[Vision2020] Wal-Mart

[Reynolds, James]

I would like to go on record as supporting a Super-Wal-Mart coming into
in Moscow. I have friends with permanent positions with Wal-mart and
know dozens of students with part time employment with them. The
permanent people I know are happy with their benefit packages and pay
level and students need copius amounts of part time employers willing to
allow flexible schedules. The cost of College has gone up drastically in
the last 5 years since the W has been in charge of our world. It is now
imperative for many students that part-time work is available. We have
two Universities full of students looking for that work. There has been
a lot of talk about saving the character of our town. The only character
I know in this town is Alvin and the last I saw him, he seemed OK. So
what's up with that? I have been here since 1975 and if anyone else
knows Moscow from then......it has changed a lot since then. The
character of our town is most defined by the Universities and most of
the changes has been resulted from the Universities. The stores come and
go but the Schools are always here. If someone wants to believe that
Moscow has a small-town atmosphere that is fine but really it is only
small because it is not large. We have the same ingredients as the
big-towns. Back in the day Moscow had a lot of loggers, cowboys and
farmers tearing around, making their mark on Moscow. The cowboys have
gone with the rodeo circuit, us loggers cut ourselves out of a job and
the farmers got bought out by speculators. Those days are History my
friends. Moscow is moving on whether we go willingly or not. 

 

I also think that any "Big-Box" store willing to take a gamble on
Moscow, should be allowed. Why do we want to stagnate out? The small
businesses like Wild-Womens, Tri-state, Pecks etc. who have good
business sense behind them are not going to be hurt. They are the expert
specialists who we all need and use. Their expertise is highly valued.
Some guy selling only socks will probably not make it against Wal-mart
because who cares about socks? But the expert specialist will
out-compete Wal-mart and will perhaps even gain from Walmart attracting
more shoppers from the county and beyond.

 

I'll shut up for awhile.  

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