Sprawl presents so many different potential problems —
take your pick:

Environmental Impact

The planned Wal-Mart Supercenter at the Hampshire Mall will displace up to 26 acres of wetlands, farmland, and open space. The current Wal-Mart location will be abandoned (or even worse, occupied!). The scenic beauty of the Holyoke Range will be further obscured.

Traffic

The Route 9 corridor is already considered a "critical" area for traffic congestion by Mass Highway. What happens when Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wal-Mart add an estimated 27,000 car trips every day (that's nearly double)? Even the scenic "back way" will be jammed, the bus system will be paralyzed, and air quality will suffer. Take a look at the traffic study source documents.

Public Safety

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles lose critical time navigating traffic to get to Cooley Dickenson and Baystate Hospitals, as well as accident and crime scenes throughout the Valley.

Downtowns in Danger

As the Mall fills up, downtown empties out. Most people understand that in exchange for lower prices, they are getting inferior quality. But is it still a bargain when the costs to our local economy and sense of community are factored in?

Poverty Wages

In 2003, sales associates, the most common job in Wal-Mart, earned annual wages of $13,861.The 2003 poverty line for a family of three was $15,260. ( “Is Wal-Mart Too Powerful?,” Business Week, 10/6/03). Wal-Mart's anti-union stance helps ensure this situation doesn't change.

Meager Benefits, Taxpayer Burden

Most Wal-Mart employees can't afford or don't qualify for Wal-Mart health coverage. So they depend on the publicly subsidized health care system, costing taxpayers an estimated $2.7 billion annually. (Source: walmartwatch.com)

Gender Discrimination

Women earn 5-15% less than men in the same Wal-Mart jobs. Women are less likely to be promoted than men, even when they have more seniority and higher performance levels.

Reproductive Rights

BREAKING NEWS: We're making progress here! Click here to read more.

Factory Conditions Abroad

Wal-Mart goes where workers will accept the lowest wages and where labor regulation is weak: China. While Chinese factories are notorious for substandard conditions, Wal-Mart refuses to conform to accepted minimal standards of corporate social responsibility. Wal-Mart's disproportionate market influence forces a "race to the bottom" among its competitors.

Quality of Life

The Pioneer Valley is known around the world for its exceptional quality of life. Nothing could diminish this asset more effectively than a Wal-Mart Supercenter.