WE WON!!!

The first and most important step toward success
is the feeling that we can succeed.
- Nelson Boswell

Success is the sum of small efforts,
repeated day in and day out.
- Robert Collier

Men are born to succeed, not fail.
- Henry David Thoreau

May 24, 2007

Spring Township residents breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday, when Wal-Mart announced that they will not build a Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of Paper Mill and Broadcasting Road. The announcement came at the beginning of the Conditional Use Hearing on May 24th, two years and one week after Wal-Mart made their plans for the site public.

John Mahoney, an attorney representing Wal-Mart, announced Wal-Mart's intention to withdraw their application. Tulpehocken Ltd., the owner of the property, joined them in their withdrawal. The Board of Supervisors accepted their withdrawal, and Mr. Lillis pronounced the proceedings Closed.

We did it, folks! We Won!!

Read the Reading Eagle's account of the meeting here.

Watch WFMZ-TV Channel 69's news report here (video).

Read WFMZ-TV Channel 69's account of the meeting here.

Read Zeke's latest blog comments on our victory here.

A year ago, a confidential corporate memo from Wal-Mart HQ outlined a shocking strategy to control its employee health care costs. With chilling precision, then-VP of Employee Benefits Susan Chambers detailed cutthroat measures to maximize savings -- at terrible costs to their front line workers. One year after this memo, how is Wal-Mart doing? WalMartWatch.com has compiled a comprehensive report to answer that question. In it you'll find statistics and analysis that paints a grim picture for Wal-Mart's employees.

Mike Zielinski, known locally as Zeke, is a former sports editor, sports columnist, metro editor and general columnist for the Reading Eagle Newspaper. Recently Zeke commented on Spring Township's court fight against Wal-Mart in his blog.

Our own Ginny Chudgar was interviewed by Janelle Wolfe on a recent episode of Comcast Tonight. This segment aired on Monday, July 17 and Wednesday, July 19 on Channels 21 (Reading), 15 (Lebanon), and 7 (Pottsville). Thanks to Janelle and Nick at Comcast from all of us at STOPP!!

See the interview here (Apple QuickTime Plug-in required) >>>
Download the QuickTime Plug-in.

Prepared for Tulpehocken Ltd. & Wal-Mart Stores

Is your local Wal-Mart safe?

Read the Shocking National Report:

Wal-Mart & Crime: "Is Wal-Mart Safe?"

This is the first national study examining the average rate of reported calls for service at or near Wal-Mart stores. The study is based on a detailed analysis of local police incident reports (calls for service) covering 551 Wal-Mart stores in 434 cities and 30 states. Do you know the following?

Wal-Mart stores had more calls for service than nearby Target stores. For the sample, the average rate of reported police incidents at Wal-Mart stores was 400% higher than the average rate of incidents at nearby Target stores and 6 times higher for the number of reported criminal incidents defined as "serious or violent."

Nationally, Wal-Mart stores cost local taxpayers an estimated $77 million in increased policing costs in 2004.