There are Targets and Target says it will pack up and leave if this law passes. The dem aldermen say that Target is bluffing.
We'll see.
I love stupid Democratic politicians. And Chicago aldermen are the dumbest.
Simple economics. The store, whether it is a Mom-n-Pop or big box WallyWorld, Target, etc. passes taxes, wages, utilities, rent and other overhead costs on to their customers.
The City Council just voted a "tax" on their constituents disguised as something good for them which they call a living wage.
But the living wage they voted to approve only applies to those working at the stores.
The increase in prices passes to everyone in the city who shops there.
Now the stores must decide, do we stay and put up with this bit of socialism and have to listen to the employees at other stores complain about their wages and demand that their city councils also pass laws to give them raises or do we move and say "No more taxes to you city council, no more of your constituents have jobs with us for any wage, if your constituents want cheaper prices now they have to drive 20 extra miles."
Most importantly, they move their operations and send a clear signal that it is their business and not the city councils'.
In short, this is a small scale version of "outsourcing" jobs. When the cost of doing business becomes onerous, move to a more acceptable economic climate.
Saying, "Welcome to Wal-Mart" should not be a job which guidance counselors recommend.
We'll see.
The aldermen need to realize that big companies like this almost never bluff, especially in press releases. The plaintiff's lawyers have already put companies' feet to the fire on saying things in public that they don't mean.