LAS CRUCES---The Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce (LCGCC) Board of Directors announced this week they are launching a "No More Walmarts" campaign in response to the recent approval in February by the Las Cruces Planning and Zoning Commission for the rezoning of 7.31 acres of land at the corner of Tashiro Drive and Valley Road. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved an application for the construction of a grocery store, drive-through pharmacy, and a 12 bay self-serve gas station.
Although the firm requesting the rezoning, Galloway and Company, Inc., would not confirm the building of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in that area, the online nonprofit site Grist, reports the big box corporation is in the process of building 450 Walmart Neighborhood Market stores around the country by 2016. These stores are designed with a small grocery store aesthetic and feeling.
The LCGCC Board of Directors is concerned thatthe possible building of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in that area would result in more harm to the community than benefit. As a result, the Las Cruces Green Chamber is making available to its member businesses, and any other locally owned business, a petition to oppose building a Walmart Neighborhood Grocery or any type of Walmart store. Signage for those businesses to display to create more awareness about how Walmart stores affect local businesses will also be available.
Lucas Herndon, LCGCC Board of Directors President, says "Our Board is concerned about the impact additional Walmart stores will have on locally owned businesses. Locally owned businesses contribute to our community in so many ways. More capital is retained in the local economy by local businesses, resulting greater local prosperity and economic growth." Carrie Hamblen, Las Cruces Green Chamber Executive Director adds, "Locally owned businesses contribute to local charities 350% more than do national chains. For every $100 spent at a locally owned store, anywhere from $45 to $68 stays in this community. For every $100 spent at a national chain, approximately $14 stays in this community. These economic benefits could well be lost to our economy with the construction of additional Walmarts."
According to a 2009 study by Loyola University in Louisiana, within two years of new Walmart opening their doors, 82 local stores went out of business. Multiple studies have shown that Walmart store openings result in the loss of three jobs for every two they create. Allowing Walmart into a community can cause an estimated $14 Million in lost wages over a 20 year period. A study published in Economic Development Quarterly found that the closer a store was to a Walmart location, the greater likelihood it would close. In the cases studied, 35 to 60 percent of surrounding businesses closed as a result.
Hamblen continues, "There are several locally owned businesses that have been operating for decades around the area of Tashiro and Valley. If another Walmart store moves in, these businesses will be at higher risk for failure. How does this benefit our local economy?"
According to the 2013 Census data, the population of Las Cruces is a little over 100,000. That is one Walmart store for every 25,000 people. In comparison, Census data reports that Albuquerque has over 500,000 residents and 8 Walmart stores, equaling one Walmart for every 62,500 people.
Herndon concludes, "Since we already have 4 Walmarts in our city, the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors believes, until we grow significantly in population, we cannot afford the negative impact of any more Walmart stores in Las Cruces." There are two Walmart Superstores, one regular Walmart store, and a Sam's Club.
The issue of the 7.31 acres at the corner of Tashiro and Valley is expected to be addressed at the April 6th Council Meeting. Those meetings are open to the public and are located in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 700 N. Main
St., Las Cruces, NM.