Aldermen to Walmart: Thanks for the Money, Now Stay Out
Some aldermen wanted to make sure a $25,000 grant to the Somerville Arts Council doesn't come with strings attached.
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The Somerville Board of Aldermen Thursday accepted a $25,000 grant from the Walmart State Giving Council that's going to the Somerville Arts Council (the Board approves grant receipts to the city).
Some aldermen wanted to make sure that accepting the grant didn't mean the relationship would go any further.
"I never want to say no to a grant or a gift, and I'm prepared to support this," said Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, "however, I feel we should make a statement there would be no reciprocation here. It is a big sum of money. Wal-Mart has tried to come to Somerville in the past."
"The issue of Wal-Mart coming is one that concerns me greatly and one that concerns members of the community," she said.
In June, Wal-Mart abandoned plans to open a grocery store in Assembly Square.
Alderman At-Large William White wanted to assure people there were no strings attached to accepting Wal-Mart's grant. "It does not indicate in any way, shape or form that any gift that goes into the city treasury, that goes to a worthwhile cause, is designed to any way grease the skids or result in any type of reward or favorable action."
Ward 4 Alderman Tony LaFuente said, "I'm not a big fan of Wal-Mart … I'm glad they're not in Somerville, and I hope they never come to Somerville, but I'll certainly, gladly take their money."
Matt C
8:39 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
I would like to see them propose a smaller store for the site on broadway
Maureen
9:41 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
I'd like to see *anyone* move into the site on Broadway...
Ron Newman
9:09 am on Friday, November 9, 2012
I'm not a fan of Walmart and would not likely ever shop there . BUT I'd rather have one of their groceries occupying the former Star Market in Winter Hill, or the closing Foodmaster in West Somerville, than continue to have those buildings stand vacant.
joan
1:09 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Rumor has it that Whole Foods is taking over the Foodmaster site on Beacon St.
Ron Newman
9:05 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
That's not just rumor, that's fact. But it doesn't help the Alewife store at all.
Dan Buchman
12:59 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
I shop at Walmart at least once a week. The reason I like them is they have a large selection, VERY low prices and THEY DON'T HAVE UNIONS! That is why they can afford low prices. The employees I spoke with all love their jobs. It is always in Fortune's top 500 places to work - generally finishing FIRST. Hmmmm... Union thugs causing false trouble again?
joan
1:24 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Dan--Being a member of a union does not make one a "thug." Unions actually have done a great deal over the years to improve working conditions that benefit everyone, not just their members. Health care, minimum wage, retirement, decent working conditions, protection from exploitation: these are positive accomplishments that unions have historically brought to the table and that are worth sustaining. I wouldn't cite the absence of unions at Walmart's as a "plus"--and it is simplistic to equate the absence of unions with Walmart's low prices. My problem with Walmart is its voracious dominance that squeezes out small businesses. Walmart in my view equals serfdom.
mplo
1:49 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
I agree with the Alderman's blunt "Thanks for the money. Now stay out." statement towards Wal*Mart. Wal*Mart needed to hear that. I also agree that unions have done a great deal to protect workers from unfair labor practices, ensure better wages and healthcare, and from retaliatory firings.
Wal*Mart's dominance that pushes out smaller, independent businesses, as horrific as it is, is not the only problem. Their merchandise is cheap third-world junk, and workers from those third-world countries are exploited and made to work under primitive sweat-shop conditions with low, low pay, to boot. The food that Wal*Mart sells isn't good, either. Their labor policies are rotten to the core.
AHM
3:02 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Their labor policies bad? Try Iphone. 23 of theor workers died making it and over 250 permantly injured. Walmart does hand out a lot of money. They are a business making as much as possible the same as many companies. That's why they are in business. I do not own stock there or buy there. Just realistic.
KEN D...
1:59 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
The people who are willing to take this money don't seem to appreciate that WalMart is part of a very small club who would be willing to donate money while being slapped by the recipient. Personally I don't know why they do it but find it very admirable.