Letters to the Editor – Monterey County Herald
Responses to KSBW-TV’s April 21, 2006 Editorial
Other Letters to the Editor
Note: The following editorials and responses represent the views of the individual authors only; they do not necessarily represent the views of Citizens Against Wal-Mart in Marina.
Letters to the Editor – Monterey County Herald
The following letters were submitted to the Monterey County Herald:
• Submitted April 26, 2006
Tourism is Monterey County’s second biggest industry. Our core market is the San Francisco Bay Area. The Reservation Road entrance off Highway 1 is the gateway to Marina’s tourist trade. Wal-Mart will not entice visitors to stay and explore. It will make Marina look bland and generic.
Would Carmel allow a Wal-Mart to greet visitors at Ocean Avenue? Would Pacific Grove allow it to welcome visitors on Lighthouse Avenue? No. Having a big box retailer would detract from these cities’ unique character and charm. It will do the same in Marina at this pivotal point in our development as we strive to build a unique identity.
Allowing Kmart to be built was a mistake that left Marina with a vacant, blighted building. If one discount store failed there, why make the same mistake twice?
At its Oct. 13th meeting, the Marina Planning Commission stated they did NOT want a Wal-Mart or any single major discounter occupying the Marina Landing Shopping Center. The City’s vision was for multiple retailers. Further, the City and developer would make MORE money with multiple retailers.
Wal-Mart should not be allowed to thwart our own plans for our own City. Say NO to Wal-Mart in Marina!
Steve Zmak,
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
Poor Wal-Mart. Its stock has fallen. Its public image is taking a beating. But it’s not unions tarnishing Wal-Mart’s image. Wal-Mart is tarnishing Wal-Mart's image. Its pervasive pattern of discrimination against women? That's Wal-Mart. Child labor violations, wage and hour violations, and environmental violations in multiple states? Yep, Wal-Mart again.
So I won’t shed a tear for Wal-Mart. I'll cry for the hard-working men and women in this country (and county) who work for the world’s largest retailer, yet can't afford rent, food or medicine. Wal-Mart's CEO makes over $17 million a year – more than $8,000 an hour. The Waltons have billions. So why can't they provide employees a living wage or affordable health coverage?
I'm a small business owner. I must buy my own health insurance. Why should I as a taxpayer have to buy health coverage and benefits for Wal-Mart's employees, too? If Wal-Mart doesn't think big corporations should provide health coverage for employees and thinks the government should pick up the tab, then it should say it wants socialized medicine and work to make it happen.
Until then, Wal-Mart should take care of the employees it professes to care so much about. Actions speak louder than words.
Tina Zmak
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 18, 2006
How did it happen that the Marina Planning Commission amended the zoning permit for the Marina Landing Shopping Center last October to enable the leasing of the site to Wal-Mart, in conflict with Marina's General Plan? The developers told the Commission they planned to spend money to improve the property, divide it for multiple retailers, and actively market it for a mix of tenants. None of that was done.
Amendment of the zoning permit was done under misleading circumstances, suggesting that Tallen and Keshen Holdings and Wal-Mart knew that the permitting of a Wal-Mart could never happen with proper review by Planning Commissioners and city staff. The use permit for the former K-Mart was questionable when it was issued in the early 1990’s. An environmental impact study has never been done.
Many Marina residents are asking for accountability. On April 27, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to decide whether to consider revoking the permit granted to Tallen and Keshen.
Marina's General Plan calls for development at the Marina Landing Shopping Center that is pedestrian friendly, visitor serving, and enhances Marina's image, not a general merchandise discounter, such as Wal-Mart.
Barbara Svetlik
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 18, 2006
Why not a Wal-Mart on Beach Road, as opposed to any other retailer? Wal-Mart customers feel personally maligned for their choice of store. It doesn’t help that to date no real debate has been allowed, only a post announcement discussion upon which no action was taken. Wal-Mart detractors take the City Council’s lack of opposition as evidence Marina is slipping further away from goals of higher wages and upscale demographics. How many other communities would allow a Wal-Mart located within a quarter mile of the coast, at the main entrance to the city? The regional context has certainly changed since 1992 with 4 major developments proposed within 5 miles: Marina Heights, University Villages, Marina Station, East Garrison. Not to mention the infill development already occurring. This Sunday there will be an opportunity to view the documentary “The High Cost of Low Price” 7:00 at the VFW hall. By taking advantage of this free screening, even just for the sake of curiosity, the pro Wal-Mart people may come to a better understanding of what drives the opposition’s fears.
