- The Edmonton Journal reports that a group of more than 400 residents are preparing to fight the proposed construction of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter there, saying that the location chosen would cause increased congestion and traffic problems.
The location requires rezoning by the city; Wal-Mart reportedly wants to open the store to replace a smaller unit just eight blocks away.
- The Associated Press reports that when Wal-Mart goes into new markets seeking rezoning and community approvals, it increasingly is employing “campaign tactics” as a way of generating support. In Inglewood, California, for example, Wal-Mart reportedly spent $1 million in a losing effort.
According to the AP, Wal-Mart spent more than $1.1 million since 2002 “in contributions to political action committees to promote its stores or combat ballot initiatives designed to block massive retail warehouses, according to state records.”
