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Don’t drive Wal-Mart away E-mail
Written by Bill Spence, Tracy   
Friday, 01 August 2008

 

The Wal-Mart design before the city is the one leaders asked for, and it should fit well in Tracy.

EDITOR,

Why blame Wal-Mart for the design of its proposed expansion project?

Wal-Mart presented the design that the city staff specified. The Tracy Planning Commission had already approved it, and Wal-Mart made all the changes to the design that the city required.

How do we know that this is not Wal-Mart’s best design? We cannot know if it is or not, but we do know it is what the planning commission and city staff thought was best for our city.

I thought that the mayor’s comments at the July 1 meeting looked like a last-minute attempt to kill the proposed expansion project. I like the proposed design and think it would fit well here in Tracy. It is a major improvement over what is there now.

How long is the city of Tracy going to stall this project? Does the city government want to drive Wal-Mart out of town and lose the tax revenue that this store provides?

In these hard economic times, can the city afford to start driving major businesses out of town? I would like to think that our city government is smarter than that, but I could be wrong.

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Comments (12)add
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written by Thinker , August 03, 2008
Nice letter Bill. Let's watch who stalls and prevents this project, and VOTE THEM OUT! You are right, the design was approved... and if I ran the city, and a multi-million dollar was knocking at MY DOOR-- I would let them with a smile and a handshake! We need this, consumers need this, and the ball is in our court.

Meanwhile, who is getting the "free lunch"? Are some of our community leaders being paid off by union reps and the Walmart competitors'?? Keep our eyes and ears open-- as they find some bogus reason (usually always planning) to kill the deal...but the truth is it is about appeasing some political interest such as the union or small business' worried about a deep pocket competitor. Remember folks, this is NOT Carmel... unique business' will survive a thriving shopping center: look at the controversary around the Mall when it was built---it survived, and the small stores survived. We need unique shops in Tracy... they'll come.
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written by truthteller , August 03, 2008
im all for a superwalmart here in town, especially after i stopped at the stockton one on the way back from a trip and spent $200.00 less then i would at savemart or safeway while at the same time overstocking my shelves...thats money for another mini trip before kids are back in school
approve it an start building before walmart backs out
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written by maybenotdumBcommenT , August 04, 2008
I thought the remodel pic looked good. We're not Napa Vally. It fit in with the other stores in the area.
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written by madmilker , August 04, 2008
People in America need to realize jus what got America in this shape..."cheap" yes so-call cheap items from a foreign land and now the largest company in America wants to make everything "green" but at the same time they put 95% made in China in their stores in China and support Chinese export...don't take my word...its on their China web page quote*Wal-Mart firmly believes in local procurement. We recognize that by purchasing quality products, we can generate more job opportunities, support local manufacturing and boost economic development. Over 95% of the merchandise in our stores in China is sourced locally. We have established partnerships with nearly 20,000 suppliers in China. *end quote!

Now! if there be 182 country's making items for the world to buy and they have only 5% of the pie in China...duh! This company makes the nice people of China support their currency(yuan) by keeping it in their country working for the people there.... but with the "yuan" going up in value and the US dollar going down...all the foreign items that the American consumer buys thinking it is cheap has went up in price.

People...its all about the currency and to keep a currency strong you got to keep it floating around the country you live in so it can work for you. For the past 12 years all them US dollars are being shipped overseas to a foreign bank and with the American worker not making anything for the foreigner to buy the "we the people" have to turn to the "second" largest employer in America(Uncle Sam) to sell "we the people" debt in order to get all them dollars back! 50 years ago a foreigner would had given their left nut for a US dollar or a Hershey's chocolate bar and today the same foreigner has got Uncle Sam and the American consumer by both all the while Hershey is moving the chocolate factory to Mexico. Wake up! America and think "MADE IN AMERICA" and put the word Washington back in D. C.....


