The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy and advocacy groups in other cities on Monday in a letter asked Wal-Mart Stores to improve wages and health benefits for employees before the company expands to urban areas, the AP/Boston Herald reports. The letter -- signed by more than 100 political, religious, business and civil rights leaders from 10 cities and addressed to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott -- criticized the "poverty-wage jobs" offered by the company. In addition, the letter asked elected officials in urban areas where Wal-Mart seeks to expand to require the company to offer "good jobs that provide quality health insurance and living wages and that allow employees to work free from discrimination and intimidation." In response, Wal-Mart in a statement said, "The public will see through these attacks because they know Wal-Mart offers good jobs and opportunities, helps working families save money and gives back more to our communities than virtually any other company in America." According to Wal-Mart, full-time employees, on average, receive wages of $10.11 per hour, and health plans for workers in some areas cost only $11 per month (AP/Boston Herald, 1/8).

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