UPDATE 6/13: For Wal-Mart’s grander Grand Opening ceremonies, go HERE.
“Psalm 33:12 says, ‘Blessed is the nation that has God as the Lord,'” said Hydesville Community Church associate pastor Jeff Beltz from a temporary podium this past Sunday.
“Basically what He’s saying is the nation that is faithful and places God first in decisions, honor, righteous acts, attitudes and faith gets blessed by God. But not only nations: individuals, families and corporations,” he added.
Then, with most heads bowed and a few reverent hands stretched towards the fluorescent lighting-lined ceiling, pastor Beltz
prayed a blessing over Eureka’s new Wal-Mart store at the Bayshore Mall.
“Dear heavenly Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Peter, Paul and John, and Jesus Christ, we humbly come to you and ask for your help to live, work, operate and make decisions as Jesus Christ would if He were here. Help every employee of this new Wal-Mart put the customer and others first, ahead of themselves. Help every boss put the needs of the customer and the employees ahead of their own. Father, please help the top leaders lead like Christ would lead.”
Amen. About 150 Humboldtians crammed into one of the main walkways between product-stocked shelves for the special evening ceremony at Wal-Mart’s “VIP Open House” — the first glimpse of the inside of Gottschalk’s cavernous, abandoned shell. The prayer was followed, among other things, by an intricate, three-part harmony performance of the [audio-2] national anthem by young Wal-Mart “associates,” a few brief, dutiful words by [audio-3] Eureka Mayor Frank Jager, giant check photo ops (1, 2, 3, 4) with local nonprofits and a Native American [audio-4] flute solo.
With the half-hour of formalities endured, excited future shoppers ventured into the depths of the controversial stuff peddler as Wal-Mart management pointed to where stuff is (“This is gonna be our sporting goods section,” “This back here is gonna be our produce section.”) Members of the Eureka High NJROTC stood guard in front of aisles that weren’t yet open to tour takers.
“Does anyone have any questions so far?” our guide asked.
“You don’t have any Diet Squirt,” one woman pointed out.
“Oh, maybe we’ll get that for you,” he replied, smiling.
Nearly everyone I talked to was giddy that they’d soon be able to shop at the Eureka Wal-Mart, noting that it would save them trips to Crescent City and/or Ukiah — the previous closest Wal-locations.
“This has been a long time coming,” one man in a baseball capped fellow in his 40s opined to me.
“Now all we need is an Olive Garden,” his female companion chimed in.
“And a Red Lobster,” the man added. “I hate seeing their commercials on TV and not being able to eat there.”
Bummed you missed the festivities? Luckily, Sunday evening’s proceedings will essentially be repeated at Wednesday’s all-day Grand Opening — the party starts bright and early at 7:30 a.m. — with the added value of Chester Cheetah and Bimbo Bear appearences, free samples/demos and actually being able to buy stuff.
Yes, Humboldt. Wal-Mart: it’s here.
MORE PHOTOS (click ’em, see what happens):
Mayor Jager: “There’s a lot of controversy over big box retailers. But this Wal-Mart — our Wal-Mart — I think is going to be different. It’s going to be something that’s involved in the community and really help us out.”
Wal-Mart associates Bethany and Hannah Mckinney perform ” [audio-5] Orange Colored Sky.” Also, jumbo size cotton balls? $1.96!
Associate Joshua Oquist performs on his “Native American flute.”
Three Wal-Mart associates — Walter, Cheryl and Brittany — were presented with certificates for their hard work during the store’s setup process. They expressed their gratitude for employment.
Tour time!
Cake time!
Say! Those prices are low! We were informed they would be that way “everyday.”
Even better!
Just joshin’ ya! We were told these deals would not be quite as great come Wednesday.
See y’all then!
Previous Wal-Martitude:
Wal-Mart and Jesus / Wal-Mart and Chester Cheetah / Wal-Mart and Humboldt
This article appears in The Money, The Future, The Vote.
(Comment removed for being pointless and irredeemably mean.)
Better participate in the group prayer, or they’ll knock your hours back from 24 to 16 per week
It’s always fun when some effete snob belittles the beliefs of others. With Jews and Muslims more or less permanently out of the dunk tank, I guess Christians are all you have left. I don’t happen to share their views, but your ridicule of people you clearly don’t understand says so much more about your beliefs than it does about theirs.
