Wal-Mart and Its Public Issues

Wal-Mart and Its Public Issues
Wal-Mart and Its Public Issues
The gap between the expectations of the public and Wal-mart is quite evident. Both sides, although they may agree on a few issues, have opposing views on most other issues.
The major gap between the two sides is the belief that Wal-mart would be good for the local economyand its residents of that community. Although the public is aware that the expansion project promises to generate more than 1,000 new jobs in the neighborhood, add $3 to $5 million annually to the distressed city’s tax base, and provide a revenue stream to finance as much as $100 million in new bonds, not all of the public believes this project will benefit the community. (Weber & Lawrence, 2008)
They believethat this project will destroy local small businesses and cause traffic, public safety, and environmental concerns. The views of the public are that Wal-Mart or any other businesses need to abide by the local ordinances and policies in order to protect their local community. They also feel that a company such as Wal-Mart uses its financial wealth to circumvent the policies and laws put in place for other businesses. This creates an unfair advantage to local businesses and will ultimately cause loss of jobs and create other issues. The question is whether the wealthiest company in the world can circumvent the law. (Weber & Lawrence, 2008)
Wal-mart’s position is that they are creating new jobs and bringing money into the communitiesthus providing a service to the residents and bringing in financial gain to the local economy. The company also believes that the majority of the public welcomes Wal-mart into the community and believes that a few special interest groups are only hurting the residents by creating opposition to their expansion plans. Wal-mart’s feels that their low prices benefit not only the low-income residents but will also provide millions of dollars to distressed local economies like in the Inglewood,... [continues]

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