A Northcross neighbor writes in, describing a curious new mailer:
Neighborhoods around Northcross are being sent direct mail that essentially has the response options of yes I want Wal-Mart and yes I REALLY want Wal-Mart.
The cover has a picture of the garden next to the parking garage with a footbridge over a brook. Inside are more pictures and some redundant bullet points on how this will be the first time Wal-Mart has ever put in this sort of structure in the U.S.
There’s a tear-off reply card that says in large letters: Yes, I agree. This new urban Wal-Mart Supercenter belongs in my community.
In smaller type are two checkboxes.
* I want the new jobs economic benefits and shopping convenience that the new Wal-Mart Supercenter will provide our community.
* I would like the City of Austin to know that I support the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Then there is a short form for name, address, fax, email, signature, and two lines for comments and questions.
The return mail address is
Wal-Mart Northcross
PO Box 162506
Austin, TX 79716-9910
www.walmart-northcross.com
The zip code doesn’t seem to really exist. [Editor’s note: Indeed, a search here turns up nada.]
The Web page is recruiting supporters for Wal-Mart.
It seems curious that if their legal case is so solid that they would need to recruit supporters?
Just FYI.
If anyone gets a scan of the mailer, send it in so we can post it, and get a free Chronic T-shirt.
UPDATE: A scan of the flyer is available at www.rg4n.org/temp/walmartmailer.pdf.
This article appears in April 13 • 2007.