The Jews already have a great tradition of self-deprecating humor, and as for Muslims, I’d like to make fun of them praying at the new Walmart, but the Hydesville Community Mosque did not make an appearance.
“Effete snob”. Is that Newspeak for “educated”? Name-calling in the first sentence is exactly WWJD. Being judged is what draws us to the fold.
Wow…calling people ugly,fat,and stupid…..I bet youre a real catch
Lord deliver us from evil!
Praise the Lord! May Jesus Christ bless these cheap Chinese products and the company making $100,000,000,000 in estimated gross profit in 2011 while paying it’s workers the absolute minimum amount of money possible. Real humble and worthy of the support of God. Yeah. Right. Why don’t you go bless Costco instead Beltz? At least they pay well.
The fact is that despite people’s obvious snobbery and overblown, conspiracy theory like objections to Walmart, it is going to bring a massive amount of shoppers to our beleaguered mall here in Eureka. Who would not want to open up a new local business in the Bayshore now that people will be coming there in droves? It is really a great opportunity. How can Walmart destroy “Main Street” when “Main Street” is an empty mall? I predict that this will be the anchor that sees the mostly empty storefronts in the mall filling up again and thank God for that. Hey it seems lots of people are in fact thanking God for it which is fine with me. It is not a courthouse or some other government building which should remain secular.
@Nathan, it’s not snobbery. WalMart is well known for coming into small towns and siphoning out as much money as they can while they give back to the local economy as little as they can. They hire only part time employees at crap hours so they don’t have to offer benefits. Those same employees cannot live off the wages they make and often try to make ends meet by buying from WalMart themselves along with being a burden on our welfare and food stamp programs. It’s such a successful model most box stores do the same…So it’s not snobbery, it’s a fact that WalMart will do more harm than good. I’ll be doing my part and boycotting them. I hope enough people do the same that they get the picture and either invest in their local communities or leave!
I’m glad somebody else noticed that everybody there was overweight so I don’t have to. Alarm bells are ringing.
“Now all we need is an Olive Garden,” his female companion chimed in. “And a Red Lobster,” the man added. “I hate seeing their commercials on TV and not being able to eat there.”
America’s finest on full display
DAMMIT! I MISSED CAKE?!?!?
I find it odd that people are screaming “Boycott Walmart and support local business” when Walmart is obviously going to be a huge boom for the local businesses already in the mall by bringing in loads of customers. It will also be a massive opportunity for people that would now like to move their business to one of the many empty storefronts in the mall or start a brand new one. Something tells me that most of the people objecting to Walmart in Eureka are snooty Arcata people leaning back and criticizing it from the comfort of their Arcata grow houses while eating ten dollar a bag kombucha kelp chips rather than blue collar Eureka folk struggling to make ends meet after the demise of our various local industries.
To the person who directed their comment at rex….thats actually false…my dad worked at a Walmart for 3 yrs after being layed off from an aerospace Co he worked at for almost 3o yrs and after 1 yr had better medical and dental benefits and pay than he did after his 27 yrs at abex
Ummmm, kombuhca kelp chips….aaarrrrggggghhhhhhhhh….
Actually, Kingbee, I’m excessively educated, so it wouldn’t occur to me that calling someone that would qualify as an insult. Good to see, though, your reflexive assumption that those who disagree with you are both stupid AND uneducated. God bless the smallness of your mind.
The prayer was better than I expected, at least he didn’t pray for big profits that could be distributed amongst the Walton heirs. And I agree with him that the world would be a better place if the WalMart exec’s were to lead like Jesus would. While I personally have a hard time envisioning Jesus as a WalMart corporate executive, the image makes sense in the context of capitalism’s ongoing seduction of christianity.
One particular thing I would take exception to is the assertion that God blesses a corporation which ‘is faithful and places God first in decisions, honor, riteous acts, attitudes, and faith”. Especially when capitalism teaches us that even higher profits can be made from doing the opposite of these things. Obligations to shareholders, executive bonuses, etc., ‘faithful’ just seems way down on the list of corporate objectives.
