Setback for Chatham Wal-Mart

FOX Chicago. The video above has comments by Ald. Brookins of the neighborhing 21 Ward who will be the home of the new Wal-Mart:

There was a new setback today for supporters of a second Walmart store in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago. A planed discussion at City Hall was canceled this morning by finance committee chairman Ed Burke.
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The finance committee has yet to reach a resolution about the proposal, which has been stuck in committee for months. No substantial agreement has been met.

Critics of the proposal, like the labor unions, suggest that these new jobs will come at the expense of surrounding businesses and they do not pay a living wage. These unions have influence on city aldermen like Ed Burke of the 14th ward. Kori Chambers reported that an ordinance will force Walmart to pay all of their employees no less that $11.03 an hour, which equals living wage.

Supporters flooded City Hall today, in an attempt to get the committee to reach a decision. Residents and aldermen alike believe that the success of the Walmart in Austin could also come about in the Chatham neighborhood.

Previous post: Wal-Mart vote today in Finance Committee

UPDATE 2:04 PM Clout Street has more on this development

David Vite, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said Burke’s proposal would have prevented even smaller businesses, including some restaurants and franchised hardware stores, from locating in the city.

“Nobody is going to leave, but they certainly would not invest in Chicago,” Vite said. “We shouldn’t be putting roadblocks to employment up in Chicago.”

Aldermen who support plans to add a Wal-Mart store on the South Side objected to parts of the proposal as well.