  Mrjoshua Member Username: Mrjoshua Post Number: 772 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 69.209.140.81 |
Wal-Mart to Add Jobs in Struggling Areas By MARCUS KABEL, Associated Press Writer http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200 60404/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_job s "Wal-Mart said it will build the stores in neighborhoods with high crime or unemployment rates, on sites that are environmentally contaminated, or in vacant buildings or malls in need of revitalization." Sounds like Detroit may follow Chicago. | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1338 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
How often does a business say something like this? Seems like an example of economies of scale. And as much as some of us hate chain stores, a well-placed Wal-mart (perhaps on 8-mile, Gratiot, or Fenkell, etc) could help Detroit a lot, if for nothing else than the added jobs. (Message edited by mackinaw on April 04, 2006) | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 97 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Detroit needs to take whatever it can get for right now. Bring em on. We have enough hair stores. | ||
Superduperman Member Username: Superduperman Post Number: 67 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.242.221.36 |
"Wal-Mart said it will build the stores in neighborhoods with high crime or unemployment rates, on sites that are environmentally contaminated......." | ||
Merchantgander Member Username: Merchantgander Post Number: 1713 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 150.198.150.244 |
A Wal-Mart store will be built on Kelly near Eastland where the old Notre Dame and Regina high schools are. | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 904 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
This sounds like a PR thing for Wal-Mart trying to make it look like they care, since that have taken so much flack (rightfully so), so bad health care, low wages, locking illegal aliens into stores to clean them........ | ||
Chitaku Member Username: Chitaku Post Number: 89 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 68.43.107.72 |
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! there goes the east side | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 600 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
Everyone, slash your wages! Whoo hoo! | ||
Superduperman Member Username: Superduperman Post Number: 68 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 69.242.221.36 |
They might as well build one in Iraq as well.... | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1340 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
Hey oldredfordette, if it was that bad no one would work there. Right? There is a labor market in this country, and Wal-mart is a pretty legitimate player in it. There are thousands that are willing and able to work for them, and they have the option of working somewhere else if there's something they don't like about the corporation. Considering that Michigan has the highest unemployment in the nation, it kind of makes sense to encourage low-paying (or any-paying) employers to come here. And it really won't be bad at all for laborers when the state's minimum wage goes up nearly $2, although it may further hamper economic expansion here. | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1057 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.33 |
I don't have any real problem with Wal-Mart, just keep it out of the Grand Blvd loop, or any area that is trying to maintain or renew itself as a reasonably dense urban area... e.g. Corktown. Something on the far west side or far east side would probably be useful for a lot of people. | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 99 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
The average hourly wage at Wal-Mart is over $10/hour. It's not awesome, but christ, you're stocking shelves at Wal-Mart. It's around $20,000 a year...not enough for a single-parent/single-income family, but hardly slave labor. | ||
1953 Member Username: 1953 Post Number: 751 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 209.104.146.146 |
Walmart is an example of non-sustainable land use patterns. I'd be glad to avoid landing one in my backyard. The way they add to non-walkable communities, I'd be glad to pass them anyday. | ||
Mrjoshua Member Username: Mrjoshua Post Number: 774 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 69.209.140.81 |
Mackinaw, In Michigan your logic is just nonsensical. Workers here have a RIGHT to at least $20/hr, no deductible healthcare and pension funds regardless of their skill sets and/or lack of education. It's simply rude and unjustifiable to ask anything more of lower skilled laborers, or so goes the union creed. How dare a global firm like Wal-Mart march into Detroit and ask that the unemployed accept wages averaging $10/hr, especially when they may have to wait to qualify for healthcare coverage in 6-12 months! The outrage! | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3478 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
It would be great if Meijer would put a store in newer parts of Detroit outside the Grand Boulevard Loop, but that won't happen until Hell freezes way-the-hell over. Meijer is a far superior chain, IMO, in terms of service and quality of products. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 390 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.242.223.42 |