Tina Walsh
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 12, 2006
I received a letter from Kevin Loscotoff, Sr. Mgr., Public Affairs from Wal-Mart. In this letter was a card I was supposed to send back to "support" Wal-Mart. First of all I don't support Wal-Mart. The card Mr. Loscotoff sent doesn't give any option for anything but supporting their endeavor.
How about our Marina officials sending back a letter to Wal-Mart asking for the following agreements in writing prior to moving to our town?
1) Full time employment
2) Card check for a union contract
3) Environmental protections
4) Livable wage
5) No gender discrimination
6) Yearly donations to selected charities, schools and other local charities
Wal-Mart had a twelve billion dollar profit - they can afford to pay their employees a living wage and offer benefits similar to those paid to workers at Albertson's, Ralph's, Safeway, etc., who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
Marina is the Gateway to the Monterey Bay - certainly a Wal-Mart does not enhance the beauty of our area.
Questions need to be asked, such as, why did the Mayor of Marina speak out against the new owners manipulation of the planning commission and now seems to be in full support? Why weren't there public hearings allowing for community input prior to the announcement/decision being made? Where are the records showing what possible tenants were contacted and when? Why can't we have a cultural center providing a venue for concerts, theater and the arts? Why can't we have an educational institution housed in the building? Surely there are other options - surely our city officials can't be that blind.
Patty Cramer
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted March 14, 2006
I am a citizen against Wal-Mart in Marina on Monterey Bay.
The U.S. has sued Wal-Mart in 9 states for violating the Clean Water Act. Is this the kind of neighbor we want on Monterey Bay?
From Bozeman to Bangor to Biloxi, over 100 cities have banned Wal-Mart. Is Marina so desperate for revenue?
Rocklin, near Sacramento, lost an estimated $650,000 annually when a Wal-Mart closed without notifying city officials. Wal-Mart blind-sided Marina city officials once, will they do it again?
Wal-Mart ads tout 'Only in America' and 'Buy American' while sending more jobs to Third World sweatshops than any other American corporation. Over thirty states have labor class-action suits against Wal-Mart. Is this the kind of employer we want on Monterey Bay?
Wal-Mart shifts health care costs to the government; Wal-Mart workers and children are estimated to cost taxpayers $456 million nationally through their use of public health programs. Can Monterey County afford this added burden?
Wal-Mart wages breed Wal-Mart shoppers, they need poverty to grow. Their average worker earns below poverty-level annual income of $14,000. A 2000 University of Connecticut showed that Wal-Mart operated primarily in poor and working-class communities. Are these the kind of jobs that will build Marina's economy?
Luana Conley
Marina, California
• Submitted March 14, 2006
As a resident and homeowner in Marina for the past five years, I've heard much talk from City officials about the bright future of Marina. Therefore I was appalled when it was announced last week that Wal-Mart had leased a site in Marina without any public hearings or environmental review. Wal-Mart has a history of paying low wages, hiring undocumented workers, and destroying local businesses. This is not a bright future for Marina. Surely the citizens of Marina are entitled to an environmental review, public comment, and review by the Planning Commission of such a drastic change in the use of the leased property. None of that has been done. What will be the effect on traffic, nearby wetlands and wildlife, homeowners, visitors to the City and beach, local businesses, and so forth. The citizens are entitled to have these issues addressed before another step is taken toward permitting a Wal-Mart in Marina.
Barbara Svetlik
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted March 12, 2006
I'm infuriated by how Tallen & Keshen snuck Wal-Mart into the old KMart site with a “loophole” in the use permit. While many city officials stated they’re not happy about it, their sound bite has been, “It’s a done deal.”
How can this be a done deal? The impact is too big for just an administrative rubber stamp. There has been no discussion by Marina officials, residents or businesses. There have been no public hearings. When the Planning Commission modified the use permit at the October 13, 2005 meeting, it was done with the understanding there would specifically be no Wal-Mart. Plus, signature of the lease has occurred before completing the California Environmental Quality Act process.
Wal-Mart would be Marina’s biggest business. While some say it’s the same as other big box retailers, I disagree. It’s an anomaly that leaves economic wastelands in its wake.
Our right to due process must be honored. We demand it. We’ve formed a group, Citizens Against Wal-Mart in Marina!, to ensure this right. We want all Marina citizens’ voices to be heard on this pivotal issue. We will not be ignored for the sake of convenience.