Also, I wonder, can a corporation legally put God first? How would the shareholders react to that? And where is the fire and brimstone for those un-repentant profit mongering corporations which engage in sinful acts? Or conversely, where do good corporations go when they die? Oh, forgot, they never do. Like vampires. Can vampires be faithful to God?
All this hullaballoo over OUR Walmart just confirms my thinking that abrahamic religions would just be silly if they weren’t so dangerous.
Just as I figured, the most ugly fat and stupid employees are at Walmart. Go figure?
I’m opposed to Wal-Mart, but that’s really out of line.
Something tells me that most of the people objecting to Walmart in Eureka are snooty Arcata people leaning back and criticizing it from the comfort of their Arcata grow houses while eating ten dollar a bag kombucha kelp chips rather than blue collar Eureka folk struggling to make ends meet after the demise of our various local industries.
There are some good points in here, amidst the culture war vollies. And I hope there are some HSU students who can track the losses of jobs due to local store closures (and K-Mart, which is probably doomed).
And maybe Wal-Mart sells kombucha kelp chips for 5 dollars?
Does the Eureka Walmart offer medical and dental benefits to it’s part time employees?
It looks like Target, except with wider aisles for wider customers.
Dear heavenly Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Peter, Paul and John, and Jesus Christ, we humbly come to you in this time of great and exalting excitement, for WalMart has heard our plaintive cries for bargains and answered our prayers in your name, oh Father.
Wait a minute. Where are the dancing mascots? We were promised dancing mascots. I want to see Chester ‘Cheetos’ Cheetah dancing!
God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest! Bring forth thy sword to slash the horrible prices levied against the overnourished masses, and let them benefit from a blessed surfeit of consecrated and processed foods.
I’m glad the real people of Humboldt county will be able to afford basic commodities for once.
Regardless of Wal-Marts business practices, the businesses of Humboldt county have been molesting the lower-middle class forever. Not all of us can afford to shop at the COOP or at the botique stores.
200+ entry level jobs is bad? Get over yourselves.
Ever-merciful and benignant Father of us all, bless this invincible and imperishable corporation, and allow long-suffering north coast consumers the enviable concession of choosing to purchase powerful firearms, ammo and alcoholic libations in one convenient stop.
Give a mega corp. your money it will go to an off shore account. Give your money to a local business and the money stays in town. Go to walmart but don’t forget about your local store’s that need
YOU to survive. Or soon we will all work for Walmart.
O Lord our God, Father and Protector, hear the prayer of Your servant, for he is a shepherd to the souls who long wandered the dark emptiness of a friendless and abandoned mall, and he leadeth them to the smiling sunshine of Your light, which is a shining beacon on every aisle, beckoning those who shoulder the burden of high prices elsewhere.
Are they going to widen the doors so fat people can squeeze on in? Most of the customers at Wal-Mart will need this.
O Lord our Father, as our shoppers waddle forth, be Thou near them! Be present in the rustle of their plastic bags and the rattle of their heaped carts. Be with them in spirit as they return home to familiar and beloved hearths to take sustenance from unleavened bread layered with tomato sauce and pepperoni and slake their thirst and wet parched throats with carbonated corn syrup beverages.
There is definitely lots of snobbery in this thread (a little bit on the pro-Wal-Mart side as well). If you want to see thin employees, shop at REI. They only hire jocks it seems.
I am hoping that WalMart is good for Eureka. I will still shop at Target and Costco because they are closer and have the “stuff” that I use. I shop at a lot of other stores in the area and that will not stop because WalMart opened its doors.
Merciful and benevolent God, help WalMart to drown its competition in a deluge of savings. Father, help WalMart and all of its subsidiaries stifle wages so that no worker may pridefully rise above his present station. Lord, keep the pernicious influences of organized labor from hindering the boundless efficiency of this beloved, infinite and perpetual corporate person.
Amen
Reverend Lovejoy took some of those words right out of my mouth.
