Wal-Mart To Reward It's Friends in Chicago

Crain's reports:

(Crain’s) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is offering up an election-time goodie to Mayor Richard M. Daley and his City Council allies: five Supercenter stores that would go into wards whose aldermen helped the mayor block a proposed minimum wage for big-box retailers like Wal-Mart.

Crain’s has learned that Wal-Mart has presented the city with a list of five potential store sites in heavily African-American South Side neighborhoods. While a final decision has not yet been made, the retailer is firm enough on them that it is expected to seek formal city zoning and other approvals before the end of the year, a person close to the matter says.

That means the prospect of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in construction work would be on the table at the same time the aldermen, and presumably Mayor Daley, will be making their case to voters in advance of the February city elections.

Crain’s reported last month that Wal-Mart was expected to meet with city officials to present plans for five Chicago stores (Crain’s, Sept. 18). That has occurred, with Wal-Mart’s attention focused on sites at 83rd Street and Stewart Avenue; 111th Street and the Bishop Ford Freeway; 47th and State streets; 63rd and Halsted streets, and 63rd and State streets.

No word yet from white union leaders who don't want non-union jobs in Chicago.