Please tell me I'm overreacting.

[Pab Sungenis]

Several weeks ago, I announced my intention to spearhead a drive to put a no-big-box-store measure on the ballot in my City to try and keep Wal-Mart out of our downtown area. The Mayor (who rumor has it keeps stuffing his pockets with developer kickbacks) and one Councilman whose son WORKS for Wal-Mart had railroaded new ordinances through to allow Wal-Mart to come in, even though two years before they specifically passed legislation that would have blocked such stores.

I held a mock funeral for our downtown, scattering the "ashes" of our downtown on the Wal-Mart site, and announced that I would be launching a petition drive to put the referendum before the voters.

That's when the real fun started.

I started getting phone calls early in the morning, some from people who I knew were the Mayor's supporters, others from people who either never identified themselves or didn't leave any contact information (or caller ID) telling me to stop my efforts, because "Wal-Mart is a good thing, and you will see this." I said no, I was working with people on the language, and was going to launch the referendum drive.

A few weeks ago, I went to City Hall to pay my home electric bill. (Our electric utility is City-owned.) A half hour after I paid the bill, I got a call from home that they shut our electricity off, claiming that the check had bounced. (NO check gets deposited and returned in thirty minutes, let alone the fact that I went right to my bank and withdrew the same amount I had cut the check for to pay them AGAIN in cash.) When I refused to leave the electric utility until my power was back on, I said loudly "tell Mayor Barse the early morning phone calls aren't working, and this isn't going to either." While I was on my cell phone calling a reporter friend, the head of the Utility (whose office I was outside) came out to tell me that my power was back on.

This morning, I went to open up my movie theater, which is one block from where Wal-Mart will be opening, and at the fringe of our downtown. Our windows, outside poster frames, and the emergency exit doors had all been spray-painted with swastikas. Considering that I'm gay and my partner is a Jew, whoever did this knew exactly which buttons to push. I got the windows and poster frames clean, but you can still see vague shapes of the swastikas on the emergency exit doors despite a can and a half of graffiti remover. I'll be repainting tomorrow.

I'd love to think that all three of these incidents are unrelated, but considering the timing of them all, I have my doubts. Can someone please reassure me that I am overreacting? That Wal-Mart and its cronies wouldn't resort to these tactics?

[Hissyspit]

1. Nah, you're not.

Who exactly is up to it is open to conjecture, but its all related.

[pstans]

2. I don't think you are over reacting at all

Don't get discouraged. But I'd call the police and/or lawyer to get this stuff on record as happening.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. Nope. Not at all.

Call a lawyer- a good one.

[donco6]

4. Overreacting? Hell, I'd be buying a gun.

And I hate guns.

[HereSince1628]

32. Guns? I think a personal security company maybe to help with

immediate safety and to advise on useful security changes.

[knitter4democracy]

33. Me too.

I'd make it a good shotgun and get to the shooting range to learn how to use it best. Then I'd carry it everywhere.

I hate guns, my hubby hates guns, and I don't want them in the house, but if that crap were happening to me, I'd get a shotgun.

[Metta]

5. Intimidation, unfortunately.

I'd call the police. Maybe the state police or the FBI if you think the locals are in with the mayor.

[Bushies gotta go]

6. Doesn't sound like you are overreacting to me

Unless bad luck just happens to follow you everywhere. If these types of things just started following your announcement, I would say you are probably right. Would Wal-Mart do it? Possibly. Have you seen the movie? (I haven't but somebody discussed it with me at great lengths). Maybe Wal-Mart themselves wouldn't waste their time on a small potato like you but rest assured, they know they can count on their local terrArists to handle it for them.

[adigal]

43. This is right out of the KKK playbook

Funny how somethings never really die.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. You must be effective or they wouldn't bother. It's a badge of honor.

Give a free showing of the Wal-Mart movie and invite the community on down.

Fuck the fascists.

[glitch]

9. This is a great idea. call ACLU and you are definitely not overreacting nt

[davsand]

41. YES! Free showings of the WalMart movie are a terrific idea!

I'd make a BIG deal about it, too. Call that reporter buddy of yours and get a story in the press about the fact that you are showing the WalMart movie FOR FREE (hell--throw in free popcorn and give-away items if you REALLY want to twist everybody's tail!) Show it free for the next two weekends or for however long you can manage to do it.

I'd almost be tempted, if it was me, to see if I could get a few folks out front of the theater to put up an anti- WalMart informational picket line along with it. Surly your local union shops could help you a bit there? Jobs With Justice is a national organization with local organizations that might be able to help out as well...

There was a book that came out a while back that tells the story about WalMart and what absolute Rat Bastards they are. You might also track down a few of copies of THAT to use as give-aways, along with gift certificates to LOCALLY OWNED businesses--after all--they are the ones hurt when WalMart hits town.

I'd make a BIG old stink about this, and yeah--I'd go get a big old pump action shotgun if it was me. NOTHING screams business quite like the sound of "racking a round." Plus, a shotgun is probably one of the best home defense guns I can think of. It's tough to miss with one at close range and it WILL stop just about anything if you are willing to use it.

