WalMart, Meijer and the Big Box "Hall of Shame"

by Don Wheeler

One has to do with despicable behavior towards an employee's medical care. The other - likely illegal campaign activity.

First, the former.

Many of you may have followed the loathsome conduct of WalMart towards the Shanks family. After serious public pressure (plenty of which was supplied by Keith Olbermann), it appeared that WalMart thought better of their conduct and would finally behave in a responsible way. Or....?



Shanks say Wal-Mart hasn’t dropped the insurance claim

Now, the latter. From the AP:

ACME TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — At first, it seemed like
the typical squabble over construction of a big-box superstore in a suburban
community. Opponents worried about traffic and sprawl; supporters championed
shopping convenience, economic growth and property rights. But the feud in
northern Michigan's Acme Township has escalated into a state investigation of
possible election misconduct by Meijer Inc., a retail chain based in Grand
Rapids with more than 180 stores in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
Kentucky.

The privately held company has acknowledged it probably
violated state law by donating to an effort to recall seven elected Acme
officials who objected to Meijer's development plans, and by failing to report
its activities.

http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/BIZ/643017558

And yesterday (also published in the South Bend Tribune):

In a letter to Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn
Land, a Meijer attorney said the company also may have illegally contributed to
a 2005 ballot initiative that overturned a moratorium on big-box store
construction in Acme Township.

Rich Robinson, executive director of the
nonpartisan Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said it’s not unusual for
developers to lean on local officials to approve construction
projects.

But what sets this case apart, he said, is the apparent
extent of Meijer’s behind-the-scenes involvement in Acme Township politics. The
company’s role is detailed in documents made public in a lawsuit against the
company.“For a corporation to secretly finance a recall campaign is pretty
unique,” Robinson said.

http://southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/BIZ/622446758

I say, vote with your wallet.