Say no to Wal-Mart in Marina!
Steve Zmak
Marina, Calif.
Responses to KSBW-TV’sApril 21, 2006
“Editorial: Wal-Mart Marina?”
The following letters were submitted to KSBW-TV in response to the station’s April 21st editorial in favor of Wal-Mart in Marina. See the full text of KSBW’s editorial at: http://www.theksbwchannel.com/editorials/8887800/detail.html
• Submitted April 25, 2006
Dear Mr. Heston and Ms. Wright:
We were disappointed to see KSBW’s April 21st editorial. We are long-time KSBW viewers and enjoy KSBW’s news coverage. However, the April 21 editorial seems to serve Wal-Mart more than the public.
First, we would like to let you know that we are leading a movement to stop Wal-Mart in Marina. We are not “zealots” or “high-handed activists.” We are Marina residents, supported by hundreds of other Marina residents. We own a home and a small business in Marina. We vote in every election. We give back to the community. We have never led an “activist” cause. However, when it was announced in the Monterey County Herald on March 4 that Wal-Mart was coming to Marina, we knew we had to do something and shortly thereafter formed a grassroots citizens group called Citizens Against Wal-Mart in Marina.
Second, yes, Wal-Mart does draw criticism — and rightfully so on many counts. We believe that it is wrong for a company to do things like discriminate against women for pay and promotions, or make people work off-the-clock, or violate child labor laws, or violate the Clean Water Act. Other people do too, like the U.S. government, for example. Wal-Mart doesn’t need to blame to activists or unions for tarnishing its image; Wal-Mart is doing a fine job tarnishing its own image.
Third, we agree with you that one of the best parts of this great country is choice, and county residents can choose to shop at the existing Wal-Mart in Salinas. The problem is that Marina was NOT given a choice. An out-of-town developer bought the Kmart building and parking lot last October. They signed a lease with Wal-Mart in February, without bothering to tell anyone in Marina. Marina’s City Council and citizens were informed a Wal-Mart was coming to Marina by the Monterey County Herald article on March 4. We have repeatedly been told, “It’s a done deal.” Where was our choice?
Further, the vision for the Marina Landing Shopping Center (the site of the former Kmart) was discussed in great detail at the Oct. 13, 2005 Marina Planning Commission meeting. The vision our City Council and Planning Commission had for the site was MULTIPLE retailers. In fact, the Planning Commission specifically told the developer that Marina did NOT want a Wal-Mart or any single general discount retailer coming in and occupying the whole building.
Should an out-of-town developer and Wal-Mart have more say in the direction of Marina than its own city officials and citizens? Certainly not. Marina citizens and city leaders (not a developer or Wal-Mart or KSBW or even citizens from other local cities) should decide if a Wal-Mart comes to Marina.
Fourth, if the developer had followed through with the plans that were discussed for the site at the Oct. 13 meeting and secured multiple retailers, both the developer and the city would make MORE money than they would with a Wal-Mart. And Marina citizens would have MORE choice which, again, is one of the best parts of this country.
Fifth, comparing the threat that Wal-Mart poses to the threat al-Qaeda poses is ridiculous and irresponsible. We are dismayed that anyone would make such a comparison.
Finally, in the interest of fairness and full disclosure, we think KSBW should disclose in its editorials if the company it is praising is a paid advertiser on the station — particularly when touting the company’s “wide selection and low prices.”
Sincerely,
Steve and Tina Zmak
Citizens Against Wal-Mart in Marina
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 25, 2006
Dear Mr. Heston and Ms. Wright:
I have read the text of your editorial comments regarding those of us who have chosen to exercise our right to freedom of speech and choice regarding the invasion of Wal-Mart to Marina.
It is appalling as well as irresponsible that you'd compare Al-Qaeda to Wal-Mart. With the thousands of men and women proudly serving our Armed Forces and the additional thousands that have given the ultimate sacrifice it saddens me to think you'd use both in the same sentence.
Those of us who have chosen to exercise our freedom of choice and speech are Mothers, Fathers, Sons, Daughters, Grandmothers and Grandfathers. Many are homeowners in Marina who care about what happens to the city they hold so dear. We pay taxes, we volunteer on issues and I don't consider those I've met as "zealots" or "high handed activists". We are simply searching for the "truth" and seeking more information about how this "deal" all went down.
