Richmond: Economy/Business/Real Estate

[BGW]

Starting wage at most stores, if I'm not mistaken, was just raised to $12 per hour. And that's a helluva lot better than the miserable prevailing minimum.

...which would be great, except for the fact that many staff are scheduled for far less than 40 hours/week.

The management's closing down of a particular store because its employees wished to unionize is unconscionable. If, indeed, slave labor in foreign lands makes my pajamas I would be disgusted, but I am not convinced that is true after the bruhaha on this subject a few years ago.

I'd recommend watching a documentary called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. One section focuses on a company-owned Chinese labor camp and is quite depressing (as is the rest of the film).

(and before any dismisses this documentary as leftist, liberal propaganda, the first family portrayed in the film is a very conservative, pro-Bush family...)

[burt]

When was the documentary filmed and what was its release date, BGW? Do you suppose I could rent one at a video store?

Edited August 19, 2006 by burt

[rusthebuss]

...which would be great, except for the fact that many staff are scheduled for far less than 40 hours/week.

I'd recommend watching a documentary called Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price. One section focuses on a company-owned Chinese labor camp and is quite depressing (as is the rest of the film).

(and before any dismisses this documentary as leftist, liberal propaganda, the first family portrayed in the film is a very conservative, pro-Bush family...)

The film is biased. I have it and just because someone is in it doesn't mean that they aren't edited to seem in favor of the directors opinion. That mom and pop place only employeed how many? Maybe 2 and the new walmart employees how many now? If that OT stuff is true the feds should do some regulating. Thats alot of companies doing this to people though. I'm union and management is always trying to be sneeky about get stuff on us. That video is only showing one side. If it was unbiased it would show both sides and let you make your mind up.

[BGW]

The film is biased. I have it and just because someone is in it doesn't mean that they aren't edited to seem in favor of the directors opinion. That mom and pop place only employeed how many? Maybe 2 and the new walmart employees how many now? If that OT stuff is true the feds should do some regulating. Thats alot of companies doing this to people though. I'm union and management is always trying to be sneeky about get stuff on us. That video is only showing one side. If it was unbiased it would show both sides and let you make your mind up.

Sure it's biased, but no more so than the PR line that Wal-Mart is great for the American People.

[skycity]

Fox "News" isn't biased, is it? They are "fair and balanced" right?

[rusthebuss]

Fox "News" isn't biased, is it? They are "fair and balanced" right?

Alot more than CNN or MSNBC!

[Brent]

I'm OK with Wal*Mart. It is no different than Target or any other international retailer. The wages have been low historically but where haven't they been?

Many economist agree that Wal*Mart is single handedly responsible for the little to no inflation that has occurred over the past 20 years. Wal*Mart is just another facet of capitalism. It has its problems and one day a smarter, more ruthless store will tear it down. I don't believe that it has destroyed the fabric of any American locality. Main Street America died long before Wal*Mart left it's humbled beginnings in AK. Wal*Mart made its business by moving into markets that others had left (namely Sears). Wal*Mart understood that while poor, working class USA collectively was a huge piece of the pie, a piece to which other retailers turned up their noses. I'm practically a Socialist and am very pro Union but am also grounded in reality. Wal*Mart is merely Target without the warm color scheme and feel good advertisements

[Brent]

BTW, Fox news is supper lame and MSMBC? Please it is just as bad as Fox with its sensationalized stories and its head up its ass. CNN is too conservative and Zionist too. NPR? Forget about it. I cannot believe how deep into the toilet American journalism has gone.....

[JWCJ]

OK, Here is some real estate news from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Home sales in the Richmond Metro area have plumitted 7% campared to this time last year, but of course this was expected because of the cooling housing market across America. And virginia had the 4th largest dip in housing sales in the nation, mostly do to the dip in housing sales in the NOVA area.

[BGW]

Alot more than CNN or MSNBC!