Dear 6 pound 8 ounce bay Jesus, all wrapped up in your little basket. Please bless our multinational corporation. Protect us from the throws of evil, and bless us with an abundance of exploitable Chinese human capital. Oh blessed lord. May we continue to be at war for oil to keep distribution prices down. Please, bless those who believe in the all mighty dollar and the American dream of being on food stamps and having childhood type 2 diabetes. Oh glorious lord you have blessed us with a failing economy and an undereducated populous that gladly consumes our garbage. For you are a just and righteous lord.
Wow…could the hypocrisy be any clearer? The whole argument against Walmart is it will take profits from other stores…but then you turn around and hate on them for heing successful and making profits…profits are either evil or good…not evil when one company makes them and evil when another does…so which is it joel…cant have it both ways
I’m holding my stinkycrap until tomorrow when I’ll let it all come out under a dress in the Walmart isle. My people are never giving up! EARTHFIRST!!
No Darin, “The whole argument against Walmart” is not that it “will take profits from other stores.”
I’d say “nice try,” but first I’d like to see a modicum of effort on your part.
I’ll be happy to engage in a discussion with you when you become more articulate.
In recent news, children are being murdered in Syria, women are being publicly molested in Egypt, the wealth of our nation is dying in the middle east and on and on and on. How can so many see Walmart coming to Eureka as such a critical and destructive issue? Focus your acrimony against something more important. Walmart will meet a need in our area, just not yours.
When Donald has a toothache, I’ll remind of more “critical and destructive issues.”
By the way, thank you Andrew, for removing the first comment.
The “Kim Starr” comment (6:49) would be a good candidate for deleting as well.
Oh…sorry…maybe ill sit here and mock peoples religious beliefs…will that be articulate enough for you to grace me with your conversation?
Don’t like it don’t shop there.
Having visited Walmarts in Crescent City and Ukiah, all the hoopla about Walmart’s lower prices seems vastly overblown. For the things I looked at — tools, electronics, photography, cleaning supplies — prices seemed the same or only marginally less than those at other big box stores. And definitely not less than online. Admittedly, I didn’t look carefully at clothes (quality too poor) or processed foods, which I generally avoid.
God. All of that was just too creepy.
Samantha, wait until the place opens tomorrow, THATS too creepy. Retards on the loose in Wal-Mart.
Observer – I don’t know what poptarts go for in regular stores, but I suspect that 3.50 for a box of 16 is pretty low.
No Darin, “The whole argument against Walmart” is not that it “will take profits from other stores.” I
Actually, the argument is that it will put many of the other stores out of business.
I thot this was about the blessing of WalMart by a local preacher. Now I see its about all manner of WalMart, both pleasant and un-so. Frankly, Rev. Lovejoy is even freaking me out.
But,WalMart deserves it, being the shopping location of choice for George Zimmerman, Jeffrey Dahlmer, Lester Maddox, Phillip Garrido, Joey Buttafucco, Bud Selig, Felipe Calderon, and Newt Gingrich.
Funny, Mitt thinks WalMart sells walls.
Time to move. Eureka has sold its soul. I guess it always was the real McKinleyville. Welcome to Walmart, see selling your soul was easy.
walmart deserves a chance to do business just like the rest of the big box stores in this area–perhaps the downtown 4th and 5th st shops will all close and we will get some urban renewal–this new walmart will be a business adventure ! ALWAYS THE LOW PRICE ! america loves it !
Perhaps Walmart could stand to be more Christ-like and sacrifice itself for the good of mankind.
I thought this was about Walmart? Why are a bunch of you going on about some ones weight? And why was Religon brought into this in the first place? I am Shocked at the comments said about your fellow Eureken’s! Like some one pointed out, you don’t like it don’t shop there! I know a lot of people that do go to the Walmarts out of our area, or shop at Walmart.com. Now at least their money well be spent here. Do you really think shopping at Kmart or Target is shopping local? I also agree that it might bring life back to our dying Mall!
I wonder if anyone has figured out that the Walmart in Humboldt is supported out of Red Bluff, which is closer than Target, Kmart, Safeway, Winco etc etc.
Naw. That would be too easy, and it doesn’t matter.
well, well, it appears the true hateful, pretentious, side of the progs is just shining on this post.
walmart is the number one corporate donator of charity in world. local non-profits/schools/clubs will benefit.
