In what Al Norman calls 'the Wal-Mart Paradox,' many shoppers hate no company more, but can't resist "Everyday Low Prices."
Pity the public relations man at Wal-Mart; he has feelings too. "The criticism, to be very honest with you, hurts," says Gus Whitcomb, "This is a company that is trying to help." Under attack from a diverse group including NOW, unions, a former Miss America, and anti-sprawl activists, Wal-Mart has been forced to change how it relates to its customers, introducing gentler commercials and public outreach programs. Many professors see an elitist overtone to the anti-Wal-Mart crusade; upper- and middle-income consumers can afford to shun the retail giant while low-income shoppers have few alternatives.
Thanks to Jeffrey Goodman
FULL STORY: A hard bargain

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan
Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding
The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.
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