Don't get a gun, however, unless you are willing to use it to kill.

It isn't a matter of "shooting somebody in the hand" it is a matter of knowing that if you point a gun at anyone you better be able to live with killing them. If you and the ones you love are threatened physically can you use lethal force? If you say anything less than a sincere Yes, then do not buy a gun and do not have one in the house.

Good luck, you are fighting the GOOD fight here.



Laura

[Savannah Progressive]

8. I doubt you are over-reacting, however.....

Those that oppose you aren't just the Mayor's cronies, and aren't just the Walmart commando's, they are your own neighbors.

They are people who look to Walmart for good jobs, knowing that Walmart pays more than Minimum wage, and looking to move up from McDonald's, where they get stuck with Minimum Rage. They are people who believe they will get more for their money, and in this economy, feel that saving a few bucks and stretching the household budget is worth whatever it does to the city in the long run.

They are Truckers who drive Walmart loads, hoping to come by home a bit more often, trying to survive outrageously high fuel costs, and tight profit margins, and feed their families all at the same time.

They people opposing you are the short sighted, the people who fail to understand that Walmart is going to cost them far more than they will save. I feel sorry for you, and for them. They are angry that you are trying to stop them, stop them from saving, earning, going home, construction, everything that you can imagine.

Mostly they are people who are afraid, people who are afraid of letting the people decide in a democratic manner, the ballot issue you speak of.

[niyad]

21. I wasn't aware that wal-mart pays more than minimum wage--if that is so,

why do so many of their employees need food stamps, etc?

[Mythsaje]

23. Because many of its employees

don't see full shifts. A 30 hour shift at a dollar more than minimum wage isn't much of a boost. Unfortunately a lot of people don't realize it.

[niyad]

24. I'd like to see the stats--remembering that ole' sam did his best to NOT

even pay minimum wage years ago.

[adigal]

44. Sorry, even the ones who do full time

are on food stamps and Medicaid.

Do you have any knowledge of what WalMart does?? They purposely keep people under the OT hours, they have even been caught and sued over erasing OT hours from the time clock.

You need to see the WalMart movie. Maybe you can go see it at the OP's movie theater??

[Savannah Progressive]

38. It's well known that the minimum wage isn't a living wage

Most people feel that the Minimum wage is about half what a minimum LIVING wage should be.

[nonconformist]

28. The Walmart in my town doesn't pay over min wage

It pays EXACTLY minimum wage, unless you are management.

I worked for a Walmart in another state (Kansas) 11 years ago, and it also payed minimum wage. And restricted hours.

[SPKrazy]

10. I Don't Know About Wal Mart And It's Cronies

But I think you are dealing with your city's political underbelly and they are probably capable of that kind of stuff. Especially if they believe there is a lot of money involved (and Wal Mart is a big boost to the tax base of a city government.)

Who knows though, it could be that Wal Mart has hired agencies to make the store happen so to speak.
(contracted out to someone who could be behind this kind of stuff) I just doubt that Wal Mart proper would be doing this.

[demnan]

11. "they say" you can't fight city hall

obviously they are wrong and you are doing that. You are making them run scared and try any amount of evil tricks to scare and intimidate you. Painting swastikas on someone's building is a hate crime. I'd call the FBI on that one.

I really would.

[Pab Sungenis]

16. I thought it more important

going into our biggest business day of the week to get the damn paint OFF our building before customers arrived. I was so flustered I didn't think of taking photos or calling the police. Like I said, they knew which buttons to push. 14 hours later I'm STILL shaking over the whole thing.

[Blue Diadem]

12. Have you reported this to the police?

You should..and make sure to get copies of the report. Also take your own pictures for evidence.

It sounds like they're trying everything to intimidate you.

I don't think you're overreacting.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Absolutely call the ACLU and the MEDIA!!!!

[adriennui]

14. sorry to say

you are not over-reacting.

[NastyRiffraff]

15. Yes, take pictures...

And document EVERYTHING. Definitely report it to the police, and get a copy of the police report. Even if they ignore it, you'll still have it documented. No, you're not overreacting. And kudos to you and good luck!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. I Think The Phone Calls Were Related, I Think The Other Incidents Weren't

I don't think the electric bill or the swastika incident were related to the walmart situation whatsoever, though lord knows I'm sure others will come in this thread and tell me how naive I am blah blah blah.

I would however, be concerned about the swastika incident as hate messages like that need to always be reported immediately. I doubt it has to do with the walmart situation, but there is definitely some punk ass prejudiced prick that your local authorities need to be made aware of.

Good luck with all this, and be safe.

[niyad]

18. sadly, you are not overreacting at all. I hope you called the police, and

have these incidents documented. the swastikas are evidence of a hate crime, and I certainly hope you made a police report and got documentation of it. you need to be talking to several very good attorneys as soon as possible.

there are methods for recording all your phone calls, which I would definitely start doing. and I hope you have kept a log of all the incidents, calls, etc.