However if being a "high handed activist" involves volunteering and helping with "Operation Purple Heart", "Operation We Care" and the Letter Carrier Food Drive, to name a few, then sign me up!!
I would strongly suggest you view the Planning Commission tape (October 13, 2005) when promises were made and changes made to the existing use of the space based on those promises. If after viewing the tape, you see what we saw and heard, I think you should go on the air and publicly apologize to your listeners.
Many have spoken in favor of Wal-Mart at meetings I've attended, most of them don't even live in Marina. I'm certain if Wal-Mart tries to rent the old Ralph's building in Monterey there would be a lot of resistance. I wonder if Wal-Mart was interested in any other area in Marina?
This isn't just about a "big box". We're talking about a corporation that makes twelve billion dollars a year. The written record speaks for itself regarding law suits filed and won against Wal-Mart regarding, discrimination against women, violations of child labor laws, having workers work off the clock, and violating the Clean Air Act.
As children we were held accountable for our actions and the way we treat each other. As parents we attempt to instill values and morals in the molding of those we love. When there is no longer accountability there is chaos.
We're simply asking for a fair shake. We want the developer to do what he said he would do.
Lastly, I think in all fairness you should disclose at the end of your editorial that Wal-Mart pays for advertising on KSBW. Singing the praises of Wal-Mart as having "wide selection and low prices" is almost a quote from their television advertising. I'm wondering how much money you spend at Wal-Mart each week? I'm wondering if you live in Marina.
Why don't you meet us for lunch and see who we really are and what we're really about? You might be surprised.
Patty Cramer
Marina, California
• Submitted April 25, 2006
Mr. Heston,
Referring to citizens who don't want a Walmart in their town as "zealots" is, itself, an extremist statement. I find it ironic that you have such a strong opinion about what type of store we in Marina want or should get, considering the following facts:
1) You live in Monterey, not in Marina, so what does it matter to you? You're not going to have to live with a Walmart across the street from your house. Would you like a Walmart across the street from your house? Do you think the City of Monterey would allow it? Then why is it so surprising to you that we in Marina don't want it in our back yards either?
2) If Walmart is not already one of your advertising clients, they potentially could be, which makes your comments a conflict of interest.
Your comment about Costco and Target not fighting over the empty retail space on that lot suggests that you've not had a look at Marina's General Plan, which does not call for those kinds of big box discounters. Marina is a big canvas upon which we can paint just about any kind of town we want. The downtown area (Reservation Road) is depressed and needs revitalization. Marina's General Plan calls for beautiful new commercial and residential developments all around central Marina, and a Walmart, Costco, or Target do not fit in with that plan. The plan calls for mixed use, pedestrian-friendly, "New Urbanism" style construction, which is the antidote to big box construction.
Tallen & Keshen (the developers who bought the former K-Mart building) made statements to the city that they were going to clean up the site, hold events to attract retailers and restaurants, and then bring the city something that would embrace our General Plan. I've seen no evidence that they've done these things.
You are very much mistaken about Walmart's success. It is based on a number of factors; some of which are smart business and others of which ARE bullying tactics, employee abuse, and predatory relationships with vendors. How much do you really know about this? You need to do some homework before you jump in and make such ridiculous statements to defend someone that you obviously don't know that much about.
Referring to the citizens as "high-handed activists" is just plain insulting and ignorant. We're citizens who don't want a big box discounter moving into our city. It's that simple. I know it may be hard for you to imagine that this isn't some sort of communist conspiracy, but it truly isn't. I'm a registered Republican and I've never been involved in any sort of activism until now. This is important to me because it's in my back yard.
I like the way you suddenly made yourself a citizen of Marina in your final paragraph: "High-handed activists should not decide for the rest of us whether a Walmart comes to Marina or not." Since when is anyone deciding for you? You live in Monterey. You're an outsider and although everyone is entitled to an opinion, yours doesn't count in this case because you won't have to live with the outcome, and, as I mentioned earlier, you have a potential conflict of interest.
Mr. Heston, you're a loose canon at KSBW and I hope you realize it before you make too many enemies with your uninformed, knee-jerk rhetoric and find yourself out of a job. Then again, you could join "the tens of thousands" of people who are proud to work for Walmart.
About the only thing that you said that I actually agree with is this: If you don't like a store, don't shop there. That's true. But this isn't about people being forced to shop at Walmart. It's about people being forced to LIVE with Walmart in their neighborhood. That's a huge difference. Don't forget that we also have a choice about which TV channel to watch or to advertise on.
