Now that he's purged foie gras from the dozen or so Chicago restaurants that served the expensive delicacy, he's setting his sight on less fortunate Chicagoans, those he claims to be the champion of as a member of Chicago's City Council.
Moore has been affected by Wal-Mart Derangement Syndrome, an illness to the affliction identified by columnist and psychiatrist Charles Krauthammer.
From a 2003 Krauthammer column:
Bush Derangement Syndrome: the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency -- nay -- the very existence of George W. Bush.
For some people, Wal-Mart, and to a less extent Target, brings out similar symptoms to BDS for those sufferers.
This summer, Chicago's first Wal-Mart will open in the Austin neighborhood, an impoverished part of Chicago's West Side.
This story comes from not from the Wall Street Journal, but the Chicago Defender, which describes itself as "Honest. Balanced. Truthful. Unapologetically Black."
The proposed ordinance would mandate retailers occupying at least 75,000 square feet and grossing $1 billion or more in annual revenues to pay all employees $10 per hour, plus $3 per hour in benefits, if they work at least five hours per week.
The current version of the ordinance, introduced in March by Ald. Joe Moore (49th), would apply to new and existing stores. It would reportedly impact at least 35 stores currently operating in Chicago--not only large discount chains like Target and Wal-Mart, but also stores like the Nike Town on North Michigan Avenue.
"I believe it's important that we set a floor beneath which no one can drop," Moore said. "Everyone deserves to be paid a decent wage and benefits that are sufficient to support themselves and their families, and keep them out of poverty."
Community leaders there view things differently:
"The communities, especially on the West Side of Chicago, are excited about opportunities for jobs. We need jobs. Our communities are filled with the young and the old standing on corners with nothing to do, some laid off from companies that have closed down or moved away, some ex-offenders looking for a new start," said Frankie Freenie of the Nobel Neighbors Association in Humboldt Park.
Rev. Joseph Kyles of the 37th Ward Ministerial Association agrees with Freenie.
The Austin Wal-Mart will be a boon for the neighborhood. Moore, who claims to represent "the people" should know better, but of course guys like Moore never bother to ask "the people" what they really want.
For more on Ald. Joe Moore, visit the Broken Heart of Rogers Park.
A big hat tip to Bill Baar's West Side, Bill is more familiar with that part of the city than I am, and he offers his insight on this story, such as this nugget:
Drive around Austin and you'll see housing stock is in pretty good shape but the local retail is devastated. There's no local retail for Wal-Mart to put out of business. Any kind of investment can only do good for the neighborhood.
Technorati tags: Wal-Mart Target Krauthammer BDS bush derangement syndrome Chicago Illinois Joe Moore foie gras jobs employment
No comments:
Post a Comment