 NOT IN MY TOWN?
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- One year ago, I wrote two
articles here on rense.com which were based on an MSNBC investigation of
Wal-Mart's business. Incredibly, even MSNBC did an honest documentary
even though everyone I spoke to never watched it. Perhaps to most people,
they think these documentaries are like watching CSPAN. The
articles last year covered how they used various techniques to expand their
chain and how bad they treat their employees. [1]
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- One may think that a Wal-Mart story
is a local matter. Before you dismiss this, be assured that this same drama
you are about to read about can be, and will be most likely will be, repeated
in your town if it hasn't happened already.
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- Like standing out in a golf course
holding up a 10ft. metal pole during every thunderstorm, sooner or
later Wal-Mart takeover lightning will strike a town near you.
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- And indeed, it just has here. That
cursed town-killing big-black-box store chain is planning on buying
up a 56 acre parcel of prime farm land, about 15 minutes away from me.
The town of Lima, NY has numerous frowning yellow smiley faces standing
on many of the front lawns up and down Main St. in the town, protesting
the takeover attempt.
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- Frowning smiley face like those on front
lawns on Main St.
- (courtesy of Google images)
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- Tonight there was a town board meeting
- and I am eternally sorry I didn't bring a camcorder. I figured I'd
see a small room in the basement with a handful of people.
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- Was I ever wrong! This meeting was
held in a local mega-church which was almost filled to capacity. About
1,000 people were there, along with at least three local television stations
and the R News Network. On past television documentaries, we have been
led to believe that only handful of people get upset when the ChinaMart
store attempts to move into a town. Often the protesters are portrayed
as standing outside with placards like striking auto-workers. Not this
time.
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- Several spokespeople were there, though
none were from ChinaMart. One can be certain that the store's "intelligence
agents" were out there in the audience. There were some present taking
notes like mad, and they left half-way through the meeting. When millions
of corporate dollars are at stake, no company on earth would miss this.
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- PRESENTATIONS
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- There was a powerful, fact-filled presentation
based upon the real facts that go with accepting the big-black-box into
a town. I'll summarize some of the high points here:
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- * The store receives 10 YEARS of tax
breaks in any town it goes into, which almost always requires a zoning
law variance
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- * Store does NOT pay for added infrastructure
into the community, such as increased fire and police protection
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- * Most small Businesses DIE soon
after the store is opened. It has a serious impact on grocery stores, florist
shops, hardware stores, gift shops, pharmacies and more
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- * Taxpayers must pay for additional road
maintenance and repairs caused by increased traffic
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- * School taxes RISE and business and
home property values DROP. Would you buy a home beside a ChinaMart or within
eye-shot if you were moving out into the country?
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- * The store's con-men state that
"480 new jobs will be created." But in reality, history has shown
they may only create 70 new jobs.
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- * Only 8% of the store's revenue benefits
the local economy
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- * Communities lose more jobs as all the
local businesses die, with a typical net increase of just EIGHT $9.80 per
hour jobs with little or no real benefits. In fact, most store employees
receive public assistance for health care since their salaries are
BELOW the poverty level and they cannot afford health insurance premiums.
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- * If the store FAILS to generate the
anticipated revenue, it will be closed. By that time, the town already stripped
of it's important small businesses and their tax revenue - leaving
a big, ugly empty big-box store that no one will ever buy or rent.
Does any startup business need 500,000 square feet? The town's tax
revenue base is destroyed, and Main St. becomes desolate with boarded-up
storefronts. And the chain moves on to wreck yet another small town.
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- My comment: Whether or not the store
closes in the future, the small businesses destroyed won't be restored.
Most of small town America's successful family-owned small businesses
were created decades ago. That was when the average CITIZEN could realize
the dream of owning their own business and doing well at it. Today, startup
capital to begin any business (especially in manufacturing) is almost
non-existent. And it's well know among entrepeneurs, that banks only loan
money to people that really don't need it.
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- But wait - this big-black-box story
is about to get even more interesting....
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- TOWN BOARD CORRUPTION BY WAL-MART?
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- It appears that perhaps the one
person that could be behind disolving the town's Master Plan planning
board may be the town's attorney, although it wasn't specifically stated.
And here's why - it was announced in this same meeting that this attorney
has "stepped out of the decision-making process because of his past
ties to Wal-Mart" according to the board's chairman. Is it also a
coincidence that the store wants to come to this town?
