Posted on 02/06/2006 7:47:46 AM PST by robowombat
Local Group Upset About New Wal-Mart Posted 2/2/2006 10:22 PM
A local group does not want to see any more Wal-Mart stores in the Ohio Valley. And they are hoping to encourage others to join their fight. The Wheeling Area and Northern Panhandle Greens group thinks the opening of the Wal-Mart in Moundsville will have a negative impact on the local economy.
The newest Wal-Mart Super Center just opened its doors this week in Moundsville...and another one is set to open later this year at the Highlands at Dallas Pike. The green party says the future does not look optimistic for the Ohio Valley if more Wal-Mart stores come to the area. About 30 people gathered to learn more with the greens...by watching a movie called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. The greens want people to know that the people of the community are actually paying a high cost to have low prices. Tim Graves, secretary of the West Virginia Green Party says, "Our local businesses don't get the subsidies Wal-Mart gets when they move into an area." The Green Party also says the likelihood that downtown areas will recover after a Wal-Mart comes to town are slim, the group says the average job pays about $7 or $8 an hour, not enough to provide for a family, and on that kind of wage, you can not afford health insurance. Barbara Kase, a Wal-Mart Employee says, "The kind of economy we want is one where the money stays in the community. And that happens with local businesses not large corporations that come in and take the money out." But, if these jobs are so bad...then why were there only 410 openings in Moundsville, and 1700 people applied? Suzette White, a Wal-Mart Employee says, "They're good to their employees. You know, it's like a family environment, not just a place to work." In an economically depressed area, it seems people are willing to take any job, but the Green party says low prices products are not worth it. Graves says, "A product that they sell to us, for $14.95, a toy car, cost $0.18 to make. Where's that money going? Its going to the pockets of the corporation."
Look, wouldn't Walmart and West Virginia go hand in hand??? Maybe my perceptions of West Virginia is way off but dang I figured it was already full of Walmart stores.
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There is one across the river from me in OH, 5 miles away and then one of the biggest in the state within 20 minutes, and another 20 minutes away at the local mall. That's 3 big ones, one with a Sam's within a 20 mile radius. Oh shoot, I forgot, there is one in KY with 20 minutes of me, and one within 25 minutes out in the county farther. 5 within a 25 mile radius.
I forgot to mention the Sam's. There are 10 Super Walmart's less than 50 miles from my house. I forgot about all of them in East Texas. There's at least 2 or 3 Sam's too.
I like Walmart for the most part, there are some things though that I prefer to get elsewhere and I do.
< And lower cost of living as compared to bigger cities and/or other areas of the country. >
Absolutely...and slower pace to life. I have a friend in CA who cannot believe that I live in a nice home very near to the state capitol and my commute to work is 7 minutes. To live in something comprable to my home, he has a commute of an hr and 10 mins. Anything closer to his job in LA and he can't afford (nice) housing.
Huntington area. About an hour north of you there's one in Ohio where we have to go (much to my disappointment. I want one on my side of the river. There is one another 20 min. up the river on the WV side, and it has revived a dying town. They are even building a new bridge across the river because of the increased traffic from Ohio. I like that turnabout. We have to go to Ohio for far too many things and I don't like taking money out of the state.
Absolutely...and slower pace to life. I have a friend in CA who cannot believe that I live in a nice home very near to the state capitol and my commute to work is 7 minutes. To live in something comprable to my home, he has a commute of an hr and 10 mins. Anything closer to his job in LA and he can't afford (nice) housing.
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Yep, my husband is about the same amount of time from work. And same here with the housing.
Huntington area. About an hour north of you there's one in Ohio where we have to go (much to my disappointment. I want one on my side of the river. There is one another 20 min. up the river on the WV side, and it has revived a dying town. They are even building a new bridge across the river because of the increased traffic from Ohio. I like that turnabout. We have to go to Ohio for far too many things and I don't like taking money out of the state.
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Yep, where are you, if you don't care to say? Point Pleasant? Wal-mart is about the only place I go across the river, only because it's the only one with a Sam's too!
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