Fairfield Welcomes Suisun Dollars

Suisun residents welcome to shop here

By Kelvin Wade | | July 31, 2008 16:09

In looking over Save Our Suisun's Web site, I see the group lists quite a few reasons to recall the current Suisun City Council. Of course, the obvious reason is the council's approval of a Wal-Mart Supercenter to be built on Walters Road.

If councilmembers had voted the group's way, there would be no recall effort. And for that heresy, the punishment that SOS seeks to mete out is political death. But I wouldn't count on it.

What's happening in Suisun City is not exactly new. It's a recent tactic of the anti-Wal-Mart crowd.

When the Rosemead City Council approved a Wal-Mart Supercenter in 2005, angry citizens voted two councilmembers out of office, replacing them with anti-Wal-Mart candidates. Then the group Save Our Community launched a recall effort against the remaining councilmembers.

In September 2006, Wal-Mart opened its Rosemead supercenter and, shortly afterward, helped defeat the recall effort. Expect the same thing here.

How does keeping Wal-Mart out save Suisun City? Does the city have so many jobs that it doesn't need the jobs a supercenter would bring to the community? Is it the quality of the job? Do Wal-Mart jobs not count?

My parents always told me there was no shame in honest work. I guess they left off the 'except for Wal-Mart' caveat.

Is Suisun City so flush with revenue that it can afford to turn down the money Wal-Mart would bring in? I don't think so. An estimated 70 percent of potential sales tax revenue leaves Suisun City every year. The reason the city has such low sales tax income is directly related to the lack of local shopping centers.

And what about Suisun City residents on tight budgets who want the low prices that a supercenter offers? There's no shame in wanting low prices when the cost of everything keeps going up and up.

There are residents on fixed incomes who don't have the luxury to quibble over the location of a supercenter. They need those low-cost prescriptions that Wal-Mart offers. For them, it's a matter of survival.

Instead of recalling Mayor Pete Sanchez and councilmembers Jane Day and Mike Hudson, they should be applauded. Not that this was a hard call.

But don't let me be the voice of reason. It's in Fairfield's interest that a supercenter not be built in Suisun City. There will be less cannibalization of existing businesses with just a Fairfield store. Fairfield would see greater revenues as we welcome Suisun residents' dollars into our coffers.

Suisun City shoppers traveling to Fairfield's supercenter will be more likely to also patronize other Fairfield businesses such as gas stations and fast-food restaurants.

Suisun City has come a long way since the San Francisco Chronicle ranked it the worst place to live in the Bay Area in 1989. The area has seen massive housing construction, new businesses come in and a waterfront that boasts excellent events and festivals. A supercenter would continue that progress.

But do what you will. By the way, Wal-Mart has submitted plans for the Fairfield store. It's going to be sweet. And Suisun City residents are very welcome to shop there.

Peace.
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NOTES: Hey, I've had crappy service at WalMart. I've even participated in a one man boycott for six months. But....but....they're so dang cheap. And I'm so dang frugal. And times are hard. If the Suisun City Council had turned down this Wal-Mart, then THAT would've been grounds for a recall. That would be political malpractice.


Check out the DR Other Side blog for our lunch with two City Councilmen.

Check out the Wading In Blog where you can find Tony's rebuttal to The Saga of Da Bucket, as well as Theo the Eater.