Potential Wal-Mart ruffles Hanford residents
By REBECCA MARTIN
Is the Wal-Mart super center a convenience or an annoyance?
That's the question on everyone's mind in Hanford, where the fight is
on against putting a super center Wal-Mart, which will span 207,000 square
feet and include both the regular retail store along with a grocery outlet.
Residents of Hanford, specifically members of Valley Advocate and No On
Hanford Wal-Mart, say the store will disrupt traffic and building the
center will violate the environmental impact report. A judge recently
decided on the side of Wal-Mart, with a tentative ruling. Citizens, who
cited the Environmental Impact Report as the reason they objected to the
building, can still bring their suit to a higher court.
This is not the only battle Wal-Mart has fought in the Central Valley.
Recently, a group of Selma residents filed a complaint against the building
of a new Wal-Mart in their town. The Selma City Council voted to continue
with plans anyways. And in Bakersfield, two different Wal-Mart projects
remain on hold because of environmental reports.
But perhaps the controversy of the Super Wal-Mart in our neighboring Valley
cities lies a little bit deeper than environmental reports and extra traffic.
Wal-Mart is growing and multiplying at what seems like a speed faster
than sound. In fact, driving through the Midwest, the only landmark passing
by on a two-lane freeway will be the super Wal-Mart in every town you
pass. Wal-Mart’s presence is felt across the country, and this kills
the small businesses in each town. Think of it this way: Every time a
Wal-Mart goes up in a town, essentially every small business within a
radius of 20 miles is directly affected.
How can small businesses compete with the magnitude of the ever-present
Wal-Mart? Ignoring the fact that Wal-Mart gives its employees essentially
no health plan and pays minimum wage, Wal-Mart is a huge corporation.
It has store nationwide and internationally, which means it makes billions
of dollars. A small mom-and-pop store can't compete when a Wal-Mart moves
in down the street.
With the convenience and cheap price of Wal-Mart a constant tempatation,
it is hard to remember what a giant Super Wal-Mart will do to the community
it joins.
Wal-Mart is often spotlighted in the news as well, with women complaining
that they are treated unfairly by the company. Former workers at Wal-Mart
complain as well, since Labor Unions are not allowed to be formed by company
employees. Because of this, workers at Wal-Mart are paid a minimum wage.
While these reasons are not listed in Hanford or Selma complaints against
Wal-Mart, one has to wonder if the thought has crossed residents’
minds. Granted, Wal-Mart will continue to 'lower its prices' to have the
least expensive products, but at what cost to their employees and the
community they are a part of? It seems that some Hanford and Selma residents
don't like the answer to that question.
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