Wal-Mart Canceling Plans for Remaining DC Stores

Wal-Mart says it is canceling two or three of the remaining unbuilt DC stores because of legislation that would require the company to pay workers a living wage of no less than $12.50 an hour, rather that the minimum wage of $8.25, according to DCist.

Stores planned for Skyland Town Center and Capitol Gateway in Ward 7 and possibly a store planned for New York Avenue and Bladensburg Road NE in Ward 5 could be scrapped, according to DCist. 

"They're not bluffing me," Councilmember Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) told DCist after a meeting she had with Wal-Mart. "We worked for many years to get this commitment. I really didn't think it would get to this point."

The Housing Complex column at the Washington City Paper, however, wonders if the threat is in fact a bluff. 

Among other reasons, writer Aaron Wiener says Wal-Mart was not particularly interested in building the two locations in Ward 7 in the first place. Only when the ability to build any stores in the District was linked to building the Ward 7 stores did Wal-Mart aquiesce. Read more of Wiener's theory here.  

The Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2013 would require business occupying more than 75,000 square feet and whose parent company makes more than $1 billion a year to pay workers a living wage.

The bill passed with an initial vote of 8 to 5. Ward 2's Jack Evans voted in favor of the legislation, but Ward 3's Mary Cheh voted against it citing concerns over unintended consequences. 

The District Council is scheduled to take up a final vote on the bill Wednesday; if it passes it will go to Mayor Vincent Gray who could choose to veto the legislation.