'Yes' to growth, 'no' to Supercenter

Let's vote "no" to a Wal-Mart Supercenter and "yes" to Lodi. Wal-Mart does not share the same small-town values that Lodi embodies.

If this plan is accepted by you, there will be two Wal-Mart Supercenters within 15 minutes from each other.

While building a Wal-Mart may bring more jobs to town, Wal-Mart offers low wages and encourages sweatshops overseas. There also have been numerous accounts of discrimination in the workplace, failed health care and retirement plans, and harm to the environment. You only need to google "Wal-Mart" to find out about it. Or better yet, drive by Hammer Lane and see what it has done to that community.

If the decision to bring Wal-Mart to Lodi is to improve Lodi's economy, it is wrong. This huge, multi-billion dollar corporate giant puts small businesses out of business that have been in town for generations. It's very important to support local businesses and keep money in the community. You don't have to take my word for it; current elected officials and economist all believe that small business is the backbone of America's economy.

Please do not continue the plans to build a new Wal-Mart. My suggestion: Lets make our current Wal-Mart better, like the Target has made its current store better.

Tashina Hinds
Lodi

Reader Feedback

Cogito wrote on Dec 21, 2008 4:13 PM:

" Man, I go to the mountains for a few days and everyone is still beating this subject to death. Aren't you guys suffering from at least a little bit of burnout on this thing? "

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wtf wrote on Dec 21, 2008 12:47 PM:

" Still think an article following the money is necessary regarding SWM. "

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Lodian wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:45 PM:

" Tashina Hinds: Oh, and when the first thing someone like Lodisafeway does is attack your letter by saying, "...you must have not proof-read your letter prior to submission.." you know you are on to something. If that's all he can bring then you know you're right. "

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Lodian wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:41 PM:

" Tashina Hinds: I agree. I sure didn't get that "community" feeling when I was at the cc meeting regarding Walmart with all those corporate types in attendance and filling the front seats. Yep, they were here in force and made sure their Walmart employees were there too. The meeting had the feel of a hostile takeover. When you've got all these suits here from out of town we mere citizens just don't have a say in the matter anymore. This is not how this should work. "

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Lodian wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:30 PM:

" Rhodie: ARe you actually comparing these little Starbucks shops with a SWM monstrosity? Maybe you haven't seen either store, but they are like night and day.

Oh and FYI, I didn't like all the Starbucks stores coming to Lodi either. I'll take House of Coffees any day. "

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Rhodie wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:21 PM:

" "However, a second WalMart right across the street from the first WalMart is redundant....kind of like lodisafeway's comments. LOL!"

This comes from a city with three starbucks in the same parking lot. "

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wtf wrote on Dec 20, 2008 4:56 PM:

" I, too, agree with your 10:33 AM comments loadeye regarding our resident WalMart "lover" LOL!

This is to prevent girard from calling me a WalMart "hater"....I don't hate WalMart; I even shop there occasionally.

However, a second WalMart right across the street from the first WalMart is redundant....kind of like lodisafeway's comments. LOL! "

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Lodian wrote on Dec 20, 2008 1:58 PM:

" loadeye: Well said. I agree with your 10:33am comments. "

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Patricia wrote on Dec 20, 2008 12:42 PM:

" Correction: (It's) the continued, etc. "

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Patricia wrote on Dec 20, 2008 12:40 PM:

" Loadeye:

Its the continued abuse of some board posters that keep intelligent and effectual debaters away. Insulting, demeaning and spiteful comments wins points with none, especially CC members.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR TO ALL! "

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loadeye wrote on Dec 20, 2008 10:33 AM:

" lodisafeway, bah humbug! Why does an opinion from someone that differs from what you think offend you so much? Why do you belittle this lady for speaking her own opinion? It's like you work for both Walmart and Lodi News merely to subtly insult people to keep them on these blogs. Nonetheless, your rants are all the same old over and over again, yet I still wish you a merry Christmas. I really pity your spouse, if you even have one. "

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judy wrote on Dec 20, 2008 8:30 AM:

" One has to smile when you say a SWM will put small businesses out of business. When grocery stores began including fresh bakeries in their stores, two independent bakeries in Lodi closed. When grocery stores, and other stores also, put pharmacies in their businesses, many independent pharmacies in Lodi closed. I did not read about or hear about any major protest about bakeries and pharmacies closing. Mervyn's and Ace Hardware are closing - nothing to do with Wal-Mart. To listen to opponents, a SWM will cause the complete destruction and decay of Lodi. LodiSafeway is right - Lodi is a city - not a small town. Lodi no longer has a small town feel. Build the Super Wal-Mart. "

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LodiSafeway wrote on Dec 20, 2008 6:13 AM:

" Well Tashina- while I fully understand that you must have not proof-read your letter prior to submission (by virtue of your statement, "If the decision to bring Wal-Mart to Lodi is to improve Lodi's economy, it is wrong"), the balance of your missive is equally as unconvincing.

The suggestion to make the current Wal-Mart "better," for example, somehow intimates that there is something wrong with it. I would imagine since the corporation would like to build a Supercenter in that area reveals the fact that something must be decidedly "right" with the one that has been here since 1992. Since you offered no suggestions on how to actually improve it, I can safely surmise that you have no idea what you are talking about.

But back to the beginning of your letter- exactly what are these "small-town values" that Wal-Mart does not embody? First, Lodi is a city; this should be made clear. Second, the successes of the businesses surrounding the current Wal-Mart enjoy their very existence BECAUSE of Wal-Mart. In spite of the litany of twaddle in your third paragraph, Wal-Mart brings success and prosperity to the communities in which it resides. "

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