Wal-Mart store opens in Ithaca (hippies not happy)

Copyright ©2005 TWEAN News Channel of Syracuse, LLC, d/b/a News 10 Now. ^ | Updated: 1/27/2005 6:12 AM | Megan Driscoll, News 10 Now Web Staff

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ITHACA NY--Wal-Marts have been popping up all across the country for years. But this store just didn't pop into Ithaca.

"It's been 10 years. They tried 10 years ago and the community didn't want it here, didn't want it here and so eventually now here we are," said Theresa Troy, Merchandise Supervisor for Wal-Mart.

Some members of the community say it is about time the store got here. The new Wal-Mart store is providing 267 new jobs to the area. New jobs that the company says are competitive with wages and benefits. Not only is Wal-Mart bringing in new jobs and sales tax revenue, the company also made $32,000 in local donations.

However, not everyone is excited with Wal-Mart's opening. The Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition is concerned with Wal-Mart's track record and wages and benefits of its employees. They feel the company can do better. And while they are excepting the company for now, they're still keeping their eyes open.

"They know we are here and we are not going anywhere. The first person that comes to us with a complaint about they are not being treated fairly at Wal-Mart and we will be all over them basically," said Sunshine Bannister, Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

"They know we are here and we are not going anywhere. The first person that comes to us with a complaint about they are not being treated fairly at Wal-Mart and we will be all over them basically," said Sunshine Bannister, Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition.

Sounds like a thread, doesn't it?

You would think that unrepetent liberals would love the amount of taxes that this store will pay, but even that's not enough for "Sunshine" and her crew.

Today's Ithaca Journal(which cannot be reposted here thanks to the cretins at Gannett news), gives further details of the Ithacites' fight against low prices and more jobs:

the coalition is talking with Wal-Mart, and has asked for information about its wage structure. They're trying to impress on the company the importance of paying a living wage -- which has been calculated at $8.44 per hour in Tompkins County.

Of course, it is completely lost on them that the higher the set their "living wage," the higher the cost of goods and services will rise and the likelihood of further unemployment.

But, never fear, the "living wage" coalition has its own website, which features a picture of a handful of the many committed, "ethnically diverse" men and women of Ithaca.

Incidentally, the exact same committed, "ethnically diverse" men and women are also featured at Ithaca's own Bush MUST Go website:

Taking on Wal-Mart and the President...I guess these seven are just suckers for a lost cause.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

City of Evil bump:

[PeterFinn]

Those seven people in that picture also come up in my relational database when I do a search on "Why were hand grenades invented?"

[Behind Liberal Lines]

"They know we are here and we are not going anywhere. The first person that comes to us with a complaint about they are not being treated fairly at Wal-Mart and we will be all over them basically," said Sunshine Bannister, Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition.

I meant to say this sounded like a THREAT.

Damn. We need an edit function

[billorites]

I love Ithaca.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Ah, but let's look at ACTUAL Ithacans protesting:

No wonder they have to use the same seven over and over. They are probably the only ones in the group who bathe and shave.

[demnomo]

I'll bet a Wal-Mart does well in that area. There must be lots of rural and suburbanite people who aren't part of the University enclave and will not let Sunshine and her crew stop them from shopping there.

[TontoKowalski]

Don't those people in the photograph look like the typical frowny, pessimistic, sky-is-falling bunch of looney liberals.

I just couldn't make it through the day with perpetual unhappiness as my companion.

[babyface00]

Somehow, I suspect all seven will be regular shoppers there though...

[csvset]

I suspect all seven will be regular shoppers shoplifters there though

[MisterRepublican]

The rich despise it when McDonald's opens a restaurant in their neighborhood. They're ugly and increase traffic. But months later you'll see those same rich folks in their Lexus's and Escalades lined up at the drive-thru.

I'd love to be there to see the liberals in Ithaca, in cognito, shopping at WalMart because of the great prices and variety.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

we will be all over them basically," said Sunshine Bannister, Tompkins County Living Wage Coalition.

Bannister isn't going to let it slide.

PS: Ironic that someone named Sunshine has such a gloomy disposition.

PPS: When I was at college, I had a friend whose last name was Sunshine. So if Bannister married him, she's be Sunshine Sunshine. Just a thought.

PPPS: I had another college friend whose last name was Honey, and he married a girl whose first name was Honey. Yup, she became Honey Honey.

PPPPS: And as we all know, if Shirley Temple Black married Tyrone Power, she'd be Shirley Temple Black Power. But that's a discussion for another day.

[MisterRepublican]

The only girl I ever knew named "Sunshine" was a stripper. I met several "Sunshines" and "Gypsys" back when I was a young squid serving in the US Navy.

[PeterFinn]

Wow. I never thought I'd feel good about living in the People's Republic of Kalifornia (The Only State with a Red Star in its Flag!) but now I do.

[jigsaw]

City resident Sunshine Bannister told the committee [Neighborhood and Community Issues Committee of Ithaca Common Council] that she had been receiving public assistance for more than 20 years, but that she and other recipients would rather make a living wage.

So it sez right HERE back in an April 2003 Ithaca Journal story.

[drjimmy]

I spent some of my hard-earned cash at the new Ithaca Wal-Mart last night. The cashier said the crowds had been pretty big the whole opening day.

[finnman69]

That pic is funny. Noone really looks like that in Ithaca.

[massgopguy]

Well then, Wal-Mart pays triple the minimum wage and most of its agents say that they chose to work at Wal-Mart for the benefits. Your ship has come in Sunshine.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The only girl I ever knew named "Sunshine" was a stripper.

Hey, you knew Sunshine too? ;-) She had a great set of . . . teeth. By any chance, have you heard how Tyffany and Savannah are doing?

[PeterFinn]

"I met several "Sunshines" and "Gypsys" back when I was a young squid serving in the US Navy."

I see you've been to Olongapao!