Scott Janssen
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 25, 2006
Last Sunday evening, I heard the editorial by Mr. Heston of KSBW. It was misleading and inaccurate. As a regular viewer of KSBW News, that was disappointing. I'm sending this letter to clarify for KSBW editors the very good reasons that Marina citizens have for opposing a Wal-Mart in Marina.
The leasing of the Marina Landing site to Wal-Mart conflicts with Marina's General Plan. This is important to those of us who live in Marina. The question is, was the Marina Planning Commission misled in October when it amended the zoning permit to enable leasing of the site to Wal-Mart. The developers told the Commission they planned to spend money to improve the property, divide it for multiple retailers, and actively market it for a mix of tenants. None of that was done.
The use permit for the former K-Mart was questionable when it was issued in the early 1990s. Since then, a great deal of development has taken place in the area, including plans for a new library next to Locke Paddon Park, several hotels, and plans for in-fill housing of approximately 20 homes.
Amendment of the zoning permit in October was done under misleading circumstances, suggesting that Tallen and Keshen Holdings and Wal-Mart knew that the permitting of a Wal-Mart could never happen with proper review by Planning Commissioners and city staff.
If a Wal-Mart store were to open, an additional 10,000 vehicles per week will travel these streets; the new Marina library will look out over loading docks for the store; nearby rare wetlands and wildlife will be endangered by traffic and noise; children and adults visiting the park and library will have to contend with dense automobile and truck traffic; the quiet residential neighborhoods nearby will be flooded with lights from the parking lot; and there are many unanswered questions about other aspects of Wal-Mart as a neighbor.
The Planning Commission needs to consider the question of whether or not they were misled by Tallen and Keshen when they amended the use permit.
Barbara Svetlik
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
KSBW Editorial Board:
I am an informed Marina resident who envisioned something much better for Marina Landing, the northern entry to our city, than the ugly sameness of another big box store just like the one down the road.
I resent being called a zealot, and a high-handed activist. I work hard, personally and professionally to help make Marina become an attractive, unique city, living up to our potential as the city at "The Heart of Monterey Bay."
I know the history of this site, and the possibilities we looked forward to, and a Wal-Mart doesn't fit the location, which is only a few yards from our secluded beach, and in the midst of many visitor accommodations. I have been in close constant contact with the business community through my previous position, and a Wal-Mart was not what they or the Planning Commission expected when we heard the attractive promises and plans from the new property owners, Tallen & Keshen. We've had a highly visible empty ugly blot at this entry to our city for five years, we can wait another few months for the Planning Commission to carefully consider the pros and cons before choosing this third rate option.
I very much hope Wal-Mart nixes the deal, as has been done in 100 other towns where informed residents objected to their well documented bad business practices.
Luana Conley
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
I am writing to express my disappointment in your recent "editorial" which essentially promoted the interests of one of your advertisers (Wal-Mart) over the good of my home town, Marina.
As a Marina resident and taxpayer, I oppose having a Wal-Mart located in our community because it is, without a doubt, one of the worst corporations in terms of shirking its responsibilities to its employees. Its lower prices are due to offering
merchandise produced in overseas sweatshops at a terrible cost to the women and children thus exploited. Wal-Mart also refuses to pay a living wage or provide adequate health care benefits to its workers, thus moving the costs to local communities, such as Marina and Monterey County. Given the current financial crisis at Natividad Hospital, the last thing our community needs is a company that expects taxpayers to pick up the tab for health care benefits they should be providing.
The deceptive way in which Wal-Mart weaseled its way into Marina also deserves public scrutiny. The appropriate city response to such duplicity is to revoke the use permit for this business and re-open the required public hearing process, this time requiring fair and honest disclosure on the part of the developers.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Lagier Fellguth
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
As a well educated professional, savvy consumer, and Marina homeowner, I must disagree with your editorial of April 21, 2006, regarding the proposed Wal-Mart in Marina. Wal-Mart is not a terrorist threat, but it is a threat to the economy of our country,
and is one of the largest contributors to the current trade deficit. Wal-Mart is undercutting prices and making money to the detriment of employees who are overworked and underpaid, in terms of both wages and benefits. Wal-Mart is advertising, on the radio, that it is going into at least 50 blighted urban areas, this year, to clean up the neighborhood. Marina will become a blighted urban area if we allow Wal-Mart to open here!
