Okay, I read the articles in various media outlets about a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Store coming to Washington Shores. They all talked about Washington Shores being a food desert and welcomed the market to the neighborhood. The reason for pursuing Wal-Mart was because they said there is a lack of fresh vegetables and produce in the area. The residents would have to drive several miles to a national chain food store. They said that this puts undue burden on the senior citizens in the area who would have to get a cab or catch a bus to get their groceries.
Another point used to validate the bringing of Wal-Mart into the community was the false belief that Wal-Mart will generate good jobs for a community where unemployment runs high. There is a high rate of unemployment in the area especially among our youth. Exchanging unemployment checks for minimum wage pay and a thirty-two hour work week will not help. In fact, this will make matters worse, especially when you know that these Wal-Mart employees are now the working poor and most will have to rely on government subsidies to survive. Studies have shown there is no net benefit for the immediate community that is served by Wal-Mart.
As I drive around the Washington Shores neighborhood, I see many small stores and businesses trying to survive this down economy. I see small grocery stores, and other food stores. Many have been in the area for years. There are produce trucks spotted around the area and of course a Bar-B-Que grill and fish sandwich stands. I see several Caribbean Grocery Stores and even an Afro Market not far away. There are many other small businesses in this particular area. There are doctors, lawyers, dentist, accountants, restaurants, clothing stores, auto repair shops, hair salons and barber shops and more.
All of these businesses will be negatively impacted by the opening of a Wal-Mart in the area. They will lose their customers to the big box store and the money will leave the neighborhood. When that money leaves the neighborhood, there will be less money too, for community projects like side walks and parks. Wal-Mart seldom donates funds for local projects that don’t directly impact their own bottom line.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to grow local businesses and save our neighborhood’s heritage? Instead, we are pursuing a big box store that doesn’t care about you or your neighbors.
In February 2012, Hope Church hosted a forum titled. “Occupy Our Community, A Thriving Community.” The forum asks, “How we breakthrough to achieve self-sustainability as a community?” There were eight panelists and they all made correct and proper statements. They talked about starting businesses in the community, and growing existing businesses already in the community. They talked about education and family life. They talked about high paying jobs and gaining a dependable career path. Then Allie Braswell, Jr. of the Central Florida Urban League pushed the idea of bringing in a Wal-Mart into the area, which was totally opposite to everything else that was talked about.
Until the moment Mr. Braswell talked about Wal-Mart, the store name had barely been mentioned. Allie Braswell of Central Florida Urban League and Dr. Robert Spooney of the African American Chamber of Commerce, FAILED the community.
The Urban League and the African American Chamber of Commerce are charged with the economic development of the Black community. When they agreed to pursue Wal-Mart for the purposes of job creation and community growth, it shows that they shouldn’t be leading these organizations in our community. It shows that they failed to come up with a workable plan that will help more residents than it hurts. They failed the existing business owners who could use their help and want their help.
One such business owner who reached out to Braswell was ignored. Chris Rouse of C and C Pharmacy reached out several times to Mr. Braswell and Sam Ings. All three are located in the same building and I’m sure pass each other from time-to-time in the hall way.
I talked to Chris Rouse about the impact on his business with the arrival of Wal-Mart. That conversation with Chris could be heard here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesOYv35uGo
Chris told me that he and Bishop Wiggins attended FAMU together while both were pursuing pharmacy degrees. Chris was very surprised to learn that Bishop Wiggins would put him in a position where he would have to struggle to survive, after begin successful for almost twenty years. Chris knows now that he can’t depend on his pastor, he can’t depend on his city council representative, and he can’t depend on the Central Florida Urban League.
The conversation that I had with Chris Rouse, is only one of several discussions with local business owners. They all said just about the same things. Wal-Mart will surely run them out of business. With just a little help, their businesses along with the community could survive and thrive. So, explain to me please: ‘Why are we pursuing Wal-Mart into our neighborhood?’
InI agree with Larry and Darlene Robinson. Having worked for Walmart and seen my hours drindle from 40 to 24 and less and never making $11/hr. even after working for this corporation for 6 1/2 years, InI can validate that Walmart does not pay the majority of its employees a living wage. It would be a shame to bring in Walmart when there are already businesses in the community rather than supporting those already operating. Better to help the community businesses that a corporation which values it’s bottom line over and above anyone else.
Lawrence and Darlene Robinson makes sense. They very articulately give voice to an old school idea that was once popular among people who actually live, work and serve in the communities of their families and peers. Back in the day a clothing line was made popular by this simple concept. “FUBU”, For US BY US. The core concept being that as a community we invest in and support businesses that are nurture the roots of our own business interest, acumen and ts pioneers. Unfortunately, the power of corporate greed and their ability to manage, strategically situated, well disguised, self-invested, propped up leadership has all but smothered community self-reliance as a popular notion among our own people. This is not a phenomenon that is unique to Orlando, it is happening in communities of color all over America. Kudos to Larry and Darlene Robinson for the courage to old the line in the face of such over whelming odds.
As the daughter of entrepreneurial parents my sisters and I grew up with two beliefs…get a quality education and become the master of your density, own your own business. My parents continue to own businesses in the Washington Shores community. My sisters and I each own businesses and work within the commuity. When I was a child Washington Shores had a movie theater, bowling alley, skating rink, drug store and grocery stores. Somewhere in the persuit for equality we lost our desire to be self sustaining?! With the help of C and C pharmacy and other businesses the community has not become a business wasteland… if Walmart comes into this community within five years it will be void of any other businesses and the bottom line… if Walmart does not make their profit margin they will close the doors leaving a true desert behind!!!
When will we get the message as a people…it is better to own the team than play on it!