South Side Wal-Mart Debate Heats Up

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74.4 percent are in favor of second store
74.4 percent are in favor of second store

Survey reveals 74.4 percent are in favor of second storeby Lesley R. Chinn

The push for a second Wal-Mart continues to heat up.

Supporters say Wal-Mart will help bring jobs, but critics say the jobs are not paying a livable wage.

However, 21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. debunked the opposition. Black and brown people in this city are disproportionately suffering due to this economic downturn, Brookins told the supporters. The union leaders are the people who have been fighting me regarding bringing a Wal- Mart, 500 jobs, and millions of dollars in tax revenue to the cityalready have a job, Brookins said. He was joined by Ald. Emma Mitts, whose ward houses the citys only Wal-Mart on the West side. Other businesses like a CVS Pharmacy, Menards and a Bank of America are also in her ward. The Wal-Mart store, which opened in 2006, has attracted more than 400 jobs to the 37th Ward, Mitts stated. Young people who are out on the streets now have a job. They are able to work, she said. Were talking about wards all over the city where people can go to work and putting revenue in this city.

Although Wal-Mart supporters continued their rally for a Wal-Mart, it wasnt enough to grab the attention of City Council members during a Rules Committee meeting last Wednesday to consider an amended redevelopment agreement that would have paved the way for a second store on the South side. The ordinance moved to the Finance Committee only to be deferred until the City Councils next meeting in September, which is a month before the International Olympics Committee decides whether Chicago will host the 2016 Olympics.

The rally also comes after a wardby-ward survey, supported by Wal- Mart and conducted recently by Xpress Professional Services. The survey reported that nearly 1.2 million residents were called to get their feedback about a second Wal-Mart store. The results revealed more than 75,347 residents participated in the poll. About 74.4 percent said they wanted a Wal-Mart store on the South side while 15.4 percent rejected the idea. Among the people surveyed, 10.2 percent said they were undecided about having a store in the area.

John Bisio, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said he was pleased by the reinforcement of the numbers. The people have spoken and they are not buying the rhetoric from the detractors. Bisio hopes that the survey will convince aldermen who are opposed to Wal-Mart or sitting on the fence to support a second store on the South side.

Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6) said she had no comment about the survey and defended her stance against the giant retailer because of concerns she had about the negative impact on local businesses in her ward.

South side resident Lorraine Thomas said it has been a longtime coming for a second Wal-Mart in the city. They have them every place else and its time for another Wal-Mart in the area, she stated.

Another resident Lorraine Butler envisioned job opportunities not only in retail, but also in janitorial services and security. It would create lots of jobs for a variety of people.

21st Ward resident Cedric Wright questioned the true impact that the store will have on the community in terms of traffic, small businesses, and infrastructure issues. I have not yet seen an environmental impact study that addresses those issues. So why is [there] a rush to Wal-Mart when the community has not got balanced and objective information, Wright asked?

Westside resident Ellyson Carter said he believes Wal-Mart should pay a livable wage and offer benefits. Thats not too much to ask for the richest company in the world, he stated.

Wal-Mart stats reported that the company pays an average full-time hourly wage of $10.83 an hour. In Chicago, an average wage is $11.52 an hour. About 92.7 percent of employees have health care insurance.

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