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Council sellsout black chicago community to walmart { April 21 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0404210348apr21,1,558707.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hedhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0404210348apr21,1,558707.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
Aldermen open door a bit for Wal-Mart
West Side store backed by panel
By Dan Mihalopoulos
Tribune staff reporter
April 21, 2004
Plans for Chicago's first Wal-Mart store in a largely black neighborhood on the West Side received a boost Tuesday from the same City Council committee that delayed the proposal last month amid criticism of the retail giant's labor record.
The Zoning Committee cited the city's strong pro-union tradition in stalling the plan for a former industrial site at Kilpatrick and Grand Avenues. The sole vote against the project Tuesday was cast by the panel's chairman, Ald. William J.P. Banks (36th).
Banks later said he would very likely clear the way for the full council to vote May 5 on the proposal in the 37th Ward and on a plan for another Wal-Mart on the South Side.
Wal-Mart's push to open a store in predominantly black neighborhoods of Chicago and in other large cities has fueled tension, as evidenced in Tuesday's emotional two-hour debate at City Hall.
In putting off decisions on the Wal-Mart stores, organized labor's council allies bucked a long tradition of letting aldermen dictate zoning matters in their own wards. Some African-American aldermen responded by threatening to block projects in other parts of the city until colleagues respected the aldermanic privilege of black council members.
The issue also has created an unusual situation in which Rev. Jesse Jackson, a vocal Wal-Mart critic, finds himself at odds with black aldermen who want to welcome the world's largest retailer into their economically struggling communities.
Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) said her constituents are eager to shop at a new West Side Wal-Mart store and no longer want to drive to the discount chain's suburban stores.
As for criticisms that the company's business practices hurt workers, Mitts said, "I don't know about them because I go in there and shop. I'm not trying to get into their business."
Unions and other Wal-Mart foes told aldermen that the retailer provides low wages and poor health benefits. They recounted widely reported complaints from Wal-Mart workers, including immigrants and employees who have tried to organize unions.
The opponents called on city officials to withhold support for the project pending written assurances from Wal-Mart that it would pay good wages to employees at Chicago stores.
"You all have the reputation of being the baddest politicians in the country," said Toni Foulkes, an activist with the ACORN community organization. "When you go down to negotiate with [Wal-Mart], remember who you are, a Chicago politician."
But dozens of West Side residents appeared at the meeting at City Hall to cheer for the plan. Black religious leaders organized the show of support for Wal-Mart. Some said unions have not done enough for minorities and should not impede economic development in poor areas.
"Any job is better than no job," said Rev. Ronald Wilks of Soul Saving Missionary Baptist Church on the West Side.
Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon acknowledged that the project would bring jobs and sales-tax revenue to the city, but he quickly added, "What kind of jobs are we talking about?"
Wal-Mart spokesman John Bisio said that the Bentonville, Ark.-based company has no plans to open supercenter stores, which sell groceries, in the city. But Bisio said Wal-Mart would not put that promise in writing, as its critics have demanded.
Unions are being unfair to Wal-Mart by asking it to do more than other non-union "big box" retail chains already in business in Chicago, said Ald. Carrie Austin (34th).
When Gannon asked why Wal-Mart would not provide written assurances, Austin shot back: "And how many other people have you asked to put it in writing? Did we ask Target? Did we ask Home Depot? Did we ask Menards?"
The West Side Wal-Mart would have about 300 full-time and part-time workers at the 11-acre site of a former Helene Curtis plant.
The South Side Wal-Mart being considered by Chicago officials would form part of a larger retail development at 83rd Street and Stewart Avenue in the 21st Ward.
Wal-Mart traditionally has focused on doing business in rural and suburban areas. As suburbs become saturated with stores, retailers have tried to expand into big cities, where Wal-Mart has encountered heated protests.
Voters in Inglewood, Calif., a mostly black and Hispanic community near Los Angeles, rejected a plan for a Wal-Mart store in a referendum two weeks ago. Jackson traveled there to speak against Wal-Mart, and he promised Monday to organize opposition in Chicago.
Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) said he prefers that his constituents shop at a Wal-Mart in their ward instead of suburban Wal-Marts.
"People have free will," he said. "They don't have to shop at Wal-Mart if they don't want to. They don't have to work at Wal-Mart."
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
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