Wal-Mart gets attitude in Tucson, Arizona

It's entirely possible that Tucson's residents don't WANT a Wal-Mart in town. All that does is push it out to the unincorporated areas where big box stores tend to erupt anyways.

In Reno, Wal-Mart has decided to put a new SuperStore at the intersection of the two freeways in town. That sounds like it should make sense, but it doesn't, because the area is an absolute wasteland AND it's difficult to get to even with freeway off-ramps. It isn't a residential area, near a large residential area or even convenient to one. Wal-Mart also says it plans to close a very busy store to the North as soon as the SuperStore opens. If they close it, that would be incredibly stupid, because the clientele for that store lives mostly within walking distance of that store. My guess is they won't close; another store south of town was slated for closing when the new SuperStore in that area opened, but Wal-Mart found that business wasn't altered at the old store. It was so unaltered they added a Sam's Club on the second pad in the old location.

The people of Tucson HAVE been asked whether we want more "big box stores" in town - I believe it was voted on by the residents. The answer was no - at least in some neighborhoods. Once quiet, many of these neighborhoods now have to put up with the big box store's 18 wheeler trucks coming in at all hours of the night to deliver items to these stores.
Not only do they cause "noise pollution", but they suck the business out of "Mom and Pop" stores that have been here for decades.

Add to that, it always seems that Wal-Mart is so underemployed that it's almost impossible to get any help. Remember customer service? I do. And I will gladly pay a few cents more to get it.

You mentioned Target as well. When the Holidays come around, you can bet many people WON'T be shopping at Target due to their sour attitude about the Salvation Army (or any other non-profit) standing outside of their stores. It simply isn't allowed.
Due to the high number of homeless people in Tucson, The Salvation Army and other homeless organizations need these stores. At least Wal-Mart allows non-profits like Girl Scouts to sell their cookies outside their stores, and the bell ringers to ring, even if it is rather annoying. (I find it works if you pay them NOT to ring.)

"A city councilman from Tucson stated that "they want what they want, when they want it. It's more of an attitude problem than a legal problem," when referring to Wal-Mart's position on repealing the ordinance". That just says it ALL. I think of the money they are wasting on projects such as this, the endless battles to get what they want. The money spent on more and more supercenters. This is money that COULD be spent on better wages and health benefits that would help repair their tragically horrible employment reputation but that is the least of their concerns. They know the mindless public will troop through their doors each day no matter what they do to their associates. I applaud Tucson with a standing ovation. Hooray to you! Keep up the good work. You set an example to other cities on how to keep the monster out.

I don't believe for one minute that WMT is all that bad for a community over all. I would like the "know it alls" to publish both positive and negative points for each store that is built and come up with percentages. I bet more positive than negative will be the honest result. How about it people? Oh yes, these results need to be variable.

If you want a prestine environment in Tucson, don't mind paying higher prices and taxes, then keep all 18 wheelers out of the city, move the airport and bus station 50 miles from the city along with all big box stores. If you do this, I am sure everyone will pleased. Good luck city government.