Detroiters should be grateful for any businesses that only require a modicum of intelligence and ability. I remember a local newspaper article from 1997 that described typical Detroit job seekers from the point-of-view of an HR manager at pre-DCX Chrysler. He stated that Chrysler had no choice but to reject (for nonskilled general labor positions there) some 90% of applicants coming from the city of Detroit for not meeting their minimum standards for a variety of reasons: criminal past, no education, etc. Beggars shouldn't be so choosey. (Message edited by livernoisyard on April 04, 2006) | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 1342 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 141.213.173.94 |
Man he made the labor force of Detroit seem comparable to that of Mexico City. Perhaps a bit harsh. I would expect that the chosen site would be outside the Boulevard. I'd be aiming for higher density neighborhoods that are fairly middle class. Far west side Warrendale or west-central Palmer might work, or NE side near Gratiot. Mrjoshua, I know, what was I thinking? | ||
Rosedaleken Member Username: Rosedaleken Post Number: 149 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 141.212.53.198 |
I think it's great that they are coming to town and the economy will benefit. I don't shop there and still won't, but Detroit can use the jobs. 1953, you make a great comment about Wal Mart land use. This is a small step, but in Chicago, the company was forced to put a green roof on the building. http://www.ablechicago.com/A55 960/Able2.nsf/Pages/8--Chicago +Sun-Times+%22AUSTIN+WAL-MART+ TO+OPEN+IN+SUMMER%22.htm Not sure if Detroit has that kind of power to lay down the law though. | ||
Hysteria Member Username: Hysteria Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Won't go to Meijer anymore. Have you ever noticed the clerks have no teeth? | ||
Leyland Member Username: Leyland Post Number: 64 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.74.209.4 |
I wish they'd build a Meijer here... I'm sick of driving all the way out to the goddamn suburbs. Everyone at CCS does their shopping at Meijer... | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3540 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Wal-Mart sets the benchmark for wages now. That shop floor ave. wage is $10.11. That is now the wage that a whole variety of industries target for semi-skilled employees. Factories, services, small business, clerical, government, etc. go by $10.11/hour of work. Over the last 100 yrs., basically one company has set a benchmark wage be it the NY Central, GE, GM, Ford, Westinghouse, Kroger, etc. Right now, it's Wal-Mart for the entire USA. Wal-Mart has 1.8 million employees. They started down in Arkansas in 1962, the same yr. as Target, K-Mart and Woolco when the freeways were mostly done and big boxes moved to a regional program from small city centers. Wal-Mart didn't build in places with more than 10,000 population until into the 1990s. jjaba. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 605 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 68.60.177.56 |
Local communities are rallying to keep WalMart out of their cities. Unfortunately, Kwame is open to the lowest bidder. The health care they offer is a sham btw. WalMart has the second highest number of employees who are also getting government assistance so they can pay their bills (the highest? The US Army. Eat that, war hawks) Pour yourself another big cool glass of KoolAid, MrJoshua. And Mackinaw? That $5/hr nurse is waiting patiently for your ass to come to her nursing home. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3914 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.235 |
WAL-MART IS EVIL! Let's tell SPRAWL-MART to stay out of Detroit's ghettohoods. WAL-MART KILL K-MART WAL-MART KILL TOYS "R" US WAL-MART turn senior citizens into souless automatons! WAL-MART trying to lower prices just to lure SUCKERS to but their prices and charge them with hidden fees on their charge and debit cards And to get mom and pop retails to shut down their stores. WAL-MART wants to build a SUPERCENTER at the former Wonderland Mall site in (Hitlerland) Livonia and turn it into a ghetto. DON'T SHOP WAL-MART for it is EVIL!!! | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3915 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.235 |
DON'T THIER "SMILEY FACE"!!! | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 907 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Actually, besides global growth, where else can Wal-Mart go. They have tried to years to break into the middle/upper middle market that Target has a hold on, but they can't, and since there is only so much money other people have, urban areas are the only place left to go, and people won't throw up a fuss, since they want ny investment in the area. | ||
Jeepndanny Member Username: Jeepndanny Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 209.254.56.226 |
If a store like Walmart were to actually ever come to Detroit, I wouldn't expect an announcement until the definite site of the new boarder crossing is unveiled. My prediction is that once that spot is determined, a discount retailer will go in near the new bridge in SW Detroit (also, I predict it will be a Meijer, not a Walmart). | ||
Leyland Member Username: Leyland Post Number: 66 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.74.209.4 |
Danny said: "WAL-MART IS EVIL! Let's tell SPRAWL-MART to stay out of Detroit's ghettohoods." Is it really "urban sprawl" if you're moving BACK into the cities? Look, I still think Wal-Mart's an evil corporation, but Detroit really needs modern supermarkets. I doubt Wal-Mart will ever give a Detroit institution like, say, the Eastern Market a run for its money, and Wal-Mart can give Detroiters modern amenities that other places just can't. Honestly, at this point we should be welcoming anyone who wants to invest in this city with open arms... | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 105 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Wal-Mart and Eastern Market aren't even on the same planet. | ||
