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

DENVER’S ASIAN BUSINESSES FORCE WAL-MART RETREAT

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/denvers-asian-businesses-force-walmart-retreat/

Strong protest from dozens of Asian small business owners has led Wal-Mart to drop plans for a giant supercenter in west Denver.

Wal-Mart had been working with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) to condemn and bulldoze Alameda Square, a shopping center housing some 25 Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian and Chinese businesses, including the city’s largest Asian grocery store. This spring, DURA declared the center "blighted," the first step in evicting the businesses and clearing the way for Wal-Mart.

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

NEWSPAPERS SUFFER WHEN LOCAL STORES CLOSE

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/newspapers-suffer-when-local-stores-close/

Local newspapers suffer a double blow when giant chains like Home Depot or Wal-Mart come to town. Not only do these companies rarely advertise in local newspapers, but they usually force dozens of independent retailers to close, eliminating significant sources of newspaper ad revenue.

In a recent article in Editor & Publisher, Mark Fitzgerald describes the deadly impact that the rise of corporate chains and decline of locally owned businesses has had on local newspapers.

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

SMALL BUSINESSES FIGHT ABUSE OF EMINENT DOMAIN

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/small-businesses-fight-abuse-eminent-domain/

Denver’s Asian stores are not alone in facing condemnation for a national chain. In a growing number of court cases around the country, small business owners are challenging attempts by local and state governments to seize their property for chain store development.

Traditionally, eminent domain—the power of government to take private property for public use, provided that the owner receive market value—has been used for schools, roads, and other public infrastructure.

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

Big Box Sprawl Causes Sharp Rise in Police Costs

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/big-box-sprawl-causes-sharp-rise-police-costs/

Many city officials welcome large chain retailers for the tax revenue that create. Rarely do they consider the other side of the balance sheet: the tax losses that occur when chains displace local stores and the added costs of providing roads, sewers, police, fire, and other public services to the sprawling new development.

Added police costs are proving especially difficult for many communities that once welcomed big box stores. Take Port Richey, Florida, for example.

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

WAL-MART DECISION CHALLENGED IN NEW ORLEANS

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmart-decision-challenged-new-orleans/

Opponents of a massive Wal-Mart supercenter approved by the New Orleans City Council in April are fighting the so-called "done deal" on several fronts.

A coalition of organizations has filed two lawsuits challenging the decision. The plaintiffs include Smart Growth for Louisiana, the Coliseum Square Association, the Louisiana Landmarks Society, the Historic Magazine Row Association, and the Urban Conservancy.

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

“INDEPENDENTS WEEK” CELEBRATED IN TAMPA

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/independents-week-celebrated-tampa/

Posters declaring "Celebrate Independents Week!" greeted customers of local stores in Tampa, Florida, during the week of July 4th. "As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we invite you to join us in celebrating our great local independents," the posters read.

Independents Week was conceived by Carla Jimenez, co-owner of Inkwood Books. For several years, Inkwood has used Independence Day as an opportunity to remind customers of the importance of locally owned businesses to the community.

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

AT BORDERS, MEGA-PUBLISHERS GET THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/borders-megapublishers-get-keys-kingdom/

Leading publishers will be involved in determining which books are carried at Borders Books stores under a new "category management" plan being phased in this year.

Under the plan, Borders is assigning each of 250 book categories—ranging from thrillers to romance novels—to one of the top publishers in that category. Borders will provide this "category captain" with detailed sales data for all titles in the category, including those of competitors.

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

COMMUNITY HERO CARD PROMOTES LOCAL BUSINESSES AND VOLUNTEERING

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-hero-card-promotes-local-businesses-and-volunteering/

A new program in Minneapolis rewards residents for supporting locally owned businesses and volunteering at local nonprofits. Developed by CHC Data Inc., the new Community HeroCard enables residents to earn rebates by shopping at more than 40 local stores. The rebate doubles if the cardholder volunteers at a nonprofit organization.

The card looks like a credit card with a magnetic data strip that works in a standard debit card machine.

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

Mexico Investigates Wal-Mart For Antitrust Violations

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/mexico-investigates-walmart-antitrust-violations/

In late May, Mexico’s antitrust agency, the Federal Competition Commission, opened an investigation into Wal-Mart for "monopolistic practices." The action was prompted by charges that Wal-Mart has abused its market power by pressuring suppliers to sell goods below cost or at prices substantially lower than those available to other retailers (even after accounting for reasonable volume discounts).

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

IOWA RECONSIDERS LINK TO AMAZON ON STATE WEB SITE

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/iowa-reconsiders-link-amazon-state-web-site/

The state of Iowa is in the process of removing a direct link to Amazon.com from the homepage of its official web site (http://www.iowa.gov). Under the new policy, visitors who click on the prominently placed graphic, "Looking for books about Iowa? Click Here Now," will be directed instead to a page with links to both Amazon.com and Booksense.com, an e-commerce site for independent bookstores.

The decision followed a letter sent by the owners of nine Iowa bookstores.

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