In the Statesman's Opinion
In case you missed it, the Austin American-Statesman's editorial board wrote the following editorial concerning the outcome of the lawsuits regarding the planned Northcross Supercenter in Friday's paper, "Benefits and risks of Northcross activist." To summarize, fighting city hall can be a noble effort but advised against appealing the decisions. It would be costly and look at what happened to SOS. We had a weak case. If it were a Whole Foods, we wouldn't be fighting it. Hating Wal-Mart does not a legal case make. Be happy with the concessions we received. It will be a greatly improved mall, a convenient superstore, and we will have more shopping choices. Your opinion?
Get over it people. Growth is happening all around us. WalMart is coming whether you like it or not. I probably live closer to Northcoss than any of you. In case you haven't noticed, there are already panhandlers in the area. Someone asked me for money outside the CVS Pharmacy right across the street from Northcross at Christmas time.
And for those of you who don't keep up with current events, we are getting our "town center" at the Village.
Y'all probably want to blame the incident that happened to that poor teenage girl at the HEB on 2222 and Burnet on the mere fact that WalMart being built in our area. Face the facts, people. We now live IN THE CITY, not in a suburb north of the city like in the 70s and 80s.
I'll see you ALL at WalMart in the middle of the night when your child is sick and needs medicine.
"Glorified housekeepers"--shame on you. Only someone without higher education would be stupid enough to write such a phrase.
Posted by: Kim | Feb 06, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I have been accosted by panhandlers at Whole Foods on Lamar and 5th, Stein Mart at Anderson and Rockwood, the State Capitol building (with all the DPS guards there), at my front door, etc. This will happen everywhere until the city protects its citizens instead of the supposed "rights" of the homeless/unemployed/bums. You have just as much chance of being accosted at Northcross no matter who or what is there. The Statesman's editorial is exactly correct. While SOS did win a few victories, they were held liable for attorney fees in an ill-advised appeal. To appeal in this matter would be equally foolish, especially since TWO judges ruled that there was no basis to the suits. And, for the record, I do live in the neighborhood and I will be happy to have an alternative to the filthy HEB at Koenig and the overpriced Randall's on 2222 and Balcones. And if I sold shoes, I think it would be smarter to go to someplace like Kara-Vel to look for that type of employment.
Posted by: Jack Lawrence | Jan 09, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Crushes the soul? Really?
WalMart's "standard" is similar to HEBs. I've had two similar situations (three months apart) at HEB (Allandale) and each time I didn't get any help. Never found a security guard either.
Posted by: kate | Jan 04, 2008 at 10:46 PM
RG4N is having a Town Hall meeting at 7PM on Friday, January 11th. The meeting will be at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Wozniak Hall.
Please plan to attend -- and drag your friends too -- as we will discuss next steps. Please also sign up for RG4N Updates: http://www.rg4n.org/take-action/stay-informed
We must all work together to prove to Lincoln that they have more to lose in the long run if they choose to continue their construction plans against the will of the people who call this area of Austin home.
Posted by: Jason Meeker | Jan 01, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Well I confess I went to Walmart at IH35 and 183 on Dec 22 at 1:00am for some emergency baking supplies. There was a man with a hooded parka on a bike circling throughout the parking lot and I felt a little uneasy when I saw him. I parked near the front door of Walmart. Went in and did my shopping. Upon exit, I was barely 5 steps outside their main entrance when this man asked me for money.
Now, I have had my purse snatched off my shoulder before, so I am apprehensive about this individual who is close enough to grab both my purse and keys and run. So I politely say no and go back into the store to tell their "friendly" greeter that customers are being panhandled right outside their front door. His response: "Oh he comes over here every night". He assured me the security guard was standing right out front. Upon exit, we both see the security vehicle with the yellow light flashing but no one is in it or anywhere in sight. Back inside the store, we finally locate the security guard who also gives me the response that this man frequents their parking lot on a regular basis and "won't bother me". He did watch me walk the short distance to my vehicle.
I have to say, I have never been accosted like this in the HEB parking lot, even the one at Riverside and Pleasant Valley Rd. And I believe if I brought it to their attention, they would ask the individual to leave their parking lot. Walmart apparently has adopted a different standard.
Fight on, Allandale! You will be treated in the manner that you allow people to treat you. The reference in the Statesman article to SOS indicates how fast people have already forgotten all the battles that SOS WON handily!
Mary Arnett
North Shoal Creek
Posted by: Mary Arnett | Jan 01, 2008 at 04:18 PM
it's not that people hate Wal-mart or think it is low-brow, it is that it takes opportunities away from individuals to do what they are good at doing. if i am good at selling shoes, Wal-mart is not going to be the place for me to work. I can't sell shoes there - they don't allow their employees to do what they are good at. you ask any Wal-mart "associate" about the shoes they sell and they wouldn't even be able to tell you if it's leather or man-made material. they are glorified housekeepers that restock shelves and make the floor tidy with only a loose area of specialty in the store. "Hating Wal-Mart does not a legal case make. " PHHFFTT!!!! It's not about hate, Wal-mart crushes the soul.
Posted by: Jenn | Jan 01, 2008 at 01:33 PM
I get very tired of people who don't live in this neighborhood saying that I wouldn't mind the WalMart if it were something upscale instead. That is not the case - I am sorry that we/the city missed an opportunity to develop a town center with all types of beneficial commerce for our neighborhood. Something truly beneficial for Allandale; not another gigantic place to go shopping. Yeah, now I have a place nearby to buy Hanes underwear and organic produce from China. I am so excited about that!
Posted by: Margaret | Dec 31, 2007 at 02:34 PM