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<br /> National Association of Women, full-time sales associates at Wal-Mart earn only an average <br /> of $6.10 an hour, which frequently leaves their annual earnings below the poverty level; <br /> half of these full-time employees qualify for federal food stamps. Such jobs do not offer <br /> meaningful opportunities for community members. They also often result in additional <br /> costs to the community, as municipalities are forced to provide social welfare services. <br /> By driving out existing businesses and offering low-paying jobs, supercenters can hurt the <br /> entire community, as low-paying jobs replace those that are higher paying. The City of <br /> Los Angeles report found that superstores can depress wages by as much as $8 dollars an <br /> hour. Using Wal-Mart as a specific example, a 2005 study by an economist from the <br /> National Bureau of Economic Research found that the average Wal-Mart store reduces <br /> earnings per person by 5 percent in the county in which it operates. <br /> Lower wages hurt residents' quality of life and further depress the local economy, as <br /> consumers have less money to spend on goods and services in the community. <br /> Regulating the size of superstores is crucial for the overall well-being of our <br /> island. Much has been made of the need for the Island of Hawaii to support diverse <br /> economic development that can offer residents decent-paying jobs and provide the island <br /> with local sources for key products, such as food items. This is essential for us to have <br /> a healthy local economy that can support its residents and remain somewhat insulated from <br /> catastrophic economic events that could threaten the tourist industry or cause a drastic <br /> increase in off-island prices. Unlimited development of non-local superstores will drive <br /> out local businesses and the meaningful job opportunities they offer, as well as make us <br /> more dependent than ever on off-island products. Such development also will change the <br /> identity of the island, as it destroys the unique cultural aspects of our area by <br /> replacing independent local establishments with generic box stores. <br /> I urge the planning committee to pass Resolution 21-07. I hope the county council will <br /> take the time to fully explore the impacts of supercenters; there is a great deal of <br /> information available that clearly shows the extensive negative effect they have on <br /> communities. We need careful, proactive planning to guide development that will support <br /> our island and the people that live here. <br /> Sources: <br /> 1. City of Los Angeles Documents: <br /> a. Final Support of Research for Big Box Retail / Superstore Ordinance prepared for the <br /> City of Los Angeles, October 2003 <br /> http://www.lacity.org/council/cd13/houscommecdev/cdl3houscommecdev239629107_04262005.pdf <br /> b. Options for Regulating the Development of Superstores Report Prepared by the City <br /> Attorney's Office, December 2003 <br /> http://www.lacity.org/council/cd13/houscommecdev/cdl3houscommecdev239629364_05042005.pdf <br /> c. City of los Angeles: Housing, Community and Economic Development <br /> http://www.lacity.org/council/cd13/cl3pfle.htm <br /> 2. Wake Up Wal-Mart.com <br /> http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/facts/ <br /> 3. National Organization of women Web site http://www.now.org/issues/wfw/wm-facts.html <br /> Laugh, share and connect with Windows Live Messenger <br /> http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwme0020000001msn/direct/O1/?href=http://imagine- <br /> msn.com/messenger/launch80/default.aspx?locale=en-us&source=hmtagline <br /> 2 <br /> <br />