73% of Chicago says YES to Walmart

New poll reveals majority of city residents support building of south side store

-Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A majority of Chicago voters support a Walmart store on the south side of Chicago, according to a new poll conducted by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. When asked whether their Alderman should vote to approve the proposed Walmart store on the city’s south side, 73% of those polled said yes while only 17% said no.

“We hope the City Council will listen to the people of Chicago,” says President of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Jerry Roper. “The Chicagoland Chamber believes that a Walmart on the city’s south side would pave the way for job creation, expanded food choice and increased revenues to help solve Chicago’s budget deficit. It is no surprise that Chicagoans said ‘yes’ to jobs and opportunities.”

Among the polls’ findings:

• 66% of those polled think the City Council is failing at bringing job growth and economic development to the city.
  
• 48% believe that labor unions have too much influence over City Council.
  
• 38% of voters would not vote to re-elect their Alderman if they voted against building new Walmart stores in Chicago.
  

In addition, 65% of those polled support a Walmart store in their local community, suggesting that regardless of what part of the city they live in, the vast majority of voters understand that the South Side would benefit from a Walmart store. Many of the sites Walmart has expressed interest in developing new stores are located in Chicago’s most under-retailed communities, including the proposed site at 83rd & Stewart in the Chatham neighborhood.

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce commissioned the Freeman Institute to conduct the poll June 8-12. Citywide polling results included a weighted average of 12 wards throughout the city. Those who participated in the poll were super and active voters, who have histories of voter participation.

Read the entire "Our Community. Our Choice. Choose Jobs." city-wide poll.