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written by Thinker , August 04, 2008
I agree with you Madmilker-- so why dont you or SOMEONE open up a "MADE IN AMERICA" store?! I'd shop there. Meanwhile, it is all about specialization of labor. My labor dollars need to be outsourced to the lowest bidder so that I can afford other basic needs such as housing and fuel. Want to help me out? Are you suggesting I should boycott all foreign products and/or pay more for something if it is Made in US? It seems to be this is a political and free market issue. Why are we importing so much? Why not be like Nixon and put some Freeze on some items? When I lost my job at Fremont General Motors the government retrained me bacuse the U.S. "let too many foreign imports in". I beleive this retraining is still going on. Hershey workers and others are elgible for this retraining if there is a plant closure.

But you are right. What's your solution? NAFTA is supported by both political parties, does it really benefit U.S.? I guess we get cheaper produce (for NOW).... is that it? Help me out here.....
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written by Dave Hardesty , August 05, 2008
madmilker & Thinker

In many respects I agree with you. But when you really get down to it we have really done this to ourselves.

In wanting to get ahead we all seem to wish to increase our salaries and benefits. It's natural but it does have repurcussions.

This causes the companies we work for to raise their prices to maintain their profit levels so they can appease the investors that are trying to increase their finances as well.

Eventually these companies seek to move off shore to take advantage of lower production costs, less regulations and cheaper labor. That puts more people here out of work, makes them hungrier for cheaper products and the spiral continues to national bankruptcy.

And we wonder why we have financial problems in the US today?

Dave Hardesty
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written by Thinker , August 05, 2008
Yes Dave, I agree. And we wonder if the "Oldest Demoncracy" can survive with such capitalistic foundations? Housing has shown us to take NOTHING for granted: it can ALL fall! Same as the stock market, financial institutions, and the American way.
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written by Dave Hardesty , August 06, 2008
Look to history and you will find your answer.

Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome. All had older "Democracys" than ours. They failed. Why?

I assume it was a slip with Demoncracy instead of Democracy but it sort of fits for today's way of doing business now doesn't it? smilies/wink.gif

Appreciate your viewpoint. Thanks.

Dave Hardesty
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written by amy , August 06, 2008
I like that one Dave Hardesty!! Demoncracy! smilies/cheesy.gif

Yeah, "Sodom and Gomorrah" (sp?) seemed to follow capitalism and that is probably how the Arab world views us? A corrupt nation?

Exploiting foreign workers at our outsourced companies, giving bad names to the businesses and stores.

If the leaders truly cared for their own people, why didn't they take care of it? To bring better working conditions and pay for those people. I am not even sure if any foreigners have the health benefits, pensions in plan that used to exist in USA... sure does not make us look so great?

Sad situation. This election year sure will be interesting!

Might affect many businesses and our wallets, too?

-amy
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written by Thinker , August 06, 2008
Dave and Amy--

I think Amy answered your comment about why led to the demise of the oldest Democracies...well, at least as far as Ancient rome goes... is history going to repeat itself? Amy, is there any leaders who seem to want to turn the tide, or shall our "freedoms" take us to the brink of self-inflicted sucide. AS our Fore-Fathers questioned, CAN the people be trusted to govern themselves? This longest-lasting democracy will certain put that question to the test, no? Dan Rather has a nice video online about "The People's Republic of Capitalism". Relates to our Walmart discussion and if ANYONE really is "watching the fort"??
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written by amy , August 07, 2008
Thinker, I have no answer to that, that is how deep in trouble we are, will we be able to get out of it ourselves as Americans? I don't know, Corporations, Lobbyists, PAC, OPEC, Wall Street, Special Interest groups, Foreign investors and so on... have pretty much run the White House? So much "deregulations" over the years, too?

Jobs have disappeared, health care suffered, many are homeless due to foreclosed homes. Many foreclosed homes, defunct companies, shut down - health care clinics sat in mute testimony of our country's failed policies.

I just don't know at this point, just not feeling very confident with either candidate, our way of life may change... either go global or war continues.... how will the war if continued be funded? Us? We are stretched to the max and cannot contribute more while the elists rakes up the profits as fast as they could before new President takes over?

It is not going to be an easy time for a while, I fear.
Just still feeling hopeful, but being realistic.

-amy




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written by amy , August 07, 2008
Just cannot think of anyone who could take up the task to say No to all these outside influence and bring America back to better days. They just got too powerful.

-amy
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