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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Tackling the Problem of Commercial Gentrification

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tackling-problem-commercial-gentrification/

Rising commercial rents are generally a good thing; they are an indication of the health of a business district and encourage landlords and banks to invest in building improvements.

But in some communities, commercial rents are rising too far too fast. Often this sudden run-up is driven by chain retailers, which discover the appeal of an area and sweep in by the dozens, offering above-market rents for choice spots and sparking a frenzy of speculation.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

NORFOLK NEIGHBORS ORGANIZE TO STOP WALGREEN’S

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/norfolk-neighbors-organize-stop-walgreens/

In less than a week, residents of Norfolk, Virginia, have gathered nearly 400 petition signatures against a proposed Walgreen’s store. The chain plans to bulldoze a marble and tile building in the historic Ghent neighborhood and build a 14,500-square-foot store with a double drive-through and large parking lot.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Critical Small Business Loan Program Cut

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/critical-small-business-loan-program-cut/

The Bush Administration has cut the federal government’s largest and most important small business loan program by more than 60 percent. This year, the program will back only $4.4 billion in loans, compared to nearly $12 billion last year.

The program, known as 7(a), is run by the Small Business Administration and guarantees loans of up to $2 million made to small businesses. It is the largest source of long-term working capital for small businesses in the nation, accounting for some 40 percent of available financing.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

WAL-MART’S BID TO BUY BANK BLOCKED

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmarts-bid-buy-bank-blocked/

A coalition of consumer groups, unions, independent banks, credit unions, and realtors managed a legislative feat in California last month when they pushed through an 11th hour bill to block Wal-Mart’s attempt to acquire a small bank.

Wal-Mart filed an application with state regulators in April to buy Franklin Bank of California, an industrial bank with $2.5 million in assets and three employees in Orange County. The new law prohibits non-financial firms from buying state-chartered banks.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Mexican Communities Fight Costco and McDonald’s

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/mexican-communities-fight-costco-and-mcdonalds/

Residents of Oaxaca, a city in southern Mexico, are handing out free tamales by the thousands in an effort to stop a McDonald’s from opening in a 500-year-old plaza at the center of town. News of the company’s plans surfaced in May. Since then, opponents have been holding rallies with free food to highlight the importance of local cuisine and build opposition to the McDonald’s.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

In New Zealand, Concerns Growing as Big Boxes Multiply

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-zealand-concerns-growing-big-boxes-multiply/

Citizens and community organizations in New Zealand are beginning to take action to curb the spread of chain stores and big box retailers. "The big box phenomena has had a huge impact," says Warren Snow of Envision New Zealand, a community development company. "In the same way that Wal-Mart has decimated the main streets of America, New Zealand towns and suburbs are also buckling under the might of big box retailers."

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

EUREKA DEVELOPS ECONOMIC IMPACT REVIEW LAW

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/eureka-develops-economic-impact-review-law/

Citizens in Eureka, California, recently attended the third in a series of public meetings aimed at drafting an ordinance that would require big box development proposals to pass a comprehensive economic impact review before being allowed to build.

"We’re trying to create a livable, walkable city," said City Councilor Chris Kerrigan, who introduced the ordinance in April. "We’ve spent millions and more than a decade trying to turn our downtown around.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

TWO CALIFORNIA CITIES BAN SUPERCENTERS

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/two-california-cities-ban-supercenters/

Two California cities have adopted ordinances that prohibit "supercenters"—massive 200,000-square-foot stores operated by Wal-Mart, Target, and Kmart that combine general merchandise with a full supermarket and numerous specialty services like florists and gas stations.

In October, the Inglewood City Council voted 4-1 to bar stores over 155,000 square feet that sell more than 20,000 nontaxable items, such as food and pharmacy products. Inglewood has a population of 113,000 and is located in Los Angeles County.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Surveys Find Local Pharmacies Cheaper than Chains

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/surveys-find-local-pharmacies-cheaper-chains/

In October, the Maine Department of Human Services released its third annual survey of prescription prices for fifteen common drugs at 106 independent and chain pharmacies statewide. The ten lowest priced pharmacies (based on the cost of all fifteen drugs combined) were all locally owned drugstores. National chains, including Rite Aid, CVS, and Brooks, had among the highest overall costs. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 1, 2002

New Rules for the New Localism: Favoring Communities, Deterring Corporate Chains

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-rules-new-localism-favoring-communities-deterring-corporate-chains/

An Interview with Stacy Mitchel, a researcher with the New Rules Project.

Multinational Monitor: What do you mean when you refer to localism?

Stacy Mitchell: We mean a shift away from policies that have promoted large-scale production, long-distance transport lines and absentee ownership, and towards policies that foster an economy which is small-scale, community-based and locally owned.

MM: What’s the relationship between absentee ownership and long-distance transport, and democratic rule? 

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