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CLEAR Temp: 82 °F Wind: NNW at 10 mph Friday, July 25, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 23, 2003 A new citizen group plans to oppose the building of more Wal-Mart stores in the Rogue Valley, citing their impacts on downtown businesses and culture. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Group says ‘no’ to Wal-Mart By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A newly formed citizen group wants to erect a wall of opposition against proposals to build two super-sized Wal-Mart stores in Jackson County. "They’re so massive," said Medford resident Shareen Fiol, a spokesperson for the group. "They’re going to run the small businesses out." Wal-Mart announced this year it wants to shut down the Talent and Highway 62 stores to make room for Wal-Mart Supercenters in Central Point and Miles Field in southern Medford. "They don’t have ties to the local community and at any moment they can decide to up and go," said Fiol, who works at Rogue Community College. "They are going to leave two abandoned stores to have two new stores. Plus they’re going to destroy a historic ballfield." Advertisement Fiol and about 35 other Jackson County residents are banding together to take on the big-box giant, holding a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Talent United Methodist Church at the corner of West Wagner and First streets. Their main concern is that Rogue Valley communities continue to build mega-stores while allowing the diminishing of downtown areas. Fiol said her group, which doesn’t have a name yet, wants to stimulate more discussion about the cultural direction Jackson County is heading, particularly by allowing Wal-Marts to dominate local business. "It is a company that does tend to destroy the culture of an area," said Fiol, who is also concerned about low-paying jobs at Wal-Mart. Ashland resident Suzi Aufderheide said, "To see a community like Medford turn itself into a big-box community is just backwards thinking." The decisions being made now by civic leaders will have a long-term impact on the culture of the Rogue Valley, she said. Barbara Johnson, who lives off Table Rock Road in Medford, said the Central Point Wal-Mart proposal came as a surprise to local residents. Johnson wants the city to spell out who will be paying for roads and infrastructure for the new facility. "They should be open to the people of Central Point about this," she said. Wal-Mart spokesperson Amy Hill disagrees that the stores crush local business. "There are lots of communities in the U.S. where there is a Wal-Mart and the downtown is revitalized," she said. Hill cites both Grants Pass and Hood River as examples in Oregon where a Wal-Mart and a vibrant downtown coexist. She did agree that downtowns in America have been forced to change. Niche-type stores such as galleries, restaurants or specialty shops often move in, said Hill. "Are downtowns different than they once were: yes," she said. "Prohibiting larger stores doesn’t necessarily guarantee downtown revitalization," she added. The two stores that will eventually be vacated in Talent and Medford probably will be sold, but in the meantime, Wal-Mart will continue to pay real estate taxes, said Hill. If Oregon had a sales tax like other states, the economic impact would have been greater on the local communities, she said. The 500 total employees at the two existing stores will be offered jobs at the new facilities, said Hill. In addition, Wal-Mart will hire 250 more employees at each store, doubling the workforce. Contrary to popular opinion, Wal-Mart offers competitive wages and benefits to all employees, said Hill. "That idea started from those who would like to see the stores unionized," she said. She also said each Wal-Mart store gives $40,000 to $50,000 in donations back to the local community. Wal-Mart opponents plan to drum up further support for their cause by letting local residents know there is still time to stop the big-box stores. "People already believe it’s a done deal," said Fiol. "They say, ‘The downtown’s already dying, so there’s nothing we can do.’" Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times