[Vision2020] Palouse Monopoly Empire Mall; Gas/Food prices

[Paul Rumelhart]

I could have sworn I bought food at a massive chain store the other day 
in the other mall.  Anyway, I don't think the Winco retail chain is 
being overly hurt by UI and WSU student population declines.  Maybe this 
branch, but I'd like to see some figures first.  I'm also wondering if 
large supermarket chains, such as Winco, aren't just raising prices all 
over in an attempt to cover losses in other places.  Anyway, there are 
alternatives to Winco.  There must be, because I rarely shop there 
(except to buy the occasional Pocky sticks) and I need food to survive 
just like everybody else.  I'd be interested to find out if local 
stores, such as the Co-op, are having to raise their prices more than 
the big-name stores.  Presumably, this same rise in prices due to gas 
prices will affect everything that is shipped by truck - not just food.  
Walmart is basically built on the idea of massive transportation of 
goods quickly.  I'd imagine that the rise in gas prices will affect it 
more than most stores.

As for the honey bee problem, I'm hoping that it will work itself out 
the natural way.  The 40% of bees that are left will breed resistance to 
whatever it is that is killing them off, and the survivors will flourish 
because there is now so little competition for them individually.

Also, the Palouse Mall does not have a monopoly.  There is nothing that 
they are doing that would stop another developer from building their own 
mall.  If you want to protest the high prices they charge for rental 
space, don't shop there.  You'll find there are a number of alternatives 
out there.

Paul

Donovan Arnold wrote:
> Food prices are only going to go up even more for several reasons;
>  
> 1) The massive extinction of honey bees has created a void in 
> pollination of 1/3 of the US food supply. 60% of honey bees have died, 
> with no cure or solution in the near future.
>  
> 2) Increases in fuel prices increase the shipping costs of food.
>  
> 3) Many crops were wiped out this year due in the freakish winter 
> storms. For example, oranges had a massive freeze.
>  
> 4) The UI and WSU student populations have decreased, the main income 
> for Winco. With a reduced volume in sales, Winco has to raise prices 
> to cover losses in volume sales.
>  
> 5) No competition. With no other discount grocery stores in the area, 
> like say a Super Wal-Mart, Winco can raise its prices with no 
> consequences, everybody has to eat.
>  
> 6) The owners of the Palouse Empire Mall are raising their rents.
>  
> I think it is obvious, Moscow needs competition in the area to curve 
> rising prices. It also needs to do some sting operations on gas price 
> fixing which obviously is going on.
>  
> Maybe, many of you guys should call Pat Vaughn and ask him to reassess 
> the property value of the Palouse Empire Mall, which is monopoly. 
> Perhaps if the mall can make such huge increases in their leases, the 
> value of the only active retail mall on the Palouse is much higher 
> than what the County Assessor has it listed as.
>  
> If I had the time, and a personal interest at stake, like so many of 
> you do, I would contest the taxable value of the Palouse Empire Mall. 
> It is clear that it has a really high value since it is able to charge 
> so much for its lease spaces and has no real competition. Moscow is 
> probably losing $100,000s in tax revenue that could go to things like 
> finding a new space for the public bus to park on the west side of 
> town, and to give property tax breaks to locally owned businesses that 
> are having a hard time due to the fact no mall will let them conduct 
> business on their property. Just a thought to those litigious and want 
> what's best and for our community.
>  
> Best,
>  
> Donovan
>
> */Ellen Roskovich <gussie443 at hotmail.com>/* wrote:
>
>     *As the cost of gas continues to climb at the pumps, the price of
>     food starts to rise at the grocery stores.  Has anyone else
>     noticed this recently?*
>     ** 
>     *Ellen Roskovich*
>
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