Walmart Win in Washington

Reporter Lydia DePillis writes that D.C. politicians "...treated anti-Walmart activism more like an annoying distraction than an opportunity to score populist points."

DePillis has behind-the-scenes insight into Walmart's process of wooing cities into approving their projects. For example:

"In the middle of last year, Walmart held a couple of focus groups at THEARC in Congress Heights, paying selected residents $100 and a boxed dinner to participate. According to Ward 8 community activist Phil Pannell, who was asked to take part, the subject was 'economic development.' But all the questions had to do with Walmart."