15 comments:

• Josh Morgan posted at 7:18 pm on Sat, Mar 31, 2012.

  Posts: 520

  Darrell, I voted for him as well and will pass this off as a off the cuff remark without a lot of thought. Dr. Nakanishi has always struck me as pro-business and supported free enterprise. That's why his comment was so strange.

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 4:32 pm on Sat, Mar 31, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Josh... I voted for Mr Nakanishi before, and I wouldn't change my vote just because of this one comment.... but it sure brings up the red flags...doesn't it. If he makes decisions like this for the reason stated, what other issues would he apply the same thinking to...

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• Josh Morgan posted at 7:25 am on Sat, Mar 31, 2012.

  Posts: 520

  Thank you for pointing out the remarks by Dr. Nakanishi. How is there any more "local control" than by having an election. To my knowledge Walmart is the only business in Lodi that has required an election "by the people" to relocate their current store. Mind you, they were ALREADY here, this was to relocate. Nakanishi's comments are mind boggling.

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 3:24 am on Sat, Mar 31, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  While he was not on the council when the decision about Walmart was made, Councilman Alan Nakanishi said he would not have supported approving the project.

  "I would have probably voted for local control, and supporting our local stores," he said.

  This is kind of confusing... If he would have voted against Walmart, would he have voted against Costco and all other non local stores?... is odd

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• Danny O'Neel Sr. posted at 11:55 pm on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 4

  Shame on yoy Alan Nakanishi. We have supported you all these years everytime you have run for a position; but no more! We even run into from time to time at Chili's. We won't be friendly or take kinly to you again. You don't want free enterprise and letting the community speak for themselves by their support or non-support of a business. Shouldn't the citizens have that right or at least an opportunity for that right? All we can say is shame on you! No more votes for you!

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 6:05 pm on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Mr Morgan states...Isn't it wonderful Joanne that you have the ability to make that choice on your own without the government dictating to you where you can shop and where you can't

  
  Perfect point Mr Morgan. When you break it all down, people who want to live life with the ability to control their own destiny and make as many decisions as they can ( freedom of choice), would support giving Walmart the right to build and the people the opportunity to shop there or not.

  The people who identify themselves as liberals ( like Ms Bobin who identified all the reasons no choice should be given) tend to want to restrict and eliminate people's ability to have choice. They oppose choice unless it fits their model. I have maintained that liberals are happy and enthusiastic to force others to participate in what “THEY think is an appropriate choice ( like Social Security and unions)

  They liked Costco, so that choice was OK... they do not like Walmart therefore, you should not have that choice.

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• Josh Morgan posted at 4:49 pm on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 520

  Joanne said: "I will definitely shop less at WalMart once the Superstore opens." Isn't it wonderful Joanne that you have the ability to make that choice on your own without the government dictating to you where you can shop and where you can't? Lodi First and Citizens for Open Government would like to limit your choices.

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• Jason Wilkins posted at 2:26 pm on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 28

  This is fairly comical to me -
  "Lodi First and Citizens for Open Government said that the project's state-mandated environmental documents were not adequate, specifically the portion on global warming and mitigation measures for the loss of agriculture land."
  So while this was tied up in court, a very large area of agriculture land was ripped out and a huge box store went up in months. (Costco) What is the impact of the intersection of Harney and 99? I believe the bottom line is these people just did not like Wal Mart.

  I agree with Kevin 100 percent. Lets make the old store an indoor sports complex. The city has 2 indoor turf soccer fields already. Give Mr. Mojica a spot in there for his batting cages and lets have a place that will serve our youth for years to come.

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• Joanne Bobin posted at 12:43 pm on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 3330

  I will definitely shop less at WalMart once the Superstore opens. It is bad enough that the current store places unrefrigerated produce in the aisle between the women's clothing section and the snack foods. I usually only buy toiletries at WalMart currently, but I can easily change to Target, which often has a better price and is a much cleaner store.

  I haven't patronized the WalMart Superstore in Stockton more than twice, but the last time I was there it was obvious that it has been thoroughly trashed since the time it opened.

  And fyi - "Apples" in Lodi (aka Apple Market) was recently sold to a new owner and many long-time employees were let go. How sad.
  

