The Change Mariner

Oakland Bans Wal-Mart

San Francisco Chronicle:

Oakland has become the latest Bay Area locality to ban big-box retailers that sell low-cost groceries, claiming they imperil neighborhood business districts and generate traffic headaches.

Wal-Mart is not mentioned by name in the ordinance passed 7-1 Tuesday night, but the Arkansas retail giant is clearly the target of the legislation, with its plans to quickly expand the number of such stores in California and nationwide.