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.