Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Englewood wants a Wal-Mart as well



Via Worlee's Concerned Citizens of Chatham, this story from ABC7 illustrates the first public push to bring a Wal-Mart to the Englewood community.
A group of Englewood residents and community activists stood on the site where they say a Wal-Mart would greatly benefit the neighborhood. They rallied at 63rd and Halsted, holding 5,000 signatures of people who signed petitions in support of the big-box store.

"There's nowhere to shop here. There's nowhere to get fresh produce. There's nowhere to get school supplies. You have a multi-million dollar college right across the street," said Darryl Smith, Englewood Political Task Force.

Smith plans to present the signatures to Mayor Daley Thursday in hopes of getting City Hall behind the plan.
I'm not sure what this means:
Some community activists are hesitant to increase Wal-Mart's presence in Chicago. Reverend Booker Vance says he would like to see the big-box chain commit to what's called a "community benefit agreement" first.

"If they're not going to pay people living wages, if they're not gonna offer folk health benefits that are adequate, and if they're not gonna allow folks the chance to organize ... not of any benefit to us," said Rev. Booker Vance, Good Jobs Chicago.
To Wal-Mart's credit they are neither put-off nor are they putting anyone off!
Wal-Mart said in a written statement that, "The store has been meeting with local Chicago community organizations for the last five years to learn how we can better serve our customers...particularly those who live in food deserts and underserved areas. We will continue to do so as we are presented with new opportunities."
I'd like to see GOP Gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Bill Brady make a stop in the Englewood community if he's still on that jobs tour!

If nothing else if Chatham never gets the Wal-Mart Englewood is a community that could benefit even more from a Wal-Mart living-wage jobs & benefits or not!

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