Yelm officials say Wal-Mart name a no-no

YELM, Wash. – Wal-Mart is a bad word in Yelm. Even referring to the retail giant in code is a no-no.

Mayor Adam Rivas won’t let the public address the City Council if he even thinks they might mention the unmentionable.

Residents say it’s censorship, but the city says it’s just trying to protect itself if a legal battle brews over Wal-Mart’s plan to build in this small town about 15 miles southeast of Olympia. Residents have been able to say less and less about Wal-Mart at council meetings during the past five months.

“Initially we couldn’t use the term ‘Wal-Mart,’ so the code word became ‘big-box stores,’ ” said Gregory May, who heads up a Wal-Mart opposition group in Yelm. “They then just announced they would no longer accept any comments about Wal-Mart or big-box stores.”

Some citizens are stunned that they’ve been silenced by the people elected to represent them.

“They just stop you short in your tracks,” said Kellie Petersen, who owns a gardening store in town. Petersen is one of several people who have spoken up despite the restrictions. “My issue was about traffic concerns. I knew enough to use the word ‘Wal-Mart’ at the very end, so I wouldn’t be told to sit down,” she said.

Yelm’s city attorney, Brent Dille, said council members were fed up with requests that the city impose a moratorium on the large stores. But he also said they don’t want to appear biased if an appeal of Wal-Mart’s application comes before the council.