Miami: Downtown Wal-Mart draws residents' ire

[Doctor_K]

Not to get too picky regarding the whole politics and unions thing, but since this is about a *Miami* Wal-Mart... 

Isn't Florida a no-union state?  Or is it just specific counties?  Or is it not a civic thing but a company-by-company thing?

[uptowngirl]

I know there are unions in Jacksonville, I think some is dependent on where your corporate office is too.

[BridgeTroll]

Don't ask me why but WMs tend to draw people who believe it's okay to litter and dump you old tires, every fast food container on earth and even dirty diapers.

Seems a bit stereotypical....

[jbm32206]

In Florida, the law is that even if there's a union where you work, you're not forced to join it.

[jbm32206]

Don't ask me why but WMs tend to draw people who believe it's okay to litter and dump you old tires, every fast food container on earth and even dirty diapers.

Seems a bit stereotypical....

I agree and don't feel that's a fair statement....

[uptowngirl]

In Florida, the law is that even if there's a union where you work, you're not forced to join it.

I guess that is true, you could not take the job. My son was told he had to join the union if he wanted the job.

[downtownparks]

Yes. Florida is a "right to work" state. You cannot be forced to join a union.

[uptowngirl]

ooooo goody so my son can sue and make millions!

[jbm32206]

In Florida, the law is that even if there's a union where you work, you're not forced to join it.

I guess that is true, you could not take the job. My son was told he had to join the union if he wanted the job.

That's against the law, and your son should take whatever action available.

[jbm32206]

This is where he should contact:

Jacksonville District Office
US Dept. of Labor, ESA Wage & Hour Division
Charles E. Bennett Federal Building
400 West Bay Street, Room 956, Box 017
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 359-9292
1-866-4-USWAGE
(1-866-487-9243)

Michael Young: District Director
Daniel White: Asst. District Director

[duvalbill]

ooooo goody so my son can sue and make millions!

I don't know about that, but the right to work is in Florida's Constitution.  I'm sure a threat of litigation could garner the desired result.

[avonjax]

Don't ask me why but WMs tend to draw people who believe it's okay to litter and dump you old tires, every fast food container on earth and even dirty diapers.

Seems a bit stereotypical....

I agree and don't feel that's a fair statement....

It may be stereotypical but in the areas of town that are surrounded by older and sometimes rundown neighborhoods is it most often the common practice.
I'm not saying that it's just poor people who litter and trash up the place, but I  believe some people who would never otherwise dump the garbage from their cars, leave their old tires or empty their fast food bags, and extreme amounts of cups and bottles,  exhibit this  behavior when they are surrounded by it. I have seen it happen. Sadly some of the worst offenders from my experience have been WM shoppers.
I must point out that littering is the one thing that drives me the MOST CRAZY. I have had friends riding with me who threw trash out of the car window (which is rare), and if we weren't on the highway I would go back and make them pick it up and properly dispose of it.
The one thing that all of us can do to contribute to the quality of our neighborhood and city, whether we are rich, poor, young, old, whatever our race, religion or polical views is not to litter our streets and neighborhoods, including our shopping areas. Not all of us can volunteer, contribute money or even our time to enhance our communities, but we can, at no cost and effort, proudly do our part by properly disposing of our trash.
I'm not blaming WM that their customers tend to behave in this manner. but I am saying they tend to attract many people who have no respect or regard for themselves or the people who have to wade through the piles of trash they leave behind.
If anyone can tell me about businesses where the littering is worse than WM I will try to stop trashing them so much.

[cayohueso]

I lived off of Normandy for many years and used both the 103rd St. Wal-Mart and then the Normandy Super Wal Mart once it was finished. It took about three years until the Normandy location began to look like a border town. Usually used diapers and empty booze bottles. I believe several abductions happened there over the years. The body of one victim found later on Cecil Field and her car still in the Normandy Wal Mart parking lot. It was also the sight of a swashbuckling sword fight over a parking space a few years ago. I still go to Wal Mart and I love it. Hell, the people watching (..er, surveillance) and drama is unlike anywhere else. So a Wal Mart in downtown Miami? Oh sweet, sweet drama...this would be like a movie night of "Cannibal Apocalypse".."The X Files" and "Scarface" all at the same time.

[BridgeTroll]

Don't ask me why but WMs tend to draw people who believe it's okay to litter and dump you old tires, every fast food container on earth and even dirty diapers.

Seems a bit stereotypical....

I agree and don't feel that's a fair statement....

It may be stereotypical but in the areas of town that are surrounded by older and sometimes rundown neighborhoods is it most often the common practice.
I'm not saying that it's just poor people who litter and trash up the place, but I  believe some people who would never otherwise dump the garbage from their cars, leave their old tires or empty their fast food bags, and extreme amounts of cups and bottles,  exhibit this  behavior when they are surrounded by it. I have seen it happen. Sadly some of the worst offenders from my experience have been WM shoppers.
I must point out that littering is the one thing that drives me the MOST CRAZY. I have had friends riding with me who threw trash out of the car window (which is rare), and if we weren't on the highway I would go back and make them pick it up and properly dispose of it.
The one thing that all of us can do to contribute to the quality of our neighborhood and city, whether we are rich, poor, young, old, whatever our race, religion or polical views is not to litter our streets and neighborhoods, including our shopping areas. Not all of us can volunteer, contribute money or even our time to enhance our communities, but we can, at no cost and effort, proudly do our part by properly disposing of our trash.
I'm not blaming WM that their customers tend to behave in this manner. but I am saying they tend to attract many people who have no respect or regard for themselves or the people who have to wade through the piles of trash they leave behind.
If anyone can tell me about businesses where the littering is worse than WM I will try to stop trashing them so much.

But still it is stereotypical... Suppose one was to point out all the flaws of many of the folks who inhabit and bring down the Springfield area.  You could say... look at those people Springfield attracts... same thing.

[civil42806]

Having grown up in a very rural area with no chains or big box stores, I'm always amazed by the romantic view that people have of mom and pop stores.  People that complain about wal marts and chains seem to believe that the mom an pop shops paid 30 dollars an hour and supplied there employees with full health and retirement coverage.  In reality The selection was poor, costs were high, owners had to make a profit and there help was paid barely minimum wage.  Wal mart isn't perfect by any means, but they brought a needed service to many areas of the country, particularly the rural and underserved areas, people have voted with there feet and wallet.