WASHINGTON — A Wal-Mart rep defended the upcoming 6 new stores to be built in D.C. on this week’s “The Politics Program,” pointing to the benefits for employees and money the company injects into the local economy.
Spokesman Steve Restivo spoke about the quality of jobs at Wal-Mart, citing the 60/40 split between full-time and part-time employees, which he says is better than the big box store’s competitors like Home Depot and Best Buy. He also discussed the “very competitive” health care offerings he says Wal-Mart supplies its employees, which, at a minimum, cost $15 per paycheck.
None of the Walmarts in the U.S. are unionized, “as is the majority of retail in this country,” he says.
The stores don’t disclose the percentage of products made in the U.S. versus abroad, but Restivo points to the $2 billion the company spent on Virginia-based goods in their stores in that state. The 6 D.C. stores — each of which will be the company’s “large” configuration of 80,000 to 120,000 square feet — will purchase groceries and produce from city vendors.
Wal-Mart is the largest buyer of locally-grown produce in the country, Restivo says.
The company is still in the planning stages for constructing the stores, some of which, like the proposed site near New York Avenue, is a part of an existing, separate development. They are still working with the local development team to organize the impact on traffic, says Restivo.
As for why the store chose to open 6 locations in the near 70 square miles of D.C., Restivo simply says, “folks couldn’t tell you there are 15 Safeways in the city.”
The number of stores meets demand, he says, and will serve important parts of the city. There will be 2 in Ward 4, one in Ward 5, one in Ward 6 on New Jersey Avenue, one in Ward 7 in Capital View and one in Ward 8 in Skyland.
The size will roughly match the newest store in Alexandria on King’s Highway, he says.
D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, Ward 2, was also a guest on the program to address recent council ethics concerns.
He says the “legal system has to take its course,” on the recent allegations and investigations against his council colleague Harry Brown, Jr., Ward 5. He would recommend Brown take a leave of absence.
“Having an indicted member, or mayor, would certainly be a spectacle we can’t afford at this time,” he says.
He also addressed each member’s Constituents Service Fund, which the Council will soon reduce from $80,000 each to $40,000. These funds helped resolve a prior issue of candidates’ using campaign funds for general use after taking office.
“I think these funds serve a purpose,” Evans says. “In the last four months, though, they have been redirected to serve the needy.”
They act as a council “auxiliary fund,” he says. “We need to keep them.”
Check out the full program audio at right
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