It’s hard to understand the appeal of Walmart when Eureka already has Costco and Target. What is Walmart bringing in that offers anything different or better than either, other than their uber religious underpinnings and inventory of low-quality, cheap merchandise? The religious angle is seriously disturbing (does one have to be a Christian to shop and/or work there??) and the history and background of the company (easily researched and which caused many of us to start a continuing boycott years ago) is equally disturbing.
Regardless of its negatives, Walmart does well in blue collar communities where no other store like it exists; however, here in Eureka, already stocked with Costco and Target, the novelty will sustain for awhile but ultimately it will become just another low-end chain store with little new or better offer. How many better stores could have “anchored” our mall…it’s sad to think Walmart was the best Eureka could do when I was hoping for a Macys!
Interesting article worth sharing that speaks to Walmart’s declining value: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/03/26/the-consumer-trends-that-are-slowly-killing-walmart/
Ooh Donald! – “How can so many see Walmart coming to Eureka as such a critical and destructive issue?” I know. How could so very many people find Walmart destructive? Walmart includes Jesus in their ceremony; that’s got to count as some sort of mitigation for their ruthless greed. Maybe they could have a Jesus greeter. Branding at its finest! I’ll be there with a pitchfork at their crucifixion, I’ll tell you what.
I love that Walmart dedicated their store with the Word of God. Psalm 33:12 is true. I like saving money and keeping more of my money in my pocket, where it belongs. My $ belongs in my pocket. Take your hands out of my pocket Humboldt County. Capitalism and lower prices are a good thing for Humboldt county! I wish the community would have welcomed them and they could have opened a gas station and brought competition to (charging us too much for gasoline) Costco and lower prices for gasoline. God Bless America and thank God for Walmart.
All the tweakers and vagrents are drooling over the new walmart store, waiting for them to close and they can steal all the ingredients for meth. Better have 5 or 6 armed guards and 4 snipers on the roof at night.
It is true Jeff. Wal-Mart is a divine gift from The Almighty. We are blessed that He took time off from winning sports games for the players who prayed the best to take an interest in our holy hamlet. Amen! Praise Jesus!
Walmart brings cheap prices for ones seeking them. As a girl who loves Humboldt County I have to find ways to save a buck, here or there. Due to us being a small county and out of the way we are expensive, if anyone hasn’t noticed. Unless you have a very good job, which is hard to come by. -Has anyone noticed we have lots of homeless people on the streets? Thank goodness we have Betty Chinn here to help.- Walmart does bring quality that’s the same as Target, and K-mart. As for makeup it’s that same drugstore you get from Rite-aid, Walgreens, Safeway, Target, K-mart, Winco, ect. As for clothes I don’t usually shop at Walmart, but I have occasionally. And people who don’t like Walmart won’t shop there. And it’s not Walmarts fault that some business’ are going out of business. It sometimes hard to shop local if you don’t have a lot of money. Also so what if I’m a plus size woman, that means nothing about where I shop. I bike ride, I walk, I chase around my aunts children and play with them. This scale of who is over weight or not doesn’t really work. My friend is 130 about 5′ 4″ and a size 3-6 depending on the brand, she’s considered “overweight.” My other aunt, who lives in Fresno, shops at Walmart all the time. She can still shop at the kids section for shirts since she’s so small. And she’s in her late twenties. People come in different shape and sizes, now matter how small or how big you are it’s all about preference. I will be a shopper at Walmart, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to saving some money!
The so-called savings are mostly hype. Advertising trumps intelligence.
Finally a place in Humboldt to concentrate the dirty motor oil dripping from the engines of all the shitty cars in the County. The rainbow sheen will be so pretty on the asphalt after it rains. Lets not forget the welcome additions to http://www.peopleofwalmart.com
Congrats to Walmart on destroying another town.
Congratulations to the people who are mocking the citizens of Eureka for being religious and fat! You are now more low class than the people you were poking fun at!
Setting aside all of the personal attacks on local WalMart supporters and fans, and the religious red herrings, everyone should at least check out http://walmart1percent.org/
to see what WalMart opponents are really concerned about. Even given the obvious bias of the site, the evidence presented is pretty overwhelming and, IMHO, pretty hard to rationalize. How can you say that this level of corruption, manipulation, and abuse is OK?