Rberlin Member Username: Rberlin Post Number: 462 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 65.43.45.201 |
As much as I hate Wal-Mart, I wouldn't mind if they build in a really bad part of the city. It is hard to shun anyone willing to bring jobs and risk the investment into those areas. What I would never support is a Rite-Aid/Walgreens style, "build a cookie cutter store by tearing down a historic but buyable street corner." | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3488 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Jeep, Meijer has pretty much said that it isn't considering now, or even in the forseeable future, a store in Detroit. Don't hold you breath. There are a plethora of reasons for this, and quite a few touchy and sensitive ones that I don't even want to get in to. I can't think of any Meijers in predominately low-income areas. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3541 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Lmichigan, gives us the dish on Meijer. They came over Detroit-way from Grand Rapids. What's the dish? jjaba. | ||
Detroiternthemist Member Username: Detroiternthemist Post Number: 31 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 69.214.59.222 |
Bring back the mom and pop type bodegas. or either Harbortown type grocery stores. smaller more personable. Keep the cookie cutters in the burbs....... | ||
321brian Member Username: 321brian Post Number: 99 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.147 |
Wal-Mart doesn't put anyone out of business. People who shop at Wal-Mart do. Everyone says what happened to the corner store, neighborhood hardware, ...blah blah blah. You stopped shopping there beacuse it was more expensive than Wal-Mart. | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1380 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 75.10.25.142 |
I think Wal-Mart is now considering the city because they've pretty much filled in most of the suburban areas an have no where else to grow. A lot of major chains are doing the same thing (Home Depot, etc.) | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 3928 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.174.221 |
WAL-MART will killed Detroit. Keep WAL-MART away from Detroit. | ||
321brian Member Username: 321brian Post Number: 101 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 68.62.6.147 |
Danny, Your right. Why would a city full of low income/ no income individuals want a store full of low prices? They may even be able to work there!!! The city is doing so well why would it need the worlds biggest company to invest in it? Stick with the car thing. It's going so well. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3494 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Danny is usually someone to be ignored. | ||
Erikd Member Username: Erikd Post Number: 571 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.242.214.106 |
Great post. If all of the people bitching about the Walmart/big box chains stopped shopping there, the problem would be solved. I can't really speak about Walmart, because I have never shopped there, but I generally avoid big box chains because of the poor service. I refuse to enter a Best Buy store because of the consistently bad service, and the fact that they subject paying customers to a search after every purchase. The humiliating experience of having my bags searched and my receipt checked, by a door guard that was standing there watching me check out, is incredibly offensive. The customs agents at the US border let me pass with less scrutiny than the Best Buy door guard. I am amazed by the number of people that are willing to submit to these odious security checks just to save a buck or two. I am not a weathy man, but I refuse to sacrifice my dignity for the "privilege" of purchasing goods at a warehouse store. I don't shop at local stores because I am fighting for some kind of noble ideal. I shop at local stores because they offer me the personalized service and genuine respect that the big box stores can't. The warm greeting of a local shop owner, combined with superior knowledge of the products, faster service, less hassle, and genuine respect for the customer is well worth the extra few dollars. | ||
Detrola Member Username: Detrola Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.14.28.209 |
1.Inexpensive goods and services. 2.High wages. 3.American made. You can only have two of these things. The problem is we want all three. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3567 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.160.138.107 |
Erikd, well-written and reflective. Problem is, millions of Wal-Mart shoppers go there because of low prices. They save $2,500 per family if they shop Wal-Mart regularly. They probably don't remember service and quality of goods anymore. Wal-Mart is very popular in smaller rural places where such goods are hard to find. For example, take the case of fresh salmon. Wal-Mart sells more than anybody and cheaper, like $4.95 a lb. How can anybody in Mississippi or even Detroit provide this? They pollute terribly in Chile Fiords but the salmon is always there and the customers flock in to buy it. Imagine running the fresh salmon operation to 5,000 stores. People like television. Wal-Mart announces a 5 am truckload sale and people line up for a $159 tv by the pickup loads. Before Joe's Appliances on Main St. opens at 9 am, the whole County has already got a new tv. Joe gives service, he delivers and sets up, and you pay for it. Sadly, the shoppers go for price. (Besides, sadly, there aren't any tvs made domestically anymore.) jjaba, tells it like it tis. |
