walmart

It was a brave fight.

Telegram & Gazette:

The group had until Monday to appeal an Aug. 27 vote taken by the Zoning Board of Appeals in which it dismissed a petition to overturn the building permit. Board members determined that none of the nine residents who filed the administrative appeal had the legal standing to do so.

“The residents would have had to raise at least $30,000 to pursue their rights, and the group simply can’t challenge a deep-pocketed developer,” Ms. Senior said in a statement released by Worcester First. “To appeal the ZBA (decision), the group would have had to hire a sound engineer and a lighting expert, plus a land use attorney.

• It's not clear if anything can be done to keep Wal-Mart out of Worcester. The time for that kind of action may be past.
• On the other hand, it's not like they'll be opening next month. People are following up on leads, connecting with allies, and looking for money so someone can be hired to do a real economic assessment of Wal-Mart's possible impact.
• I'm looking into the details of the "big box ordinances" that many cities have passed to keep these sorts of retailers out. An ordinance like this wouldn't affect the Quinsig Village Wal-Mart, but it would guide the city towards real economic growth in the future.

My biggest challenge so far has been communicating with people about my concerns. If I talk to someone about global warming, they may not agree with me, and they may not know much about it, but they're aware it's an issue. When I bring up Wal-Mart, and saying that it could have a negative economic impact, they have no idea what I'm talking about. So in the very short term I'm interested in developing an "elevator pitch" on this issue, and in educating my friends.

Special Encore Screening! Fight The Power!

Come fight local "progress" with this special encore screening of the documentary film sensation that's changing the largest company on earth. The film features the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to survive in a Wal-Mart world. It's an emotional journey that will challenge the way you think, feel...and shop.

WHERE: Ralph's Diner * 148 Grove Street * Worcester

WHEN: Monday, April 9th @ 7:00PM

HOW MUCH: $5.00

Worcester City meeting to review WalMart Development Plans

*Wednesday, March 21st - Planning Board Meeting*
Time: 5:30 PM
Public Agency Meeting
Worcester Public Library
Saxe Room
2 Salem Square
Please be there to show support!

Ongoing Updates and Events: http://worcesterfirst.org

The new go-to site for info on the Worcester Wal-Mart is WorcesterFirst.org.

Click To Play

To share this video, see blip.tv. For more formats, see archive.org.

It's two weeks until the City Planning Board will vote on the Wal-Mart project. I hope they allow several more months of public discussion; this has been in the works for awhile, but most of the city has been in the dark until a few weeks ago.

Another resource: the site plan application

As reported in the T&G, an obscenely large Wal-Mart has been proposed in Quinsigamond Village. I'm one concerned citizen looking to meet other concerned citizens to discuss options for the city's unusually rapid development for a project of this size. A public meeting is scheduled for the 21st.

So without further delay, I'm having an informal, short-notice meeting tonight. I'll be at Java Hut in Worcester hoping to speak to others about what I've learned about the project so far. If you can't make it, but want to share your thoughts and be added to the mailing list, please write to me at worcesterfirst@gmail.com.

Thanks!
Shannon Senior

Good to see some people are organizing around this Wal-Mart-in-Quinsig-Village foolishness.

Shannon has asked her fellow cable access producers to discuss all sides of the issue. And the murmuring continues at Volcanoboy.

There's a page at our wiki where you can add info. (If you don't want your IP listed, register for an account.)

Telegram & Gazette:

A 209,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter is part of a shopping center planned on 44 acres in Quinsigamond Village where U.S. Steel once operated foundries along the Blackstone River.

Anyone else concerned about this?

Battlemart has resources on defending the community.

Some screenings of "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price" should be announced soon.

Buck Paxton:

Most American cities at least feign disgust when Wal-Mart lawyers come knocking. What, with its broken business model, destructive power over local economies and general douchebaggery. But in our case, Preservation Worcester showed up to offer their support. P-r-e-s-e-r-v-a-t-i-o-n Worcester. Apparently Preservation Worcester LOVES three dollar mini-blinds and a great deal on potting soil.