Even given the difficulty of making a living here, the high prices, low paid jobs, etc., to me, it’s worth paying a few cents more at Winco, or even Costco, companies that do not have the extreme lack of moral compass and extreme corporate greed that WalMart continues to demonstrate. I don’t know if there is any other corporation in the world that can match WalMart’s hypocrisy and greed.
In addition to their global record, I find their “stealth” entry into Humboldt County underhanded. Our arguments on these pages are futile. Our opportunity for our voices to be heard and to count regarding what kind of local economy we want to develop has been denied. We can look forward to WalMart taking full advantage of the “hordes of shoppers” that supporters think will revitalize the mall- one of the ugliest shopping centers I’ve ever seen- when in fact, the WalMart game plan is to target popular purchases at nearby stores and use their deep pockets to systematically undercut local prices. WalMart’s ultimate goal is to shepherd those shopping hordes exclusively into their doors.
Ruth Moon, I would hit the “LIKE” button if there was one. You are correct.
The mall will not be filling up with new stores because they will be in direct competition with the goods that WalMart offers and WalMart will undercut the prices of those stores until they go out of business. The people who might have opened up a store in the mall would be absolute fools to do so. It would only hasten their demise.
What could happen would be “The Olive Garden” “Red Lobster” and the like would come to the mall. They are not competing with the Giant. And then we can have the perfect Anywhere In America Main Street Mall. Yipee!
More stores will come to the mall since there will be significantly more foot traffic and therein more opportunity. A half deserted mall is not a draw for shoppers and most stores there are low volume but for Sears. Probalby the most impacted will be Sears.
But I find this whole thread rather silly with Walmart haters just finding another reason to vent. Private enterprise is just that and if you do not like a merchant, then do not shop there.
It’s good to start out with a Blessing. Many people don’t know Jesus and just believe and swallow everything the secular world view throws at them. There are to many atheistic ideas and they have no selfless morals and believe they came from some cosmic accident. I’m glad to see someone stand up with their faith and not follow the world.
Mr. Rubalcaba, you’re kidding, right?
Mr. Rubalcaba, you need to check in the looney bin now, your brain is fried.
Just Middle Class said: “More stores will come to the mall since there will be significantly more foot traffic and therein more opportunity”
Which stores? Only those who do not sell anything that is in competition with WalMart: Electronics, housewares, groceries, automotive, media, hardware, software, clothing, office supplies etc…
That doesn’t leave much else. I am not a WalMart hater, I am just looking at the facts that exist in a long line of historical authenticity that show that WalMart is ruthless and will crush any business that is in competition with them Those stores will not even try to compete in the mall with WalMart. That is the historical fact and not an opinion nor is it hate.
I welcome the creation of 200+ jobs but how many jobs will be lost because WalMart crushed them? 200+? Maybe. Let’s watch and see…
So, hands held high and arms raised akimbo, how many WalMart naysayers will probably go there for something? You know who you are: that deal that is too good to pass up, that sale that justifies compromising your “morals,” the let us see what all the fuss is about…
Raise your hands high because we all need to get a good look at you, because we also, will probably be there staring back at you. That is human nature and the market knows it…
Excessively educated.
ex·ces·sive
adj.
Exceeding a normal, usual, reasonable, or proper limit.
I guess it wouldn’t occur to you, Unbeliever. Being excessively educated and all. I have to limp by with a normal, usual, reasonable, and proper education.
“how many WalMart naysayers will probably go there for something?”
Why do people like Steve assume that all people are as weak as they are?
Stevey boy, sometimes human beings say they aren’t going to do something and then they don’t do it.
Just Middle Class also wrote: “Probably the most impacted will be Sears.”
Dear Sir/Madam: With one hand you have admitted that a well established business will be impacted by WalMart because they sell the same goods, and then you take your other hand and wave that concern away by stating something that directly conflicts with your first logic, “More stores will come to the mall since there will be significantly more foot traffic and therein more opportunity.” Which is it? Your vision of reality or your wish for unreality?
Steve, you poor thing.