Those of us who are speaking out against Wal-Mart are doing so because we are aware of the down side of Wal-Mart and businesses like it. We paid attention when Frontline aired the documentary "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" in 2004. We are familiar with documentaries like "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" (2005). These DVD's are available, as well as many books, in your neighborhood public library, and in bookstores. The citizens of Marina, as well as members of the City Council, need to be aware of the serious impact that Wal-Mart has had on communities all over our country.
Leslie Payne
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
You certainly have not done your homework when it comes to the Walmart issues. Let's see... Have you investigated how many attacks on shoppers have occurred in WalMart parking lots across America due to the fact that there is no security for shoppers in most of their facilities after dark?
How about the ruin of small businesses in towns all over America due to their crushing business practices? Most of those towns have not survived and look like ghost towns. Can you imagine the people in Carmel putting up with that on Ocean Avenue?
What about the film, "The High Cost of Low Prices" exposing the flagrant management practices of educating their "associates" in how to apply for and receive public assistance for medical help? WalMart has more people on public assistance than any other employer in the U.S. I don't know about you but I don't care to pick up their medical expenses.
As far as "not shopping there?" Our home is just three blocks to the North of the proposed store and very close to the freeway. We only bought it two months ago without any knowledge of this WalMart fiasco. The owners sort of sprang this whole thing on the community in about three weeks. Do you really believe we would have bought a home in excess of $600,000 if we'd known that a "big box" (with all their problems) would be moving right down the street?
C'mon KSBW, you're supposed to serve the community, not punish us. How about some support?
Sally Sun
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
Dear Mr. Joseph Heston and KSBW,
I am a Marina resident and am proud to have served for three years at the city of Marina Economic Development Dept. As grants manager I initiated, designed and/or managed all the many grant funded projects related to downtown vitalization, visioning, planning, design improvements and capital improvements. Two of the projects received regional awards from TAMC.
I helped ensure that there was broad public participation and representation from all major stakeholders from property owners to faith groups and so forth. Countless hours of staff work, community participation and highly qualified consultant work confirmed that village style development (multi-story mixed use with housing over commercial and
consolidated parking, Monterey and San Luis Obispo style) was nearly unanimously supported as well as determined to be the most viable option given existing market realities and trends and the strong interest exhibited by local developers.
All the city's adopted land use and economic development policy encourage and support village style development and I quote "discourage strip development" and anything that does not help "Marina develop a towns."
The city and later the land owner, Tallen and Keshen, did not even begin to make a good faith effort in promoting this high performance village style development possibility. In fact the Marina Landing Shopping Center (where Wal-Mart might locate) is located in the city's Downtown District and smack in the middle of a classic mixed use neighborhood - schools, hosuing, churches, hotels, library, city park, restaurant, hotels, all within easy walking distance of Marina Landing Center. Tallen and Keshen could actually make $25 million per acre if it chose to build mixed use village style development instead of the Wal-Mart. They never even tried. There are a thousand retailers other than Wal-Mart. I know because I have the same industry "bible" as Tallen and Keshen that lists the contacts and space/location requirements that each of the thousands of chain retailers.
Wal-Mart is the lowest performance alternative when it comes to productive use of this prime real estate. Village style development in the 20-acre Marina Landing Center would out-perform Wal-Mart by wasting less land (producing the same amount of parking with above and below ground solutions), hundreds of more housing and commercial opportunities (including low cost goods and clothing stores), unique
identity/character, more tax revenue, more jobs, better paying jobs with better benefits, a public plaza, dog park, more opportunities for local developers and contractors, meet all community development goals, enhance neighborhood property values, and complement and encourage investment in future downtown district development.
Nothing kills downtown development interest faster than a Wal-Mart. It actually lowers property values and discourages investment and development because so few commercial/mixed use developers want to locate their projects near a Wal-Mart. Sure, a few retailers will share space with a Wal-Mart, but these are not classy joints and represent a highly restricted selection.
Wal-Mart is simply never the highest and best use of the land. Given the amount of prime real estate it consumes its tiny footprint and vast parking lagoons produce the least amount of jobs and tax revenue given the potential. It is clearly the poorest performing and most inappropriate option given the location in the center of a mixed use neighborhood.