[BGW]

I'm OK with Wal*Mart. It is no different than Target or any other international retailer.

I don't necessarily disagree with the second statement, but Target et al don't wrap themselves in the American Flag, nor do they brag about their "low prices" which have more hidden costs than Joe Public will ever see or acknowledge.

[Brent]

I don't necessarily disagree with the second statement, but Target et al don't wrap themselves in the American Flag, nor do they brag about their "low prices" which have more hidden costs than Joe Public will ever see or acknowledge.

True they don't, but their marketing team is just as crafty by making shoppers think that they are above Wal*Mart. It is not the flag but we are still being played by an advertising machine and at the end of the day, the same crappy wages are being paid and the same cheaply made plastic and cotton objects are being bought regardless of where you by them (Wal*Mart or Target).

[BGW]

True they don't, but their marketing team is just as crafty by making shoppers think that they are above Wal*Mart. It is not the flag but we are still being played by an advertising machine and at the end of the day, the same crappy wages are being paid and the same cheaply made plastic and cotton objects are being bought regardless of where you by them (Wal*Mart or Target).

This is true, and that's largely the fault of the American buying public: cheap prices trump American jobs every time.

[wrldcoupe4]

Anyone else know that Richmond had this?

Richmond Association for Corporate Growth

It's the Richmond chapter of a larger organization which puts it in the company of some lofty friends.

Edited August 24, 2006 by wrldcoupe4

[burt]

Anyone else know that Richmond had this?

Richmond Association for Corporate Growth

It's the Richmond chapter of a larger organization which puts it in the company of some lofty friends.

Hmmmm. The link says "Page cannot be displayed".

Tell us more.

[Shakman]

Hmmmm. The link says "Page cannot be displayed".

Tell us more.

http://www.acg.org/richmond/

Try this.

[wrldcoupe4]

haha yeah that's it

[burt]

So, word is out that Mead/Westvaco has narrowed their site selection.

I'm not sure that the list is in order of preference, but here's what I've heard:

1. Expand where they are at the old Capital One/Signet Bank location across from Innsbrook on /West Broad.

2. In the area of Phillip Morris near I-64, Glenside and Broad and close to Genworth. Practically adjacent to PM is Reynolds property that is being developed, so maybe thatr site is under consideration.

3. Watkins Centre.

4. Founder's Park (Ethyl property near the Fed Reserve).

It's my understanding that approximately 600 workers would work in the headquarters building, but don't quote me on that.

Edited August 26, 2006 by burt

[Cadeho]

There's no way we can lure big companies downtown to give us a nice new gleaming sleek and tall building?

[burt]

There's no way we can lure big companies downtown to give us a nice new gleaming sleek and tall building?

Why am I not surprised that you would suggest such a thing?

Unfortunately, you are probably right.

[Cadeho]

That was a question.

[wrldcoupe4]

The only problem with the Foundry place is the timing.

[eandslee]

The only problem with the Foundry place is the timing.

I don't get it...what's wrong with the timing?

[wrldcoupe4]

The timing problem is that work is supposed to begin this fall on a parking deck that will be used for fed reserve employee parking so that the rest of the property can be redeveloped. It was my understanding that development of the remaining property couldn't begin until the parking deck was finished. Otherwise, where would those people possibly park?

So IMO, that's the problem with the timing. Unless MWV is cool with waiting a year for their tower to start, though they did say work would begin in September.

[eandslee]

The timing problem is that work is supposed to begin this fall on a parking deck that will be used for fed reserve employee parking so that the rest of the property can be redeveloped. It was my understanding that development of the remaining property couldn't begin until the parking deck was finished. Otherwise, where would those people possibly park?

So IMO, that's the problem with the timing. Unless MWV is cool with waiting a year for their tower to start, though they did say work would begin in September.

Oh I get it now...except perhaps they could easily merge the parking deck project in with the MeadWestvaco building and build them at the same time. I'm sure that's what they would do if they chose to be downtown.