Wal-Mart Spin is Thick with Lies
“Wal-Mart benefits people, environment” was the title of Mr. John Mendez’s Guest Soapbox Saturday.
Mr. Mendez, a senior manager of public affairs for Wal-Mart, starts his spin early with a fantasy engagement with me. I’ve heard enough “that’s a good question” to know what follows is usually not a good answer.
“As Mr. Fick stated,” he begins, and then proceeds to say things I never stated, showing his well-worn craft that makes him the big bucks.
Mr. Mendez states a new store is needed “because Yucca Valley’s population has increased almost two-thirds since the early 1990s.” Yet Wal-Mart’s own environmental impact report analysis says the 1990 YV population was 16,403 and 2005 YV population 19,726. That’s a 19 percent increase, hardly two-thirds!
Don’t people ever read these EIRs?
Also from the Wal-Mart EIR: “Utilizing employment factors … the proposed project is anticipated to generate approximately 589 jobs.” But Mr. Mendez in his Soapbox is, once again, saying something different, that Wal-Mart Supercenter plans to employ about 410 people (260 current, 150 new). That’s 410, not 589, underpaid, off-the-clock and videotaped people working for that big global company in Arkansas. What’s the truth here?
There’s a lot of tall-talking about Wal-Mart Supercenter and that’s all it is. Some dismiss it as spin, exaggerations or even falsehoods, but they do their job. Wal-Mart spends millions per day on public relations to impress people and send the profits along to Arkansas.
MBCA benefits people and the environment of the Morongo Basin without the lies and money. Instead, we fight with heart and truthful information.
Hope to see you tonight at Yucca Valley Community Center, before 6 pm.
David Fick
Morongo Basin Conservation Association
FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Land Use/Development page on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: WalMart, Yucca Valley.