Marina was given a Stalinist choice: do you want scratchy toilet paper or no toilet paper. Of course most choose something over nothing no matter how bad it is. But in an American democracy we are privileged with a whole host of choices. Wal-Mart is the
scratchy toilet paper. Heck, my son and I will likely choose to walk to Wal-Mart over driving to Target. However, there are much higher performing choices available if there is even an inkling of leadership. We are rudderless here in Marina. A total leadership vacuum. Despite all of our adopted community development policy giving our leaders all the ammunition they could ever need to decline Wal-Mart for something much better, they say lethargically "there's nothing we can do."
And please if I hear one more person say that Wal-Mart is the American way I will hurl. Wal-Mart is the exact opposite of free market capitalism that is the American way. Wal-Mart is the most heavily subsidized retailer in North America. They couldn't survive and provide competitive prices without massive government handouts in the form of national trade policy, state and regional and local gifts of taxpayer dollars. Subsidy comes in the form of rezoning, govt grants, tax abatements, incentives, cost sharing for infrastructure improvements (traffic lights, roads, storm water runoff engineering, waived fees, etc.).
Wal-Mart's regional distribution centers are a govt handout mecca. This is the opposite of level playing field for all business. If you add up all the subsidy and on a per-job or per commercial square foot basis give the same subsidy to your average local business, you'd have to write a $30,000 check to every last one of them. Wal-Mart's low cost is actually just a fraction of what taxpayers are paying out in handouts for one preferred business at the expense of all the others who elect to stand on their own two feet.
You didn't know any of this? I would be happy to guide a presentation and roundtable discussion on high and low performance development in the new era where cheap land, cheap oil and cheap labor are fading further out of reach. I would also be happy to show you conceptual renderings of what a village style dvlpt looks like compared to a Wal-Mart on the Marina Landing site. Are you interested? Do you really care? Do you resign to the lazy way of trend is destiny as well? Do you disregard all the amazing success stories all around you of towns who believed in self-determination and championed it and when they ordered eggs over medium they got eggs over medium. They didn't settle for a glass of raw eggs because it was somewhere in the ballpark or better than nothing. I've got the examples if you're interested. If you even bothered to read this far. If you did then I thank you for your time and consideration.
You forgot to acknowledge in your coverage that 62 percent of the Monterey Herald online poll respondents were anti-Wal-Mart. More than two-thirds of the commentors at the big March 21 City Council Wal-Mart hearing were anti-Wal-Mart. And the Herald editor acknowledged in an email to me that he'd received an overwhelming majority of anti-Wal-Mart letters to the editor. Funny, the Herald has actually published more pro-Wal-Mart letters despite this admission. Is the whole world slave to the Wal-Martians?
Quinton Roland, MBA
Redevelopment Consultant
Marina, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
I take considerable exception to your editorial promoting Wal-Mart in Marina.
I have seen the aftermath of Wal-Mart "coming to town". In the past I lived in southern Oklahoma. In a 5 year period Wal-Mart opened in 7 communities. These towns ranged in size from 12,000 to 30,000 residents. Their economies were stable to growing. Decimation is the best descriptor of the Wal-Mart invasion. Hardware stores that had been in business for 90 years, that had excellent staff and superb customer service closed. The smaller neighborhood grocery stores folded. Auto repair/tire/battery stores gone. Clothing stores struggled and failed. All of these businesses provided good service and more importantly they supported their communities. The schools, their bands, their athletic teams and science clubs all received support from these business, but no more.
You mentioned taxes in your editorial. The bottom line in this 7 community area was that there was no actual increase in sales and consequently no increase in sales tax. The increased sales at Wal-Mart were offset by the reduced sales and out right closure of the local businesses. The difference was that instead of local people earning a living wage, the same living wage that paid mortgages, supported schools and churches and allowed people to volunteer for community projects, was replaced by minimum wages, people having to move to Section 8 federally assisted housing and food stamps. The difference was that instead of those living wages being spent in the local economy, the Wal-Mart profits were all sent to corporate headquarters in Arkansas.
I respectfully request that you investigate the long term effects of Wal-Mart for yourself. There is no up side Wal-Mart.
Best regards,
Jeff Turner
Monterey, Calif.
• Submitted April 26, 2006
Dear Editorial Board,
My family are dedicated KSBW news watchers since 1995. We do not subscribe to cable TV and rely on your coverage. I appreciate having your local news.
Ironic that KSBW -- which defined the regional Monterey Bay media market -- proposes a reduction in the diversity of our local economic engine. When my brother and his bride-to-be came to Carmel for their wedding, all the way from Kansas City, they did not come to see the monolithic box stores exemplified by Wal-Mart. The same goes for the regional and global travelers I have serviced in the Hospitality industry in Seaside and Aptos. In my work as a front desk clerk, no guest ever asked me where they could find a Wal-Mart; they have Wal-Marts in their home town.
