McDonald's Goes Local

http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/april_first_2005/go_local



PPS helps fast food behemoth supply franchises with meat and produce from
local farmers markets

In an abrupt departure from current practice, the McDonald's Corporation
[NYSE:MCD] announced today that its 30,000 franchises will now acquire all
their produce from local farmers markets. The shift is expected to generate
demand for new farmers markets wherever there is a McDonald's restaurant.

The switch to local suppliers is the first phase of McDonald's new strategic
plan, which will be ushered in with the marketing catchphrase "Go Local!"

"We saw the writing on the wall," said CEO Jim Skinner. "Economies of scale
aren't going to cut it anymore. These days, you've got to go local or get
out of town."

Sources within the company say that plans to acquire lettuce, cheese,
pickles, and onions from local growers have been in place for months, but
only recently have logistical hurdles for special sauce and sesame seed buns
been cleared. "Actually," said an anonymous executive, "most Big Macs will
probably come on millet bread now. And the fries will be cut from different
varieties of heirloom potatoes according to the season."

Public market experts David O'Neil, Steve Davies, and Chris Heitmann of
Project for Public Spaces will oversee the integration of market vendors
into the McDonald's supply chain. "We think phase one of 'Go Local!' is
great," said Davies, "but what we're really excited about is phase two."

Leaked memos indicate that phase two will involve converting McDonald's
parking lots into open-air public markets, opening Playland areas to the
public, and closing drive-thru lanes to vehicle traffic to form links in a
global network of greenways . . .

WE LOVE COMMUTING

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/004489.html

Americans Spend More Than 100 Hours Commuting to Work Each Year, Census
Bureau Reports

Americans spend more than 100 hours commuting to work each year, according
to American Community Survey (ACS) data released today by the U.S. Census
Bureau. This exceeds the two weeks of vacation time (80 hours) frequently
taken by workers over the course of a year. For the nation as a whole, the
average daily commute to work lasted about 24.3 minutes in 2003.

"This annual information on commuters and their work trips and other
transportation-related data will help local, regional and state agencies
maintain, improve, plan and develop the nation's transportation systems,"
said Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. "American Community Survey data
will provide valuable assistance to agencies offering housing, education and
other public services as well." . . .

City Sets Rules For Big Box Stores

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=tct:2005:03:30:410598:METRO

Aim Is To Alleviate Negative Effects

After four years of discussion, Madison has an ordinance that directs the
design of large retail or "big box" developments.

In urging what would be the successful passage of his version of the
proposal, Ald. Ken Golden said the new law would "urbanize the big box."

"It greatly improves the requirements for better appearances," he added.
Golden said the ordinance also would provide better pedestrian
accessibility.

"I am trying to do something that people who actually build these stores say
they can work with," he said. "I think it will change the way big boxes look
and I think people will still build them in Madison."

Big box foes decry the sea of asphalt that surround superstore developments.
They say the sprawling, uninspired stores are ugly, environmentally
unfriendly and a potential kiss of death for existing small businesses that
would otherwise thrive in towns and cities.

In passing a big box ordinance, Madison joins cities around the country that
have tried to regulate such development to alleviate some of these negative
impacts . . .