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- WHAT THE PEOPLE HAD TO SAY
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- The last segment of the meeting allowed
anyone to come up to the stage and speak for a few minutes. I live in a
nearby small town, and I didn't want to take precious time away from
those who are impacted by this incursion. My purpose there was to
see what actually unfolds at one of these meetings, first-hand. Most
of the people who spoke had brilliant, well thought out remarks.
No stone was left unturned and I salute them for it.
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- The town's Master Plan planning
board was working for 7 years on a Master Plan for residential and business development.
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- One woman who spoke which lives in the
town, announced the dissolution of the town's Master Planning
Board. Everyone was shocked, in disbelief and quite
upset. Hundreds yelled out demanding answers with "Why? WHAT? HOW
COME?" The entire town knew that countless hours were spent on creating that
plan.
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- The board chairman then literally yelled
over the sound system "now calm down, I'll explain. We're going
to hire a consulting firm to review the 7 years of work." Another
woman then yelled out, "is that going to be a local firm?" He
wouldn't answer her, and everyone knew what that meant. She asked again
and the people demanded an explanation. The zero-tolerance chairman then threatened,
"I'll close this meeting right now if you don't keep quiet."
Incredibly, some people clapped at that threatening remark. Apparently
some enjoy that warm, cozy feeling that only a high-voltage shock
from a cattle prod can give.
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- Is it a coincidence that 7 years of planning
work was just tossed out like last week's milk? It doesn't appear to be
that way -especially that now is the time for board members to make a decision.
All the surrounding towns already have plans in place to prevent this kind
of corporate takeover. Someone should be watching all the board member's
bank accounts for large deposits, and their yards for new pools,
SUVs and RVs. Several residents looked right at the board only
a few feet away on stage and called dissolving the Master Planning board
"criminal."
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- Many testified of the damage the store
would do to their property values. The lost property equity could never
be recovered, even if the store were to close. Many others could easily
see a sharp increase in property and school taxes, as the multi-billion
dollar store chain will receive 10 YEARS of tax breaks. TEN YEARS!
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- Only one person talked about how
"wonderful it would be to have the store in Lima." She was repeatedly
booed by everyone.
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- Another man spoke, and closed his remarks
with "we have found the weapons of mass destruction, and it is Wal-Mart."
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- Many who spoke received standing ovations
accompanied by a deafening applause.
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- Another lady however, had it all thought
out. She proclaimed to the board, "if you approve this, then there
is no reason to give them a tax break. You should tax them at
the HIGHEST possible rate." That created a loud applause.
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- Testimony went on into the late evening,
with many voicing their concerns over the many negative factors associated
with this attempt at a corporate takeover. One man noted that the land
is a protected area under NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservations
regulations because of streams and creeks in the immediate area, and cited
the law chapter and verse.
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- Of course, if you or I wanted to build
a home on any protected land, we would never receive a building
permit.
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- In THREE different directions from the
town of Lima, NY, there is already a ChinaMart and two of them are "super-centers."
Each one is only about 10 to 15 minutes away from where the new store will
be. Will Mars have one on it, too?
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- THE BATTLE ISN'T OVER YET
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- This coming week, the big box chain will
have their 15 minutes of fame at a local country club (tonight's meeting
was held in a very large church.) I'm planning on attending, if they
allow my trouble-making self past their sentries. I will attempt to obtain
some digital footage of the big store's BS session. I'm willing to bet
they will be serving "refreshments" to butter everyone up, complete
with Sam's club aspartame-laced diet soda. Perhaps my wife should be home to
receive my one phone call when they haul me away. I'm one of those weird
people that doesn't carry a cell phone - I've read the research reports
and know what RF does to people.
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- This isn't just about a small town's
battle - it's a battle that will come to everyone's door sooner or later.
The chain has big plans to cram one of these small town killing stores
into almost every town in America, whether they want it there or not.
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- If the US is taken to condition
red and rationing is started - would not the military step in and take
over the biggest national store chain for their own purposes? They
already have the distribution system in place. There is also a special
section in the mile-square headquarters of the chain, which is off-limits
to most employees. The sign says "Homeland Security." Is it any
wonder that they will try to put one of these stores in every town - just for
that terrible day?
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- For more about saving small businesses
see [2].
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- Film at 11...
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- Ted Twietmeyer
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- Please help support the ground-breaking
work of www.data4science.net by buying your copy online of the book
with more than 160 images, "What NASA Isn't Telling You About Mars"
at www.bookonmars.info
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- [1] Article links to documented stories
about Wal-Mart:
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- Part 1 - http://www.rense.com/general65/lips.htm
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- Part 2 - http://www.rense.com/general65/mart.htm
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- [2] - http://www.newrules.org/retail/
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