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• Josh Morgan posted at 11:46 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 520

  Roy, I respectfully disagree. When the real estate market was hot, City's were balancing their budgets on the backs of new homeowners. (I say new homeowners because development fees are passed on to the buyers) The City became dependent on these fees and when the market dried up they were left with these huge holes in their budgets. City's should not depend on development to pay for ongoing expenses. Fees should be used for capital projects like parks, streets, water, sewer, schools, lights, etc. Property taxes and the sales taxes generated (assuming these new people will be shopping locally) should be used for ongoing expenses like maintenance, police, fire, etc. I don't know what fees are today but you could spend up to $50,000 before a spade of dirt was turned in building a modest new home. I believe fees were a big reason for the escalating home costs.

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• roy bitz posted at 10:49 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 480

  Last week, the city council announced their plan to review/reduce fees charged developers for hook up to city utilities. They even hired a consultant to guide them on this project. The idea is to encourage new development.
  While it is unclear how this much money this idea. It will save developers of this project, it will be a windfall---or a gift because it did not impact their decision to build.
  This will be a simple reduction in revenue to the city.
  No?

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• Danny O'Neel Sr. posted at 10:13 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 4

  What a waste of time and money for 8 years. I wish I knew who the parties were in the lawsuit to stop Walmart. The point is "if you build it , they will come". What were these businesses afraid of? The reason for a business is an idea of a product or a service. If they went into business to add to their capital gains, then why should they stop another business from doing the same thing? If you think your business would suffer, have better customer service or have weekly "specials", anything to keep your business successful. But, to stop a competitor makes you look petty, selfesh and greedy. If a customer doesn't like something they won't support it. I wouldn't support your businesses just because you acted selfish and denied a lot of people the pleasure of choices and competitive prices in a free enterprise system. Lodi First you should be ashamed of yourself. It's too bad Walmart couldn't sue you sideways for all of the misery and denials that you caused them and us customers. I shop Walmart maybe 4 times a year but, I would have liked the choice 8 years ago. Some of your arguements were false. You didn't want a big box store but, we have Lowes, Target, Coastco and soon Home Depot. So, that arguement was false. You didn't like the fact about unions so Winco and Walmart couldn't be built; that is petty as target is NOT union! Again, a falsehood. So, where does that leave your fear of competition? If anyone knows who Lodi First is, could you please enlighten the rest of us, as I don't want to support their selfish, unkind, greedy, non-competitive businesses! Lodi First, did you ever hear the theme "Loveable, Liveable Lodi?"

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• Kevin Paglia posted at 8:21 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 1729

  I like the idea of one stop shopping. Where we moved from was a franchise called Fred Meyers and they were one stop shopping. It was nice to have one store that I could go to and pick up most everything I needed, especially when the kids were little and I was dealing with multiple carseats.

  Don't know how often I'll be at this SWM. The current one I hardly ever go into. I. in general avoid that whole parking lot, have had too many close calls from the Food-4-Less parkinglot all the way over to Walmart.

  I would like to see the old Walmart building turned into some kind of family fun center. Small bowling alley, arcade, batting cages, indoor mini golf, small movie theater and food. It would keep people coming to the local shops there and give kids some place to go besides hanging out at downtown. If i win the lottery I'll do that for Lodi.

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• Josh Morgan posted at 7:27 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 520

  I was just wondering about this case the other day when I was in Target and noticed that the entire southeast quadrant of their store has been converted to groceries. I don't believe there was one peep about this conversion. We still have no idea who the make up of Lodi First and Citizens for Open Government are but they have done a very effective job of delaying this project for eight years. I hope Walmart is reimbursed their legal fees costs associated with the delay. As I have said in the past, i am not a Walmart shopper but I welcome capitalism and the free market.

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• Darrell Baumbach posted at 1:57 am on Fri, Mar 30, 2012.

  Posts: 9403

  Lodi First and Citizens for Open Government said that the project's state-mandated environmental documents were not adequate, specifically the portion on global warming and mitigation measures for the loss of agriculture land.

  Of course... we know that the environmental documents they contested was just a legal maneuver. Now we can have a second non union store to buy food products in Lodi... Apples and Walmart supercenter. I cannot wait to spend my money there.
  

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