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News :: Urban Development |
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Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
Current rating: 0 |
by Zachary C. Miller
Email: zach (nospam) ucimc.org (verified) |
21 Jan 2004
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Tonight, 4 city council members (Patt, Wyman, Chynoweth, Hayes) voted unanimously to approve the Preliminary Subdivision Plat for Walmart in East Urbana at the corner of route 130 and route 150. |
Here's the NEWS:
Tonight 4 city council members (Patt, Wyman, Chynoweth, Hayes) voted unanimously to approve the Preliminary Subdivision Plat for Walmart in East Urbana at the corner of route 130 and route 150. Council members Huth and Whelan were absent and Otto recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Over 40 members of the public submitted comments all but two of which were opposed to the Walmart development.
The mayor and council members explained that because Walmart's proposal did not include any requests for incentives from the City that the law gave Walmart an absolute private property right to develop on that land which has been zoned B3 for several months. The only choice for council this evening would be to determine that the development plan wasn't up to city code and to give Walmart a chance to come up to code.
Members of the public expressed many concerns about the impact of Walmart on local businesses and the environment, questioned the reality of the $700,000 tax revenue that some claimed Walmart would bring in, and expressed general frustration with the process in which they were constantly told that any given meeting was not the right place to discuss whether or not Walmart should build in Urbana. Those opposed to Walmart hoped that Council members would table tonight's vote or find a reason to vote against it.
Here is my personal JOURNAL entry about the meeting tonight:
City Council was intense tonight.
The mayor's sister and father came out opposed to the mayor's and the council's stance. Council members had close friends and supporters coming out against their stance. Council members believed that their hands were tied by the law, that even if they opposed Walmart that they had to approve this preliminary plat because everything was up to code. My favorite council member left the chamber yelling at the folks who worked on her campaign but now opposed her stance (including me) and in tears. The meeting ran from 7:30pm until nearly midnight. Of the 40 people that expressed an opinion, 2 were in favor of Walmart.
One thing became clear. This is what the one council member was yelling at us about, and she was right. We need to make this into a movement. We can't come to one council meeting and demand change and then go home and do nothing. We have to organize picketting. We have to organize behind specific laws that we want council to pass and advocate for those. We have to educate the public about places they can shop other than Walmart. We have to educate the council on ways they can creatively oppose the Walmart.
I still think tonight's vote didn't have to be a done deal. I still think the council could have been (and can still be) more proactive in preventing Walmart from coming to town. But I do feel bad for the council members that are taking the brunt of the criticism. I remember when I was the Chair of a committee that was dealing with a very divisive issue and people accused me of being unjust and lacking social consciousness about the issue and it brought me to tears because I was doing my level best to be a fair mediator. I can imagine that same pressure but magnified by thousands and thousands of people telling you you are a bad person for doing the thing that you think is the best thing among a nest of bad options.
In other news the same council passed a Domestic Partner benefit tonight that extends the right to take bereavement and sick and family emergency medical leave to same-sex couples with a declared domestic partnership. That was cool. |
This work is in the public domain. |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by rporter
rporter (nospam) newtonbigelow.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 10
21 Jan 2004
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An uncle of mine was involved in a long struggle against Wal-Mart's attempt to move into his community. Although Wal-Mart eventually lost, it was only because local activists were willing to put several years worth of energy and personal resources into the fight. He and a fellow community member have written a book describing their efforts. They also have a website up, which may be useful to Urbana residents who oppose the building of another Wal-Mart in our area, but see little chance of stopping it:
http://www.megamallonthehudson.com/index.htm
also see:
http://www.walmartwatch.com/index.cfm |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 1
21 Jan 2004
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Hi folks:
For once I am with you on this issue. How can we stop Wal-Mart? Sign me up to help since my own business will suffer if Wal-Mart comes to Urbana. As usual self interest used as a guiding principle reqires that I assist and join forces with you all. I never thought that I would see the day. Let's organize and Stop this eye sore from coming! Who, What, When and Where? Tell me what kind of help I can offer! I am with you and plan to help keep Wal-Mart OUT!!!
JACK |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by Jack Ryan The real one!
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 9
21 Jan 2004
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Jack's Back:
Ok so I am confused and mean spirited at times!
I say things I usually wish I had not said!
I don't even have a business......how could I and still have all this free time to spend messing with you all. I am just a guy who likes to troll. If I really had anything of value to say I would do it face to face...or at least use a verified e-mail. Until I am willing to admit my true identity just ignore my lunatic ravings.
Jack |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 8
22 Jan 2004
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Obviously folks, the anti-Jack is back in the above two comments. I have been out of town this past week and will attempt to address your concerns one by one. First, Since the Urbana City Council has virtually killed every other business in the city limits it is forced to deal with the liberal worst nightmare. Anti Labor, profitable, 600,000 grand in tax revenues. Now this is a business that even Urbana can't turn away.
Why, because there is one thing that they value more than their changing principles and that of course is tax revenues. This may go down as the first failing WalMart in history after Urbana imposes it's will upon it.
BTW, Anon, great to see that your computer has not been taken back by your creditors. Sorry about your car. I would think that a liberal like yourself would be happier on the bus.
Jack |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by Ralph
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
23 Jan 2004
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Republicans, Democrats, and Greens: Not a dime's worth of difference between them. On the issues important to us, all of the politicians side with Corporate America. |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by Muck Raker
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 2
27 Jan 2004
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If you'll actually do some research, rather than pull "fact" from your rather cute bottom, then Mr. Jack Ryan, possible gay porn star (see http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/15360/index.php ) and Illinois Republican Candidate for Senate, then you'd know that the top 1% barely pay any taxes at all.
What with being gifted with massive capital gains tax deductions and other federal gifts applicable only to the very wealthy, the top wage earners have so many places to stash away their money from Uncle Sam, that the average $50k wage earner pays more in taxes a year than Donald Trump!
No wonder the rich guys are all Republicans -- without their cronies in the party, they'd actually have to pay some taxes! |
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Re: Urbana City Council approves Preliminary Plat for Walmart Development |
by 2 cents
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
31 Jan 2004
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Ralph,
You do have a point. A politicians main focus is getting re-elected and that takes funding. They wouldn't want to step on the toes of Corperate America would they? The inevitable favoritism toward the well-funded is the result. That's why I am in favor of limiting to one term. If politicians didn't have to worry about doing the things that will get them re-elected, perhaps they would do what is best for thier constituency. |
