Anyone See the Link?

Story A:

• Mayor Daley today questioned why union leaders hell bent on preventing Wal-Mart from expanding in Chicago have allowed suburban Wal-Marts to ring the city without saying a word.

  But, the mayor flatly declared that Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) doesn't stand a prayer in his quest to pass an amended redevelopment agreement that would allow Wal-Mart to build it's second Chicago store -- and first super-center that sells groceries -- at a former Chatham industrial site at 83rd and Stewart.

Story B:

• Jewel-Osco announced today it will slash prices up to 20 percent on thousands of products to help budget-conscious and strapped shoppers.

  A Jewel-Osco spokeswoman acknowledged that Chicago was chosen for the so-called "Big Relief Price Cut" program because of the market's "competitive environment," among other factors. Jewel-Osco has been feeling pressure from the openings of new local Wal-Mart stores that sell groceries.

So Wal-Mart isn't allowed to open stores in the city due to union pressure, even as they open stores all around suburbia, which in turn is driving long time Chicago icons Jewel-Osco (and Dominick's we're sure) to post 20% cuts just to attract customers.

We already do all our shopping out of the city. When we can, we do it out of Cook County, too. And the above articles are merely tens of thousands of others doing exactly the same thing with their wallets.