Santa Clara says no to superstores; first city in county to adopt ban aimed at Wal-Mart

The San Jose Mercury reports:

Santa Clara has become the first city in the county to pass an ordinance that bans giant retailers such as Wal-Mart from moving in.

Many cities across the country from Vermont to California have similar ordinances that target Wal-Mart, though not by name, denouncing its business practice of paying low wages and few benefits as "predatory retailing." San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda and Livermore are some of the Bay Area cities with similar superstore bans.

"I think there's a moral component to cost," said Vice Mayor Jamie Matthews, who voted to approve the ordinance last week. "At what cost do we get something for couple dollars cheaper?"

Wal-Mart currently does not have plans to open in Santa Clara, company spokesman Dan Fogleman said. The world's largest retailer has stores in San Jose, Milpitas and Gilroy.

This is a restraint of trade.Blue America is the enemy of a middle class life style.