When your station expressed support for the Gilroy Wal-Mart, back in 2004, I learned then that KSBW will not accept opposing viewpoints for airing. On rare occasion, I have seen Mr. Heston quote one. One caller to your station was told by your staff that widespread concern was required to achieve even this, and that "only the unions" had expressed concern about the Wal-Mart editorial. Your unwillingness to present opposing viewpoints directly led to subsequent public criticism of KSBW, and a loss of prestige for your station, at the unofficial FCC Commissioners hearing in Monterey.
The elimination of alternative tenants, other than Wal-Mart, for the vacated KMart reduces consumer choice. This backroom decision does not, as you express it, increase consumer choice. True, we will have one additional choice over the status quo, but we will have foreclosed the opportunity for the public to have multiple, smaller stores, as proposed by Tallen & Keshen before the Marina Planning Commission.
Consumers had no choice in the decision to bring Wal-Mart to Marina. Shame on KSBW for asserting that consumer choice decides the shape of our regional landscape, when you, as well as anyone, know the behind-the-scenes decisions that establish the retail playing field.
Sincerely,
Gary Lasky
Santa Cruz, Calif.
• Submitted April 27, 2006
To Whom it May Concern: The problem with your editorial is that you do not have good background information about this situation. There are so many details to consider. It would behoove you to request a copy of the October 2005 Planning Commission video tape; review what is obviously a polite and confident vote by the Commission that allows the owners of the old "K-mart" property to proceed with construction work to update the building. Not until that completion (April indicated) the developers commented, would they start marketing to multiple tenants.
The Planning Commission made various statements at the October meeting indicating that they wouldn't want a "Wal-Mart"-like big box discount store, and respected that the developers had a clear understanding of their vision and shared those wishes for the property.
This is not about Wal-Mart as much as it is about not wanting any big box discount store on that property that would deter future small businesses in our city. The downtown vitalization, including the success of the hotel community around that property, relies on being able to attract small businesses that appeal to both residents and tourists. The developers even met with the then General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express during that same period. They assured him that they were looking for multiple tenants, including a restaurant, that would appeal to tourists and residents alike.
It does not make any sense for KSBW, a station that has long been respected by the community, to make such an off-handed editorial statement. Please respect the people of Marina who have taken the time and worked hard to form a future business district that will reflect our small diverse city and have the flavor of "small-town" U.S.A.
Sincerely,
Candy Myers-Owen
Interim President, Marina Arts Council
Past Economic Development Chairperson
Marina, Calif.
Other Letters to the Editor
• Submitted May 15, 2006 to the Sierra Club Ventana Chapter newsletter
Wal-Mart was NOT part of Marina’s vision for development. An out-of-town developer bought the former Kmart building last October. They signed a lease with Wal-Mart in February without telling anyone in Marina — even after the Marina Planning Commission told them in October they didn’t want Wal-Mart or any major discount retailer coming to the Marina Landing Shopping Center.
Marina city leaders’ and citizens’ vision for the site was multiple retailers serving visitors and residents. It’s still our vision to have a unique center that serves our diverse community.
However, even after demonstrating Wal-Mart is unwelcome anywhere on the Monterey Bay by record-breaking attendance and speakers at the March 21 Marina City Council meeting and April 27 Planning Commission meeting, our city leaders refuse to act according to the will of their constituency.
This Wal-Mart would be only 2,000 feet from Marina State Beach and 300 feet from one of the county’s few protected wetlands. Wal-Mart has an ugly history of environmental violations. In May 2004, Wal-Mart agreed to pay a $3.1 million civil penalty to settle allegations it violated the federal Clean Water Act in nine states, the largest penalty ever for storm-water runoff violations at Wal-Mart store construction sites.
Wal-Mart plans to open by November. Since early March, a grassroots group of local citizens called Citizens Against Wal-Mart In Marina (CAWIM) has been working to stop this from happening.
CAWIM needs your help to continue the fight. We need funds for our battle. We need your voice to our city leaders. Wal-Mart was stopped in Pajaro and can be stopped in Marina. Please contact us to find out how you can help, email CAWIM@earthlink.net or call 831-883-4459.
Steve Zmak
Marina, Calif.
|
