the business should have a right to stand on it’s own or not.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:38 pm#33 – “Haggette got it’s feeling hurt again. Waaaah! BTW, sorry about your ass….” Comment by Zooey
********You wish, Zooette. But cheer up – with summer over you can put away those shorts. I heard that was like seeing a postage stamp decorate a grapefruit……Yuck! Tell you what – if you don’t like Wal Mart – don’t shop there…..Progs love to call themselves the “Party of Choice – except schools, stores to patronize……You’re a bunch of phonies, dear ProgSnobs…..
November 29th, 2006 at 11:39 pmTundra, if they are low income, shopping at Wal-Mart and buying their cheap Chinese crap helps them? No, what would help is if they bought American made crap and just maybe that low income “friend” could make just a little bit more.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:43 pmMighty, when there are no other choices for an uneducated worker arms are twisted. You never lived in the real world have you? At least, not in America.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:44 pmYou wish, Zooette. But cheer up – with summer over you can put away those shorts. I heard that was like seeing a postage stamp decorate a grapefruit……Yuck!
Comment by mighty aphrodite
That’s frickin’ funny, Hagette!
You know, one would think that a fancy, high-priced
November 29th, 2006 at 11:48 pmwhoreattorney such as yourself, would be above responding to jabs about the size of your ass. Heh.shopping at Wal-Mart and buying their cheap Chinese crap helps them?
Spudge specifically said their products are sold there, I thought Spudge lived in the U.S?
and just maybe that low income “friend†could make just a little bit more.
I never said “friend”. I said “I do know several people who are low income enough that it really helps them out.” Some are be disabled vets who don’t get a bigger paycheck for shopping at other places. Some are people who live on Welfare and do not have employment due to injury or mental illness. Some are recovering alcoholics who have no job as they are going through treatment. Some are families that were laid off after 28 years at a “good paying job” and are now unemployable.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:54 pmTundra, go to Wal-Mart. Search for an American made item. Let me know when you find one. Take a stop watch…or a calender.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:57 pmTundra, you know so many people that have had misfortune that was no fault of their own. You seem to sympathize. Why are you still a righty?
November 29th, 2006 at 11:59 pmTundra, go to Wal-Mart. Search for an American made item. Let me know when you find one. Take a stop watch…or a calender.
Produce, milk, bread, Colgate Polmolive products, Meat. Pretty much the 10% that disqualifies them from opening a store in San Diago
November 30th, 2006 at 12:07 am#48 My Wal-Mart does not sell groceries.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:12 amTundra, you know so many people that have had misfortune that was no fault of their own.
Most I know blame themselves for the positions they are in. Some are trying to climb out, some are content to stay.
You seem to sympathize.
I wouldn’t insult any of them with my sympathy :)
Why are you still a righty?
November 30th, 2006 at 12:14 amForced charity to me is wrong. If someone does something because they want to, they can. But they should still have the right to pursuit their own happiness (Even if their happiness is owning a small island with 50 yachts). You can’t force people to be compassionate or caring. Any pressure applied just builds resentment for those less fortunate as opposed to letting them see and help on their own. I am guilty of being an optimist as I was insulted with before. I pretty much think Americans are good people and will help when they can. Some people do prove me wrong, but it’s their right to do so.
#48 My Wal-Mart does not sell groceries.
Comment by JPark — November 30, 2006 @ 12:12 am
That’s what the ban is on.
The measure, approved on a 5-3 vote, prohibits stores of more than 90,000 square feet that use 10 percent of space to sell groceries and other merchandise that is not subject to sales tax. It takes aim at Wal-Mart Supercenter stores, which average 185,000 square feet and sell groceries.
A regular Wal-mart is welcome to open up there.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:17 amHuh? The ban is on Wal-Mart groceries?
November 30th, 2006 at 12:18 amI am talking about help in making a better life. I’m very willing to help those that are trying to make a better life (or can’t alone). I pretty much have 0 tolerance for those that are in that content to do nothing state.
I have a cousin, works every couple months for a few weeks till he gets fired for not coming in. Opens small businesses (lawn care/Snowplowing etc) till he gets bored and takes off with peoples money and never does the work. Healthy as a horse, but would rather sit around on the porch and sponge unemployment every chance he gets. My opinion, let him rot, he had his hand up opportunities.
Alot of the righties I know have no problem with hand ups, but want some sort of regulation on that stuff. The real resistance comes when they try and put a “timer” on food stamps or welfare requirements (look for job or have medical reasons you can’t)
Sorry to hear about your father. It sounds like your mom did the right thing, got educated and taught her kids to do the same.
Never forget where you came from, but don’t be a sucker either :)
November 30th, 2006 at 12:35 amTundra,
Try to understand this, Wal-Marts come into towns like mine and destroy small town business, communities and finally, the small towns itself. It’s like a set of dominoes that continue to fall once the finger pushes it. Wal-Mart represents the finger and small towns are the dominoes.
If those who support Wal-Mart never showed any appreciation for the quality of business that small town stores supply, they will pay the price soon when those businesses are gone, post Wal-Mart.
For example, if you buy a computer at Wal-Mart, is there a repair center there that can help you when the little bugger breaks down? No! What should you do? Buy a new computer at Wal-Mart and waste more money, or take it down to a local computer repair shop that will give you it’s fullest attention and pure honesty and an estimate before fixing it.
Knowledge of the product and an intimate sense of a relationship between the business and it’s customers is important. I can find it
at the local record store or my favorite restaurant. Intimacy and quality service cannot be found in Wal-Mart. Even if there are groceries, that’s only proof that they want to dominate and destroy the local mom and pop grocery stores and put those who invested their hard work into it out of business.
