Me and my homies gonna put a beat down on Wal-Mart! (low income, income)

[chris1219]

I'm certainly thrilled. I was one of those people who showed up at the meetings and had an anti-Walmart yard sign. Did not comment on the FB page though, for the record.


RE: Giant Eagle price issue, I think others have said it best. PghYinzer and Copanaut did nice posts pointing out store experience, convenience, etc. There are other options in the North Hills. Kuhn's, Aldi's, TJs.


RE: North Park, people are really underestimating that issue. I wonder how many of them frequent North Park and really appreciate it. The traffic increase on Ingomar Road was reason enough for me to fight Wal-Mart. To the people that walk, jog, and bike through there, it is a big deal. There's already more than enough traffic there. Even a modest increase, which everyone involved agreed would definitely occur (and they were probably underestimating it to make their plan more palatable), was intolerable to a lot of people.


As part of the anti-Walmart backlash (which admittedly consisted of a small but highly motivated group, but I think that describes any political movement) the Citizens of McCandless were able to place sympathetic people on the Town Council, which could be a big hurdle to any other similar kind of proposal for the land. Their dream of having a community center is probably a pipe dream due to the cost. However, I would love it if the Allegheny Land Trust could come up with the money to return it to a natural state, although that too may be a pipe dream.

[gg]

Originally Posted by RonSantoRules

Which they only agreed to do after more than three years of sustained campaigning and labor organizing by OUR Walmart.

So what? They are paying much more than the government requires, so why do they get such a bad rap? They sell the same garbage every other store does, usually at a better price.

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by chris1219

I'm certainly thrilled. I was one of those people who showed up at the meetings and had an anti-Walmart yard sign. Did not comment on the FB page though, for the record.


RE: Giant Eagle price issue, I think others have said it best. PghYinzer and Copanaut did nice posts pointing out store experience, convenience, etc. There are other options in the North Hills. Kuhn's, Aldi's, TJs.


RE: North Park, people are really underestimating that issue. I wonder how many of them frequent North Park and really appreciate it. The traffic increase on Ingomar Road was reason enough for me to fight Wal-Mart. To the people that walk, jog, and bike through there, it is a big deal. There's already more than enough traffic there. Even a modest increase, which everyone involved agreed would definitely occur (and they were probably underestimating it to make their plan more palatable), was intolerable to a lot of people.


As part of the anti-Walmart backlash (which admittedly consisted of a small but highly motivated group, but I think that describes any political movement) the Citizens of McCandless were able to place sympathetic people on the Town Council, which could be a big hurdle to any other similar kind of proposal for the land. Their dream of having a community center is probably a pipe dream due to the cost. However, I would love it if the Allegheny Land Trust could come up with the money to return it to a natural state, although that too may be a pipe dream.

Pretty sad there isn't enough money in support of a community center. New communities rarely embrace the elements of neighborhood, and the benefits they bring. Lots of money for roads, no money for a community center.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by RonSantoRules

Which they only agreed to do after more than three years of sustained campaigning and labor organizing by OUR Walmart.

Except it's still not minimum wage as was stated. Unfortunately feelings often get in the way of facts.

[chris1219]

Originally Posted by xdv8

Pretty sad there isn't enough money in support of a community center. New communities rarely embrace the elements of neighborhood, and the benefits they bring. Lots of money for roads, no money for a community center.

Yeah, I could be wrong, I'm just assuming that there's not. McCandless would first have to acquire the land and then build it.


This is based on hazy memory so I could be totally wrong, but I believe WM was paying north of $3M for the main plot (and we know GE paid $1.3M for the smaller plot).


Now, if the prospect for major big box is no longer on the table (which it may or may not be), the value could be way down.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by chris1219

I'm certainly thrilled. I was one of those people who showed up at the meetings and had an anti-Walmart yard sign. Did not comment on the FB page though, for the record.


RE: Giant Eagle price issue, I think others have said it best. PghYinzer and Copanaut did nice posts pointing out store experience, convenience, etc. There are other options in the North Hills. Kuhn's, Aldi's, TJs.


RE: North Park, people are really underestimating that issue. I wonder how many of them frequent North Park and really appreciate it. The traffic increase on Ingomar Road was reason enough for me to fight Wal-Mart. To the people that walk, jog, and bike through there, it is a big deal. There's already more than enough traffic there. Even a modest increase, which everyone involved agreed would definitely occur (and they were probably underestimating it to make their plan more palatable), was intolerable to a lot of people.


As part of the anti-Walmart backlash (which admittedly consisted of a small but highly motivated group, but I think that describes any political movement) the Citizens of McCandless were able to place sympathetic people on the Town Council, which could be a big hurdle to any other similar kind of proposal for the land. Their dream of having a community center is probably a pipe dream due to the cost. However, I would love it if the Allegheny Land Trust could come up with the money to return it to a natural state, although that too may be a pipe dream.

Agree with those statements, too much traffic in the park now. Really wish they would STRICTLY enforce the 25 MPH limit.


Don't know about the community center, the Park is right there with a ton of activities. The Township has tennis and pickleball courts near the Police station.

[chris1219]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Agree with those statements, too much traffic in the park now. Really wish they would STRICTLY enforce the 25 MPH limit.


Don't know about the community center, the Park is right there with a ton of activities. The Township has tennis and pickleball courts near the Police station.

Yeah, I think that's probably a big reason why they don't have one already. The already existing township facilities plus the Park right there, probably makes it not worth the significant expense.

[gg]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Agree with those statements, too much traffic in the park now. Really wish they would STRICTLY enforce the 25 MPH limit.

I love that park, but don't go there due to how much through traffic there is. It isn't a very nice or relaxed feel due to that crazy aggressive traffic. Shame, but it is what it is.

[chris1219]

Originally Posted by gg

I love that park, but don't go there due to how much through traffic there is. It isn't a very nice or relaxed feel due to that crazy aggressive traffic. Shame, but it is what it is.

It's really just that one stretch on Ingomar road that's an issue, and it's much less of an issue since they significantly widened the shoulder last year. But it is somewhat of an issue because you are right, you have to be a lot more aware when you are jogging/biking on that stretch. And anybody coming to Wal-Mart from the direction of East, would have been using that stretch. For any of the other places along McKnight or 19, they wouldn't necessarily use that road. But for Wal-Mart, they would have.

[RonSantoRules]

Originally Posted by gg

So what? They are paying much more than the government requires, so why do they get such a bad rap? They sell the same garbage every other store does, usually at a better price.

Because the Walton family (which owns Wal Mart) is the richest family in America, and we (the taxpayers) end up subsidizing their low wage workers through food stamps, housing vouchers and other government programs. They should be properly credited for raising wages to at least $10 per hour across the board for new hires, but their reputation is well deserved based on past behavior. Wal Mart is the country's largest private employer, so their actions deserve scrutiny beyond patting them on the back for paying what is required by state and federal law.

Not surprisingly, their decision to actually pay workers more has led to cleaner stores, higher sales and more satisfied customers and employees: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/up...more.html?_r=0