[Warpy]

19. You're not overreacting

If the local paper is NOT in the Mayor's pocket, start taking pictures, make sure you interview links all sorts of city harassment to your effort to keep Wally out and keep local businesses running, and be able to scream loud and long. Making noise at City Hall over your electric service was the best thing you could have done: watch for that check to come back to you, double paying that bill (I sincerely hope you got a RECEIPT for that cash!!)

Keep a paper trail with the cops, too. You want that file of complaints to be there if these goons go beyond petty harassment.

Consider going to the nearest big city with this story, too. Sometimes they love this stuff, especially if they're in the pocket of a mayor in the opposition party.

Good luck!

[Ilsa]

20. Not overreacting. Man, I hate this intimidation crap.

I wish you good luck in delaing with these asses.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Walmart and its cronies would do those things in a heartbeat!

There's too many coincidences. Had any of this happened before? No?.....then blame it on Walmart, their worshiping buyers and the Mayor's son. I'd bet money on it.

[shenmue]

25. This is terrible

I hope you beat 'em.

[TheWraith]

26. You should call the nearest FBI field office. Seriously.

The swastika grafitti may qualify your case as a hate crime, considering who you and your partner are. As such, that would escalate it from being a misdemeanor to being a possible felony. You should also consult a local criminal defense lawyer for a more exact determination based on your local laws. I'm not in NJ, so I don't know.

And no, you're not overreacting. This is pretty obviously a harassment campaign, and one that has friends in high places.

I don't know who your phone company is, but if your system is anything like what we have here, you may be able to place a legal trace on a harassing phone call. The trace information is then left with the phone company, and can be provided to law enforcement.

If the local PD won't help you, talk to the NJ State Police. In my experience, the State Police usually have very little tolerance for corrupt locals who reflect badly on the profession.

That said, if you can't make any headway via normal avenues, and need the advice of someone who is skilled at dirty warfare, I'm always available. It'd be fun. I haven't brought down a government in months.

[RagingInMiami]

27. You're not overreacting

There have been movements like yours against Big Box stores throughout the country, practically in every city. I would recommend you use Google to your advantage and find support and advice from veterans of such tactics.

[rman]

29. Wal-Mart and its cronies don't stand on their own;

they share interests with Big Business, because Walmart is Big Business, and i think it is obvious Big Business has allied itself with radical RW elements in all segments of society, from closet neo-nazies (who are now coming out of the closet thanks to *), to reli-fundies.

I'd say the least you should do is take pistures and file the incident at the police. Might not be a bad idea to get some legal advice/support, perhaps contact ACLU.

[lala_rawraw]

30. You need to go to the press with this, dates, times, place... etc.

This is intimidation.

[Caretha]

31. You are most certainly not overacting

It is time for you to get paranoid. There is mega bucks involved in Wal-Mart establishing a store in your town. You also need to be anticipating the next attack, they won't stop with the 3 incidents you have cited. They are planning on winning and you need to be doing the same thing.

It's now time, if you haven't already, to start enlisting your fellow business owners and citizens for this fight. The poster who suggested the free showing of the Wal-Mart movie had a great idea. Make it a big event, advertise, call all the radio stations, the newspaper etc. and not just in your town, but all towns close to you. Every business owner that agrees with you needs a big poster in his window and a petition on the counter for citizens to sign.

If other business owners join you, then their tactics are not going to work, they can't declare war on everyone. Every fight needs forces and you need to rally yours.

You may have already taken all of the above steps, but I thought maybe a few ideas might help.

[Minnesota Libra]

34. Wow - timing is everything - and tells alot - get the media on this nt

[banana republican]

35. maake surre the lawyer doesn't work for hizzz onner n/t

[ourbluenation]

36. www.sprawl-busters.com - Contact him ASAP

You are not overreacting.

[ourbluenation]

37. www.wakeupwalmart.com - bottom right corner - resources for

stopping wally world from coming to your town. Good Luck!

[immoderate]

39. State Attorney General - State Police -- FBI

The swastikas are signs of seriously deranged people. You should report everything to the agencies above, as you do same to local authorities, this serves as a check on the locals.

You are not overreacting. Shine the light on these crooks. Feed the media.

--IMM

[area51]

40. No, you're not overreacting.

More power to you, and stay safe. :hug:

[mcscajun]

42. You're definitely NOT overreacting.

The other posters who suggested a FREE Showing of the Wal-Mart film (WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price) were on the right track, as were those who suggested calls to the media, NJ State Police, FBI, and ACLU. Yell loud and long, and everywhere you can about this.

Post this story in the NJ Forum, too. If you're going to have any kind of public action where folks from NJ (and considering how far downstate you are, perhaps PA. DE and MD as well,) can help by their presence. let the state forums know so DUers can rally to the event.

Keep up the good fight! Keep us posted here and in the state forums.