'Jefferson council crosses the line'in its rush to welcome Wal-Mart

An op ed column by a public interest lawyer Brent Denzin explores what's happening with Jefferson Wal-Mart and questions why city government is unwilling to collect more information before welcoming a superstore, and has rejected a petition for direct legislation:

In the rush to flood the city with below-poverty level jobs, the council has forgotten that its authority has limits. Whether citizens believe that Wal-Marts will save or destroy their community, their right to directly participate in government does not end on election day...

While the whole process has been dirty, at best, the latest decision in Jefferson crosses the line. The council's recent actions should not be considered yet another issue in a deep debate about our changing economic and environmental landscape. The reaction should be clear and definite: These actions are not only unwise, irresponsible and undemocratic; they are illegal and unacceptable.

Unspoken is the question of whether this issue is headed to court.