Article: CVS Pharmacy Embattled Coast-to-Coast
By Shepherd Bliss
WaccoBB.net
Cities from coast-to-coast continue to resist the country-wide expansionist plans of the largest pharmacy in the United States, CVS. In a recent victory for activists, CVS abandoned plans to open a store in Nantucket, Massachusetts, bowing to pressure from a petition with over 4500 signatures.
Family physician Greg Hinson, M.D., started that petition, according to the Boston Business Journal, Nov. 21, 2012. “CVS to Homogenize Nantucket: So We Look Like the Rest of the World” headlined a Nov. 15 article in the Nantucket Chronicle by Georgia Raysman. She contended that it would be “the end of Nantucket as a unique American place,” if CVS replaced the closed Grand Union grocery store.
“It is vital to protect Nantucket’s historical charm by preventing a major company such as CVS to move in,” adds Tomw at the Chronicle. Raysman agrees, “Local pharmacies, local toy stories, local sellers of sundries all will suffer from CVS’s presence. Everyone’s livelihood out here” would be threatened.
In Lexington, Kentucky, a controversial downtown CVS project was defeated. Instead, a three-story mixed-use building was decided upon, according to the local Herald-Tribune of Feb. 23, 2011.
“Residents Tell CVS ‘Not Here,’” headlines an article in the Carrboro Citizen of Dec. 23, 2010. That North Carolina town continues to take to the streets to struggle against CVS moving downtown from another site. “We’re not anti-CVS, we’re just against it right there in downtown,” said homeowner Richard Jaimeyfield. “This is not the right spot for the highest volume CVS in the state,” added resident Jeff Herrick. “It’s a very difficult intersection,” admitted the town’s Transportation Board chair Charlie Hileman.
In Byram, New Jersey, CVS plans to raze a 200-year-old landmark. In Dundee, Nebraska, CVS seeks to raze 75% of an historic neighborhood. A pattern of CVS wanting to locate itself at key downtown intersections, thus maximizing sales, at the expense of safety, traffic, historical, and other concerns of locals.
CVS has over 7,100 stores and plans for more. Though less than the 8000 Walgreen Drugstores, its competitor “posted just half the earnings of CVS in the third quarter of 2012,” reports Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak. She describes CVS as a “voracious retail monster” that “has been taking over America.” D.C.’s Woodley Park is one of the many communities resisting CVS.
Meanwhile, near the Northern California coast, small town Sebastopol in Sonoma County has been struggling since 2009 against CVS and its frequent partner, Chase, the U.S.’s largest bank. They want to move from the edge of town to an abandoned car dealership in the downtown core. Its opposition also has a petition at the same Change.org site that won the Nantucket victory:
https://www.change.org/petitions/cvs...-of-sebastopol.
Over 600 people have signed this petition, many adding comments worth reading. The first signers were from Sebastopol; more recently people from elsewhere also have been signing and adding comments, as stories of local struggles against CVS go national.
Occupy Sebastopol has initiated a peaceful, information picket by various community groups for Jan. 19, Sat., from 2-4 p.m. at the current location of CVS and Chase in the town’s only shopping center, the Redwood Market. “It takes a village to stop CVS,” said Thomas Morabito outside Occupy’s remaining tent in the plaza. He describes Sebastopol’s new City Council as a “dream team.” Tim Ryan added, “We want to put pressure on CVS to drop their lawsuit.”
The Jan. 19 protest was on the agenda of a recent meeting of two-dozen activists from four Sonoma County Occupy groups. “CVS has shown with this lawsuit that they are a corporate bully,” commented Tim Nonn of Occupy Petaluma. “This protest will be a test case for a coordinated county-wide action. Perhaps we could have actions against other CVS stores in Sonoma County.”
The picket was announced on WaccoBB.net, a local online bulletin board with over 10,000 subscribers and many other readers. "I haven't seen anything that has stirred up such deep, widespread and persistent emotion as the CVS/Chase project,” says Barry Chertov, founder and Moderator of WaccoBB.net. "There's been over 500 posts on the topic so far. It's understandable, as it feels like an invasion of corporate raiders outfitted in a generic suburban development in the middle of our beloved downtown that will export our wealth and create major traffic issues."
CVS has been trying since 2009 to receive the permissions it needs, but still lacks various demolition, building, traffic, and design permissions and permits necessary to go forward. In contrast, another development, The Barlow Project, begun at about the same time a couple of blocks away on a property ten times as large, has achieved the necessary permits.
Meanwhile, back in Sebastopol the largest weekly gathering is at the Sunday Farmers’ Market, outside, rain or shine. The CVS lawsuit has been a hot conversation there, including the following comments on Jan. 6:
“Drive-thrus in the center of town would be insane. They would be in the place where there is the most traffic density.” Michael Litle.
“The suit is ridiculous. It is the city’s decision. We have an elected government and they have the right to decide this.” Bryan Schuler.
“Big Corporations take away our money and our spirit. They use money and power to squash small town intimacy.” Sharon Kaiser.
“This is incredibly selfish. A lawsuit is not the way to make friends and customers. What do they gain from suing? It sounds malicious and feels abusive. It is not constructive but feels like punishment. Maybe CVS should ask why there is so much resentment against them.” Gabrielle Albright.
“This is a people power versus corporate power issue. CVS has more money than Sebastopol.” Bruce Rhodes.
“I do not like people idling their cars and polluting our air. We need to make healthy choices now for our future. We need to stop drive-thrus.” Shakira Pearlman.
“The contempt for environmental concerns is typical of the corporate mentality, whose only concern is the bottom line. I’m happy that Sebastopol is pushing back.” Peggy Karp.
“We just had an election and have a new, improved City Council. In Sebastopol David can sometimes defeat Goliath. CVS may regret bringing a lawsuit against our small town.” Anonymous woman.
(Shepherd Bliss {[email protected]) teaches college, farms, and has contributed to two dozen books.)
Re: Article: CVS Pharmacy Embattled Coast-to-Coast
CVS already has a store that serves the needs of the community. Bigger and better is not what is needed here.
Moderation and respect for the many issues that are already outlined is what is called for: Less congestion, less impersonal service and more face to face interactions are what make a town safe, personal and connected.
Re: Article: CVS Pharmacy Embattled Coast-to-Coast
Thank you Michaela...beautifully stated and right on! :waccosun:
Quote:
Posted in reply to the post by Michaela McGivern:
CVS already has a store that serves the needs of the community. Bigger and better is not what is needed here.
Moderation and respect for the many issues that are already outlined is what is called for: Less congestion, less impersonal service and more face to face interactions are what make a town safe, personal and connected.