If you believe that the mom and pop stores should go the way of the vinyl record and the horse and carriage, then Wal-Mart is your place. Just remember who has to lose to make the Walton family richer and the small business owners more miserable.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:39 amJIMBO,
I fully understand what you are saying. Personally like I said before I avoid Wal-Mart. It’s mainly that when I want to buy something, I prefer to have someone knowledgeable about that product. I also prefer to shop at places where I “get that personal feeling”.
But, I can’t force my preferred shopping method on other people. There is a wealth of information available to the general public now. If you want to buy a stereo, you can research it yourself (if you are so inclined) and know exactly what you want. Go to the store and get it. If I choose to do my own research on a topic (because the information is available now on-line) what real service am I as a consumer getting? Is it just resistance to change?
I don’t know, but I think it should be a community decission as opposed to a couple of council members choosing.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:55 amWell all, thanks for the conversation but I gotta crash out.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:57 amIn my hometown Wal-Mart announced that they intended to build 5 new super-size stores to compete head-on with the largest grocery chain.
People went nuts. There was enough opposition to stop a couple of them. The folks that had protested felt like they had accomplished something. Wal-Mart still got to build 3 new stores, which I suspect was all they had ever really wanted to build in the first place.
Wal Mart runs into opposition in nearly every city they attempt to build in and for good reason. They bully their way into nearly every nook and cranny of the nation and they don’t care what the concerns of the public are, nor the needs and desires of the communities they build in.
They sued our city to get the right to build over our aquifer recharge zone, and fought the building restrictions and asphalt limits all the way. The public outcry forced them to stop their pursuit in building that particular store. Wal-Mart attacks communites on multiple fronts, it’s an unstoppable beast of a retailer. China love’s WalMart shoppers.
November 30th, 2006 at 3:01 amWay to go San Diego!
November 30th, 2006 at 3:59 amThey would even ban Costco? They treat their workers great.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:13 amWal Mart to me represents the end of Main Street USA. When I was a kid I use to love going down to Jason’s Records and Tapes and all the other wonderful Mom and Pop stores. I just think it’s sad that Wal Mart has come in to towns and run all the little stores out of the way. It’s kind of like how rich Haliburton has become because of Dumbya’s Illegal Wars. There are no bid contracts and so Haliburton reaps all the huge profits. Hence, Wal Mart is the big guy (and sometimes the only) in town with low prices and with this Monopoly — they make all the money. Just the idea of Wal Mart makes me sad and angry.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:18 amThe city council doesn’t get it. They can’t ban WalMart like this. It’s not the fact that their stores are big and they have a lot of tax-free stuff in them. It’s their business practices and the way they treat their employees. If people aren’t going to make laws banning THAT kind of activity, then the laws they do make (like this ban) will be challenged and struck down because they’re silly and unfair.
Ban what WalMart DOES, not what they ARE.
November 30th, 2006 at 8:35 amPeople are finally fight Wal-mart. Good to see that it is happening.
November 30th, 2006 at 10:42 amThe “State”(government) gets to decide where a business can/can not open (Governmental control)
The “State” (government) can tell you where your children go to school and what they MUST learn. (Indoctrination)
The “State”(government) can tell you how much of your money needs to go to “charity” and social programs. (Wealth redistribution)
Sounds a lot like, what’s that word, Commun-something?
If I want to open a business in an area and part of my product line does not generate revenue for the “State”, too bad, change the law about the tax, not dis-allow business. That interferes with free market. If I open a business and I pay my employees a LEGAL wage and they do not like it, they can (a) work harder for a raise or (b) find another job. It is a business not a social program.
If I want to send my kids to school across town because the one across the street is a sub-performer, let my dollars go with them. Let me chose my child’s education, don’t force it on me (read: take away my choice).
Aside from the necessary things (roads, defense, and such), let ME decide what charity I want to give to, and how much. Don’t punish me because through either hard work or good fortune I have more that others. If I am a MORAL and ETHICAL person, I will give.
For those of you that want to criticize me and label me a “rich, white guy”, show me where $38k a year makes me “rich”. I know what hard work is. I have waited tables, worked in coffee shops, construction, and steel mills. I did not come from money so I am no “silver spoon”.
November 30th, 2006 at 12:27 pmWell, I guess San Diego is good for something.
I can’t wait until I can leave.
November 30th, 2006 at 1:25 pm#18
“Gregor a bigot?”
Read his #7 post. If you don’t think he was bing one then you too must be one. Either that or you are too cowardly to admit it here or more believable you don’t think that comment was insulting…in that case I understand where your snob disposition comes from.
“That would be like one of us calling you brave… Or philanthropic… Or conscious… LOL”
Brave?…as much as you are without a doubt.
Philanthropic?….far more than you have ever been. How many houses have you help physically build yourself by devoting personal time to Habitat for Humanity? Me…about 25 houses in the DFW area. How many hours of public service have you devoted?
Consicous?…I am actually giving you the time of day by talking to you aren’t I?
November 30th, 2006 at 2:45 pm#16
You don’t think your comment towards Mighty Aphrodite was bigoted? You assumed basically that she is white trash.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:48 pm#13
You have no room to talk. In fact I spared you considering you were the one who insulted her first with your bigoted comment.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:50 pm#26
Whatever you say…LITTLE man.
November 30th, 2006 at 2:53 pm#44
Zooey I sure hope you are a woman. BTW when are you and MA going to meet face to face so you prove you you are a coward?
November 30th, 2006 at 2:58 pmTracy this thread is a little old for you to be trying to engage others. Holidays getting to you?
November 30th, 2006 at 4:54 pm#74
Yeah I am having to slow down a bit for the senior citizens.
November 30th, 2006 at 5:47 pmre #61
Conservative? Me? How did you arrive at that (wrong) conclusion, bugwit?
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