Two of Mayor Meeker’s allies on the City Council, Russ Stephenson and Thomas Crowder, cast the only votes against building a new Wal-Mart in southeast Raleigh.

Why?

In a sense the answer is ideology. Councilmen Stephenson and Crowder are two politicians who have an ideology. They want to convert Raleigh into a patch-work of neighborhoods filled with “walkability, mixed-uses, and visual appeal.” And like most ideologues (who happen to be politicians) they’re a little fanatical about their ideas. There’s no give in them. No exceptions. The government should be certain no one deviates. But does their idea make sense for southeast Raleigh right now?

Councilman James West, who represents the district, supported the Wal-Mart. Apparently, he believes, or thinks his constituents believe, it is a good idea. That it will create growth. But none of that mattered to Stephenson or Crowder. It’s ‘walkability’ that matters and southeast Raleigh had better get on the train or else.

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