What is FULL CIRCLE?
Full CIRCLE is an all-volunteer group of Austin citizens
who are concerned about the economic, social and environmental
consequences of increased big-box development by national
retail chains in Austin, notably Wal-Mart. We include individuals
from a variety of backgrounds who have been active in neighborhood,
labor, environmental and business groups.
Our goals are:
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To encourage major retail corporations to act responsibly
toward their employees and toward our community.
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To educate consumers about smart retail choices that
promote corporate responsibility.
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To work with policymakers to identify and implement
the best practices for maintaining a healthy balanced
local economy.
Full CIRCLE Steering Committee:
Full CIRCLE's Steering Committee includes proven community
leaders from the environmental, neighborhood, independent
business and labor sectors. This growing network is dedicated
to improving Austin's economy and strengthening the bonds
of our community. Current steering committee members include
Alicia Del Rio, Alison Dieter, Jack Kirfman, Louis Malfaro,
Byron C. Marshall, Becky Moeller, Susan Moffat, Greg Powell,
Robin Rather, Anne Stevenson, Lin Team. For more background
information on steering committee members, please contact
us at austinfullcircle.org
What Issues Is Full CIRCLE Working On?
Full CIRCLE volunteers work on research, education and advocacy
issues related to big-box development. Our current projects
include efforts to:
Identify the true dollar costs of big-box development
to our local economy.
How much does it cost our city to subsidize uninsured,
low-wage workers for health care, housing, and other services?
Does big-box retail cause local business closures, and if
so, are these jobs replaced? How do corporate retail chains
affect the existing wage scale? Do 24-hour supercenters
result in higher police and infrastructure costs for local
governments? Does a new big-box store really add to the
city's tax base or does it just shuffle existing retail
dollars to a new location?
Develop a checklist to rate corporations on responsibility.
Do employees make a living wage and have reasonable
access to health insurance? Does a corporation consistently
uphold labor and environmental laws? Does its development
history show sensitivity to local communities? Does it bank
and advertise locally? How much does it give to charity?
Determine whether there is a "tipping point"
for big-box development.
How many big-boxes are too many? Is there an ideal
ratio of big-box to traditional retail? What steps can we
take to ensure a continued balance of retail choices in
our community?
Compare "best choice" retail options.
Are some big-box retailers better than others in terms of
economic impact to our city? Are prices really lower at
one chain than another? How do the corporate chains compare
with local stores? How much of the money you spend at various
stores actually stays in the community?
Educate consumers about how to make retail smart choices.
Where you shop does make a difference! Which stores help
our local economy and environment? Which stores hurt?
Research the best practices for zoning and regulating
big-box development to minimize harmful effects.
Do cities and citizens ever have the right to say "enough"
to big-box development? Should 24-hour supercenters be allowed
on any site zoned for retail or do they need a different
zoning category? What about neighborhoods who just plain
don't want a supercenter? How can citizens work with local
policymakers and business groups to maintain a healthy retail
mix?
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