California lawmakers Seek to divest $1 billion in Wal-Mart stock.

[G_j]

The Hometown Advantage Bulletin
Issue #22 - November 2004


Nov. 9, 2004
California Lawmakers Seek to Drop Wal-Mart Stock from State Pension Fund
Concerns about the burden Wal-Mart's uninsured employees place on taxpayer-funded health care programs have led a group of California lawmakers to call on the legislature to require that the state's public pension fund, the largest in the nation, divest its $1 billion in Wal-Mart stock.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=272


Nov. 9, 2004
Big-Box Ballot Initiatives: Wins & Losses
Opponents of big-box development won two of four local ballot initiatives in last Tuesday's elections.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=271


Oct. 29, 2004
Wal-Mart Hinders Poverty Reduction, Study Finds
Counties that gained Wal-Mart stores during the 1990s experienced significantly smaller reductions in their poverty rates compared to those that did not. Researchers attribute the difference to several factors, including the loss of social capital that occurs when local businesses close.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=270


Oct. 21, 2004
Independent Businesses Produce Bigger Economic Benefits, Study Concludes
Chicago's locally owned businesses generate 70 percent more local economic impact than chain stores, according to a new study. For every square foot of space occupied by a chain, the local economic impact is $105, compared to $179 for every square foot occupied by an independent.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=269


Oct. 8, 2004
Austin Study Says City Pays Price for Big-Boxes
Disputing the findings of an earlier study, a coalition of organizations in Austin, Texas, released a report this week that concludes that big-box retailers impose significant costs on the community. It recommends that the city scrutinize big-box projects more thoroughly and adopt a long-range plan to strengthen locally owned businesses.
http://www.newrules.org/retail/news_slug.php?slugid=267



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[spooky3]

1. Thanks, G_j. NBC is showing a program on Wal-Mart tonight--I think

it is on CNBC.

[blue neen]

2. Please let us know what time, if you happen to find out.

It would be interesting to see what NBC shows.

[spooky3]

4. Hmmm, I tried searching MSNBC but was "blocked" and saw nothing on the

CNBC site. But an NBC reporter was talking to Matt Lauer about it on the Today show. I didn't catch the time, unfortunately.

It did not sound as if it is an exposé but rather, that Wal-Mart cooperated because they want to improve their image, but the reporter said both sides would be presented.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

7. FRONTLINE is doing a piece on Walmart............

in the near future.

Just in case the NBC version doesn't exactly cover all the angles.

[Love Bug]

3. Hope the CA legislature succeeds in this

I think their reasons are sound: why support a profitible business that shifts the burden of health care off on the State? Good for them!

[MsTryska]

5. I agree

Good for them!!


Why are we supporting these business that are raping our governmental coffers?

to what end?

[G_j]

6. This is a core issue

on top of that, WM tends to drive down the salaries of other retail and grocery workers also, so you end up with even more people needing assistance.

..not to mention that the money leaves the community, back to the main office in Arkansas at the end of every day.