Does Blue Ridge Mall's destruction have to be financed with $26.7 million taxpayer? Is Wal-Mart the only hope for an anchor tenant?
Wal-Mart touts that it will bring jobs, and yes it will. However, on average three jobs are lost for every two Wal-Mart creates. For example, if a Wal-Mart Supercenter brings 200 jobs to Blue Ridge, 300 would typically be lost in the surrounding community due to fleeing small businesses. The result would be a lower standard of living, a net loss of jobs, low wages, and blighted buildings, just the opposite of the desired effect.
In addition, because the majority of Sam Walton's "associates" are paid Wal-Mart wages of $7.50 to $8.50 per hour, taxpayers are shelling out $420,750 per store annually, or about $2,103 per Wal-Mart worker to assist poverty-level "associates" with food stamps, health care, and other public assistance. Meanwhile, Wal-Mart banked $10 billion in profit in 2004.
You and your neighbor finance Wal-Mart's always low prices. The time is now to demand Kansas City Council members recall Wal-Mart's corporate welfare or you recall them. After all, it's your money!