Sampling 400 random, local adults, the current KPBS/Competitive Edge Research Poll has found that San Diegans generally hold a positive opinion of area Wal-Mart stores as well as the corporation itself.
This month’s KPBS/Competitive Edge Research Poll finds that despite the negative press it sometimes receives, Wal-Mart is very popular in San Diego County. Over two-thirds of County residents hold a favorable impression of the world’s largest retailer, while less than a quarter have a negative impression of the firm. In fact, the survey shows we validate these favorable views in the most American way - with our wallets: about six in 10 shopped at Wal-Mart in the past year and only 14% have never purchased an item there. Even when pressed on the specific question of whether Wal-Mart was bad for its employees or the communities it services, 46% say the retailing giant is OK on both counts. In comparison, 12% believe Wal-Mart is bad for employees, 20% feel it is bad for communities and 7% believe it harms both.
This article from commondreams.org writes that the San Diego County Tax Payers Association
found that an influx of big-box stores into San Diego would result in an annual decline in wages and benefits between $105 million and $221 million, and an increase of $9 million in public health costs. SDCTA also estimated that the region would lose pensions and retirement benefits valued between $89 million and $170 million per year and that even increased sales and property tax revenues would not cover the extra costs of necessary public services. “Good jobs, good pay, and good benefits should be the goal of an economy,” SDCTA concluded, “and supercenters are not consistent with that objective.”
Other resources about Wal-Mart stores in San Diego include SDSU professor Jai Ghorpade’s July 7th 2004 Op-Ed piece in the Union Tribune as well as these audio clips from an August 9th 2004 discussion of Wal-Mart’s affect on San Diego on These Days. (Santee Mayor Randy Voepel’s comments are particularly interesting) Finally, Wal-Mart is sure to continue to make its way into the news as it seeks an appeal against a sex discrimination class action lawsuit.
What are your thoughts about Wal-Mart in San Diego? Do you also shop there? Are you concerned about its affect on local area labor standards? Let us know your opinion by leaving a comment below.
I absolutely hate Walmart and its business practices, but am not surprised to read that so many San Diegans think it’s loverly. There are a lot of people here who don’t read the paper/listen to anything but Fox/CNN, who think all crackheads/welfare mothers should be lined up and shot but vote in a confessed coke-head and convicted drunkdriver. It is surreal experience to listen to “political” conversations here. Anyway, my reasons for hating WalMart are too numerous to recount here; suffice to say, I would be in seventh heaven if it was discovered that the air inside of all WalMarts contained thousands of grams of carbs per breath…because have you noticed that the Atkins disciples are usually also WalMartees? Or is that just in my own f-d up family?
66+% approve, and I’d go so far as to think that most of them are normal, and those that hate walmart and call people who like walmart Bush voting welfare mother killing moronic Atkins cultists. *That* is a surreal political position, btw.
In LA, a small minority of similiar people also believe walmart/walmart shoppers=evil. They are trying to stop them from building…although it *could* be union lobbying (all’s fair, after all).
What’s suprising is believing that the study would show anything other than it did.
spaazlicious,
Jai Ghorpade’s article does a pretty good job outlining some of the detrimental affects of supporting Wal-Mart.
jkrank,
I would have to agree with you. But I think things might change if Wal-Mart continues to receive such bad press in the media. All shoppers want low prices, but few are willing to exploit to get them. Slate Magazine has an interesting article comparing the business practices of Wal-Mart and Costco - which by the way was once majority owned by San Diego philanthropist Sol Price, founder of Price Club.
According to the article the “low prices, low wages” model might not in fact be the most profitable.
jkrank: WalMart takes losses at stores by selling under cost and driving competitors out of business. The profits go out of state (unless you live in Bentonville, Arkansas) and the jobs created are part-time, health-care free, hihg-turnover ones. Where’s the hope that lives will be improved if capital leaves your area and goes to Arkansas? Or Seattle, or where-ever Barnes & Noble is founded.
Shop independent, local stores. You will pay a little bit more (especially since local stores can’t exercise their global clout to drive down wages and conditions for third-world workers), but you’ll be supporting your neighborhood and ultimately your own quiality of life.