The debate over a potential Walmart in west Louisville is beginning to influence a city election.
In the Democratic primary election for the Metro Council Distirct 1 seat, attorney Jessica Green is challenging incumbent Attica Scott in a closely watched contest.Though the proposed location for the development is not in their district, what to do with the old Philip Morris site has sparked a larger discussion about the entire West End's lack of economic development and how to address unemployment.It's one that labor unions, neighborhood groups and church leaders openly disagree about, as the two candidates make their pitch to voters.Asked about the negotiations, Green said though nothing is confirmed regarding the abandoned site she believes the community is in need of jobs and better retail options."Our people here have been begging and crying for economic development for years. I support the work of unions, but I also support the average working man and people here are crying out for jobs," she says. "And so what I've seen in other cities is Walmart is an anchor store that's able to pull other businesses into the area."Walmart critics says the company's low wages and other practices actually keep communities poor and they point to a recent federal ruling as just one of the many reasons residents should be skeptical.From The Nation:
"I am honestly disheartened we've had so many perceived leaders in west Louisville come out and viciously attack individuals and organizations as opposed to really addressing the issue at hand," says Bonafacio Aleman, executive director of Kentucky Jobs With Justice."A lot of people are tying it to this District 1 race, which is sad because this is far from District 1. There is a Walmart in District 1 and if you look right across the street there is a strip mall, which is about half empty. This is what happens when a Walmart comes in."For the long-term unemployed crawling out of the recession that might not be a convincing argument.The city unemployment rate sits at about 7 percent, according to the latest Kentucky Education and Workforce Cabinet release. But state officials estimate that number could be significantly higher in the California neighborhood where the development site is located.According to a U.S. Census survey, from 2008 to 2012 that area had an unemployment rate two and a half times higher compared to the rest of the city. In terms of median household income, California neighborhood residents earned about $16,036 annually compared to a $46,701 income average for the rest of the city over the same five year period."I am at least willing to and I want to listen and to learn more about whether Walmart is interested in actually coming," she says. "And I think that it’s important that if someone is staunchly against the idea of Walmart coming then let's say we have this definitive plan B on the table. We don't deserve to just have to look at concrete. Our people deserve more here and that's what I'm fighting for."