Falling Prices
Column published 10-26-06
The final Wal-Mart Supercenter study has been released with minor alterations. The gist of the report is that potential problems would be manageable. The Fairfield Planning Commission recommends the city back the proposal. (Insert applause here.)
While there has been some opposition, most of the issues raised have been addressed. What are left are the professional Wal-Mart haters, who see the company as an evil empire that pays its employees Malaysian wages, fattens the Medi-Cal rolls, buys products made by Chinese toddlers and kicks puppies for good measure.
Fairfield resident Judith Kahle stated the opposition viewpoint well in a letter to the editor this week. Kahle thinks the city should require Wal-Mart to offer a living wage and health benefits. Do other employers have to offer a "living wage" and benefits? Is that what local businesses want, more regulation?
And why single out Wal-Mart for buying cheap goods made in Asia? What large retailer doesn't? Has anyone checked where other big retailers with stores in Fairfield buy their goods? I have. Check it out. I guarantee you won't be surprised. This is the price of so-called "free trade."
But it's not Fairfield officials' jobs to strike a blow against free trade. This isn't the Berkeley City Council (I hope). Their responsibility is to do what's best for this community. Wal-Mart brings in taxes, jobs, one-stop shopping and great prices for residents.
Other businesses will be protected by those who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. And let's get this out of the way because there seems to be some confusion among the anti-Wal-Mart people. No one will be forced to work or shop at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.
As for the potential of harming other businesses, there will be some. But one has to keep in mind that the Raley's customer isn't your typical Wal-Mart customer. For example, supermarkets offering full-service meat departments will have an advantage because Wal-Mart only sells prepackaged meat.
Dixon has a Wal-Mart Supercenter and they're not a smoldering ruin. The traffic isn't bad there or at the other two Wal-Mart Supercenters I've visited in Sacramento and Roseville. And beyond that, we can end the traffic talk because it's been examined and deemed doable.
Council members Marilyn Farley and Jack Batson are well-known supporters of orderly growth and infill development. What could be more infill than filling in the dilapidated carcass of Mission Village with a new retail center? Smart-growth proponents preach having shopping that residents can walk to and many residents would be able to walk to the new Supercenter.
No doubt Wal-Mart has played hardball. By purchasing the Mission Village land, planning to close the Chadbourne store and maneuvering to open a Suisun City store, Fairfield will suffer serious financial harm if we reject this Supercenter. No matter how we may feel about their tactics, it's a win for Fairfield.
By the way, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 1000 Webster St. so all the haters can show up and shake your fists one last time.
Wal-Mart Supercenter a good deal
By Kelvin Wade
The final Wal-Mart Supercenter study has been released with minor alterations. The gist of the report is that potential problems would be manageable. The Fairfield Planning Commission recommends the city back the proposal. (Insert applause here.)
While there has been some opposition, most of the issues raised have been addressed. What are left are the professional Wal-Mart haters, who see the company as an evil empire that pays its employees Malaysian wages, fattens the Medi-Cal rolls, buys products made by Chinese toddlers and kicks puppies for good measure.
Fairfield resident Judith Kahle stated the opposition viewpoint well in a letter to the editor this week. Kahle thinks the city should require Wal-Mart to offer a living wage and health benefits. Do other employers have to offer a "living wage" and benefits? Is that what local businesses want, more regulation?
And why single out Wal-Mart for buying cheap goods made in Asia? What large retailer doesn't? Has anyone checked where other big retailers with stores in Fairfield buy their goods? I have. Check it out. I guarantee you won't be surprised. This is the price of so-called "free trade."
But it's not Fairfield officials' jobs to strike a blow against free trade. This isn't the Berkeley City Council (I hope). Their responsibility is to do what's best for this community. Wal-Mart brings in taxes, jobs, one-stop shopping and great prices for residents.
Other businesses will be protected by those who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart. And let's get this out of the way because there seems to be some confusion among the anti-Wal-Mart people. No one will be forced to work or shop at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.
As for the potential of harming other businesses, there will be some. But one has to keep in mind that the Raley's customer isn't your typical Wal-Mart customer. For example, supermarkets offering full-service meat departments will have an advantage because Wal-Mart only sells prepackaged meat.
Dixon has a Wal-Mart Supercenter and they're not a smoldering ruin. The traffic isn't bad there or at the other two Wal-Mart Supercenters I've visited in Sacramento and Roseville. And beyond that, we can end the traffic talk because it's been examined and deemed doable.
Council members Marilyn Farley and Jack Batson are well-known supporters of orderly growth and infill development. What could be more infill than filling in the dilapidated carcass of Mission Village with a new retail center? Smart-growth proponents preach having shopping that residents can walk to and many residents would be able to walk to the new Supercenter.
No doubt Wal-Mart has played hardball. By purchasing the Mission Village land, planning to close the Chadbourne store and maneuvering to open a Suisun City store, Fairfield will suffer serious financial harm if we reject this Supercenter. No matter how we may feel about their tactics, it's a win for Fairfield.
By the way, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 1000 Webster St. so all the haters can show up and shake your fists one last time.
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