Today, Wal-Mart announced plans to build over 50 stores in "struggling communities" over the next two years. Wal-Mart says it will build the stores in neighborhoods with high crime or unemployment rates, on sites that are environmentally contaminated, or in vacant buildings or malls in need of revitalization. Of course, new Wal-Mart stores would violently exacerbate existing problems of crime, poverty, environmental contamination, and urban blight in these areas.
From the Associated Press:
Wal-Mart critics dismissed the new program as a publicity stunt."Rather than address the serious issues of unaffordable health care, poverty wages, crime, and sprawl, Wal-Mart's latest and greatest public relations stunt is to try to rebuild a fraction of the very communities and small business it has helped destroy," said Chris Kofinis, spokesman for WakeUpWalMart.com.
Posted by Laura - April 4, 2006 01:19 PM - In The News