D.C. Commissioner Opposes New Wal-Mart On Grounds That Her Constituents Cannot Resist Shoplifting
jonathanturley
Many local activists and politicians oppose the arrival of a Wal-Mart on the ground that it destroys small businesses, threatens historic sites, or introduces only minimum wage jobs. Brenda Speaks, a Ward 4 ANC commissioner in Washington, D.C., has a more novel argument against a store in the Capitol: her constituents (and particularly young people) will not be able to resist shoplifting and the store will generate as many plea deals as shoppings deals.
The company is planning four stores for the district. Speaks is not the only person to immediately think of shoplifting. In the article below, Terriea Sutton, 35, warns “There’ll probably be a lot of shoplifting going on. They’ll need a lot of security.”
Of course, under this don’t-tempt-us theory of urban development, few stores would be introduced beyond cement businesses and anvil stores.