I hate Walmart, but you might see me there someday if they have a sale on winches, or steel cable.
I don’t fucking like my insurance company, but I have to do business with them once a month.
@kingbee, I have a high school diploma, period and I come from a blue-collar background. I am flattered that you think otherwise.
@By Duh, Weakness is determined by your moral compass, not by others judgement. I welcome Walmart as an employer, I only discourage their lack of accountability. Not the same as your judgmental unaccountability. Please do not call me boy, it is rather demeaning and calls attention to your own judgemental-ness.
@clutch I totally agree with you, why do you call me poor, as if my judgement, to shop at WalMart is less than your decision to do so? You did not really read what I wrote and this shows a pro-Walmart confirmation bias on your part. I am neither pro or con. Only questioning…
The Journal must be making a pretty penny with all this lovely, positive coverage of the previously damned and chastised Walmart. Way to go Journal. Hypocrisy at its best.
Thank you… Now I will never set foot in that mall again. I am extremely disappointed in Humboldt County, and especialy with the city of Eureka…
Thanks to the plethora of lawsuits, no other big box has as much public-record about its misdeeds.
Academic research, books, articles, video documentaries, even the ONLY local economic research performed by Bay Area Economics, warn repeatedly that communities cannot sustain poverty-wage saturation.
But, most people don’t vote, so a gaggle of realtors, developers, financiers, property managers and speculators can handpick political candidates to ignore the research.
Eureka City Council candidate Jeff Leonard ran on a platform of limiting the size of big boxes…he lost much of the development community support and barely won his first term. After he reneged on his promise, developers gave him the nod and he won his second term. Barely.
Mr. Goff, did you learn how to be so biased in Journalism school, or are you self-taught? It’s obvious the NCJ doesn’t like the fact that Walmart is here, but I think it’s time to get over it.
Take a walk over to Kmart or Target and you’ll see the same items on the shelves, but you don’t see the NCJ making fun of those stores. However, because it’s Walmart, it has to be funny. Nice try at humor there, Mr. Goff.
Doug (11:21 p.m.) thinks this post is biased in favor of Wal-Mart.
Scott (3:38 p.m.) thinks it’s biased against Wal-Mart.
It’s like a Zen Koan!
@Ryan Burns – Good one! I call it confirmation bias. You see it all the time on these threads. But I am always looking for it which means I am confirming my confirmation biases. The brain is a tricky thing, isn’t it?
Ryan Burns is surely biased if you don’t happen to like what he wrote.
I can’t wait until they start selling; hoods, ballasts, fertilizer & fox farm potting soil. Drive some of these crime & doper breeding alleged “garden supply” stores out of public view. Does there need to be 5 in every town?
Reverend Lovejoy, give it a rest.
Yeah right, Ron. It’ll be way better having Walmart supply local growers. Although, local grow shops do not cater to meth producers, and you can’t say the same ’bout Walmart.
on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUHienDVtIk
According to Forbes the six Walton family members have more wealth than the bottom 30% of Americans.
Now we can argue that the Walton’s are actively trickling down their wealth into the pores of the Humboldt Community. And that it really won’t matter to our quality of life as we see businesses cave in over the next five years that are actually owned and operated locally–have been for years. Because in return we will get to go in and shop for things made in far away countries under questionable conditions because we like those better since we see them on television all the time and other people are getting better things than us and we want what everyone else is having because… well they got it… it must be good.
In the meantime the only jobs that pay a living wage at WalMart are located out of the area and often as far as Arkansas. So those people won’t be spending a lot of money here.
You see WalMart isn’t really here to make a profit. They don’t have to make a profit here. They can stay forever just to make a point. That WalMart can’t be shut out of a any market just because of the will of the voters.
No, as long as there are a few consumers willing to trickle in the door and sing “Praise the Lord” WalMart will stay. Unless of course you think WalMart will stay because the owners are such great people they just want to the store to hang out here in this small market and lose money because Humboldt needs them so desperately.
Since reality and numbers don’t seem to matter to many of the people supporting WalMart on this thread I guess I’ll just leave it at that.
God Bless the blind and deaf.
I love you GRADY CIMINO
@ vince – who’s GRADY CIMINO ?
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