DEAR EDITOR:
The letter from the Wal-Mart’s Regional Director was inaccurate,
self-serving and insults the intelligence of Gilroy residents. As a
35-year resident and former City Council member I can truthfully
say we do not need the new Wal-Mart Super Center to pay for
staffing the new fire station and our EMT program.
DEAR EDITOR:
The letter from the Wal-Mart’s Regional Director was inaccurate, self-serving and insults the intelligence of Gilroy residents. As a 35-year resident and former City Council member I can truthfully say we do not need the new Wal-Mart Super Center to pay for staffing the new fire station and our EMT program.
Why? Because funding any city program is a matter of priorities set by the City Council and timing. We have had greatly increased sales tax from the outlet center for more than 10 years. This did not pay for a new fire station or help downtown. Why should we expect the two new shopping centers to do any better? Remember, they are also increasing the need for police and fire service.
We already have Wal-Mart. Adding groceries to make it a Super Wal-Mart will not add any sales tax (the city’s primary source of income), but it is likely to drive one of the three existing major grocery stores out of business. A full-service grocery store requires about 3,000 residents to support it. With the addition of Costco last spring, our current grocery stores have already lost business. If an existing grocery store fails, that will drastically impact the shopping center for which it is the anchor, causing a domino effect. We have been through that already with the loss of Albertsons and K-Mart. It has taken many years for that shopping center to even begin returning to life.
Ms. Hill’s accusations about Gilroy First! are totally false. Gilroy First has not had any mailings yet, much less glossy ones. Gilroy First! has not and will not endorse any candidates (unlike the Chamber of Commerce and Right Track groups) because Gilroy First! is only an issues committee. Gilroy First! can be proud that it has helped register nearly 500 new voters this fall.
I have a hard time understanding why some people are so threatened by this coalition of union members and others concerned about the environment and social justice. I have never been a union member, but I believe people can accomplish a lot working together. Being able to vote for your own candidates and choosing where you shop certainly is the American way.
But I will be very upset if a super Wal-Mart drives MY grocery store out of business.
Connie Rogers, Gilroy
Submitted Monday, Oct. 20 to ed****@****ic.com
